davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24
Nonry =.
o,a.e socialism by
Joe Dixon V

The event of the past week was the
election of Joseph Dixon of Missoula
to the United States Senate as the
successor of w. A. Clark of putrid
smelling repute, and the colleague of
Carter, the senior senator. The occa-
sion showed how easy il is to do things
If you just let one big concern like
the Amalgamated run it all. Dixon
was elected on the first ballot in each
house. The next day the joint as
sembly confirmed the election. Mantle
was never even mentioned. 1t was a
triumph of the young, new and scien-
tific trust method over the old corrupt,
clumsy politics. In other words il
was complete defeat of the Carter ma
chine, and a triumph for the new
Roosevelt way of doing things. Dixon
has openly been heralded as Roose-
velt's candidate, and in his speech of
acceptance Cal1cady prepared) he
practically outlined the Roosevelt pol
icy. The speech sounded good to
those who still think this government
is run by all the people, and not by
simply the large capitalist class. He
said the cure for the evils of democ-
raey was more democracy.
Dixon without doubt outlined the
Rooseveltian policy, speaking as one
near the throne. Dwelling on the
forest reserve question he advo-
Gated the holding of public lands
by the government Withdrawing
them from the entry to homestead
ers, renting them out to leasers, and
with the revenue thus obtained put
ting through great projects like the
making of huge irrigation canals. Mr..
Dixon said the reserve lands of Mon
tana alone would bring a revenue of
s2,000,000. This is n radical new de-
parture in government policy. It
marks the passing of orthodox repub-
licanism and the advent of the new.
And this new republicanism is prac-
tically the Henry George theory, liber-
ahsm, BismarckisIn, state socialism
coming up to quiet the revolutionary
demands of the workers.
Roosevelt's hysterical attack on the
'agitators in his message has warned
us what to expect. The discomfort of
the workers is to be quieted with the
soothing syrup Of state socialism. That
is the dear good capitalists are going
to give us everything nice except get
off our backs.
This is the first popular exposure
of the way the wind is blowing. Lib
eral legislation will now be the order
of the day. But il is the iron hand
in the velvet glove, the claw in the
velvet paw.
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24

Comrade Gershuni. the revolution
airy organizer and gifted poet and
scientist, is in Chicago. He declares
that when the second Russian Duma
convenes in March il viii wipe Tar
ism forever of the earth. II will be
dominated by either the revolutionists
or the rcactionists; in either case the
Duma will be dissolved shortly after
it convenes. The moment il is dis.
solved the revolution is legalized, and
n provisional government established.
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24

the fact, the fact that is incontrovert-
ible, namely, that the consumer would
have to pay any price that may be
asked, no matter how high. When
they raise the price of coal fifty cents
n ton, IL is only through forbearance
that they do not raise IL fifty or n
dollar fifty more. There is nothing
TO prevent but mob law. We must
have coal to live, the coal available is
owned by few, we are at the mercy
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24

7. L. Fits, national organizer, was
assaulted in the post office Mt Fair
mont, w. Va, by J. A. Watson, who
claimed to be a deputy sheriff. Watson
also followed Comrade Fits into the
street and again punched and kicked
him and ordered him TO leave the town.
Later the mayor Informed Comrade
Fits "That it was dangerous for him
TO stay in the town in view of the in
tense feeling" A lawyer said, "We
would have a hard time to prove any
thing. few cared, if they dared, TO
give testimony. The courts are owned
or controlled by the Coal Co.
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24
Helena Merchants
Turn it Down

The following resolutions were in
trodueed before the Retail Merchants
Association that convened in Helena
last week. They were turned down un-
tremendously and not paper in the
state would print them. The merchants
are terribly alarmed over the big rates
that the railroad trust is able to force
upon them, but when it comes to
measure that would benefit all the
people they are as deaf to It as the
big trusts are to their small interests:
"Whereas: The transportation ques-
tion is acknowledged to be the most
important problem before the country,
and,
Whereas: Government regulation of
transportation rates has proved to be
a failure in debating to privately
owned railway companies, while indi.
vidual property is protected by the
constitution Of the United States, and.
Whereas: All countries that have
tried to regulate transportation rates
by law have failed in making salts
factory regulations to the commercial
interests of the country and the gen.
eral public.
Whereas: Government regulation
will prove to be an instrument of fur.
ther granting to the already gigantic
trusts and combines at the expense of
the public through iexorbitant rates
charged and the granting of passes to
those who stand as favorites to the
trusts of the country, and
Whereas: We believe that rate re-
gulation is unjust without ownership
by the government. and,
Whereas: We are opposed to the
trusts, railroad corporations or com
bines, therefore be il
Resolved by the Retail Merchants
Association of the state of Montana
in convention assembled that it is
the sense of this convention that our
Representative in Congress should be
urged to assist in the passage Of bill
favoring the public ownership of the
railroads of the country, and be it fur
ther
Resolved: That as an evidence Of
the feasibility of the ownership, we
respectfully point 20 the successful
ownership and operation of railways
by the following countries: Germany,
Austria, Switzerland. New Zealand,
Mexico, Japan, Italy and several other
countries.
Resolved: Further that this question
should be submitted to the people of
the United States for their approval or
rejection.
Adopted.
Respectfully submitted,
F. 8. sANDEN.
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24

Tho Northwestern Improvement com
pany of Red Lodge, Montana successor
to the Rocky Fork Coal company, puts
the price of lump coal for the new
year at 1915 per net ton at the mine,
or 1926 delivered. The miners get So
cents a ton for mining this. No won.
der there is so much suffering, poverty
and misery among the coal miners. To
an unprejudiccd observer il would look
like a system Of lunatics that this sub.
stance so valuable To heat aud life
should be so rclentlcssly corncred by
n few TO make such misery for those
who work and those who use.
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24
Fatal ExplOs,U'", ' I'LL vl'
Santa Fe

Desoto, Kan, pan. 1s.-The loco
motive drawing east bound Santa Fe
freight train No. SO exploded on a
bridge near here this morning. The
bridge was demolished and the engine
and fourteen freight cars went into
the creek. F. w. Bartell, engineer; w.
w. Dortch, Fireman, and H. e. Shaw,
brakeman, all of Argentine, Kas., were
killed, their bodies being buried under
the wreckage."
Considering the iargc number of
appalling railroad wrecks reported by
the newspapers, the foregoing will be
considered Insignificant by the public.
Instead of being insignificant it is n
matter that deserves close attention.
There have been more wrecks caused
by boiler explosions on the Santa Fe
road in the past three years than on
all the railroads Of the country com
bined during the same time.
The reason of this is owing to the
Santa Fe locking out the machinists
in its employ some three years ago
because they would not submit to the
machine and boiler shops being turned
into section of Dante's Infernio--
through the introduction of the piece
work system.
The strike or rather lockout is AZ
vigorous to-day as it was when it com
menced three years ago. The company
has been able to get some scabs. most
ly all incompetent macbinists and has
been able to move its trains through
getting new locomotives built in the
factory, and when the new engines get
run down so bad that the scabs can
no longer repair them. tbey are mt
aside TO wait until the debate between
the Santa Fe and the union has been
decided.
It is said that nearly I 500 enpines
are lying on the side tracks waiting
TO be repaired.
When the comnanv gets hard ninch.
ed for engines a committee of the
bosses hies to the bone yards-tbe side
track where the dead engines are
looks over the engines. picks ont one
Of the crippled ones and tries 10 get
an engineer and fireman 10 take n few
more trips out of IL.
The result of this is. boiler explo.
sions, engines Jumping the track, leak
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24

Hughey Miller is working overtime
TO make himself conspicuous and let
'em know he's there. He is Johnny.
on-the.spot on every possible occasion; !;
bobs up and reads Off motions already
prepared, prances around on floor com.
mittecs, and loses no opportunity to
prove that he can be as valuable u
aunky to the capitalist class as when
he was defending the violation Of the
eight.hour law in Livingston. IL is
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24
Miners Trial Again
Put Off

More weary months must the West
ern Federation officials remain in their
prison cells. The trial is again put
on-this time till March. European
working men express astonishment at
such causeless, useless, and unjust de-
lay. They ask us il there is no law
to prevent such despotie injustice. Tho
answer is, "There is none. It all lies
in the power of the courts.''
But does not the constitution de-
mand that all accused persons shall
have a speedy triali' eyes, but our
offieials-the a1jutant- t-general-says so
hell with the constitution the con-
gresham to hell with the law.'o
"Then in the free and democratic re-
public there is no possible way by
which men accused may have a speedy
trialf" 'There is no power behind
the court. 1t can delay as it likes"
And the Swiss working man, the
English working man, the German
working man tell of their eoun-
tries across the sea where the
courts are obliged to bring ae-
cused men to trial without de-
lay. Yet, here in America men
arc legally seized upon labor
controversy, and although with attor-
neys at hand and everything in readi-
ness they have demanded immediate
trial, they have lain in prison cells for
upwards of two years. Innocent men
prosecuted because tffy represent
the protest and resistance of labor
against outrageous oppression and bru-
tai infringement of personal rights.
America stands amazed at such wan
ton violation of her historical rights,
and the working men from the mon
archical institutions of other countries
do not understand the seemingly inex-
plicable contradiction. But the stua-
tion is this: The conditions of gov
ernment oppression and tyranny have
never before come to an issue against
the working class in America. Even
in the Debs ease the government made
only a fearful experimental attempt
to use its arm in the game against
labor. The traditions of freedom.
fairness, and equal opportunity to all
classes have not been openly violated
by laws, government and courts. The
class struggle was veiled by tradition
and opportunity. Put the inevitable
clash Of interests has come, and the
capitalist class stands clothed with
authority and the ultimate powers Of
jurisdiction. In Europe the working
class has been on the conscious fight
ing line. Slowly they have wrung con-
cessions Of protection from the ruling
class, by united efforts and eonsolidat-
cd demands that have made sovereigns
quake, surrounded by their parlia-
ments. That encroachmeut upon the
prerogative of power has got to be
commenced by the American working
class They will be bound hand and
foot if they do not awaken and give
resistance. Liberal institutions are
nothing. II is the struggle for the
delights of the surplus. Arouse, We
slaves.
IA NfgaAVgiU L.. n
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24

Of those few. Can any law be devised
to regulate the price of this commo.
dityf II such law can be devised,
then IL would be a form of what is
termed conHseation.
When we attempt to confscate, thon
we had infinitely better 60 the whole
way and take back for the people, for
the use of all the people, that that
NATURE placed on EARTH for the
use Of the Sons Of Men.-George Burke
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24

Dixon said in his acceptance speech
that IL had been his intention to re-
tire TO private life and earn COM
potency for large and rapidly iu-
crcasing family. He need waste no re-
grcts on that score over broken vows.
The U. S. Senate is a club OF million
aires, with few exceptions; and Dixon
will probably not be allowed to feel
lonesome by the time his term is out,
ms the competency will in all likelihood
increase there as fast rs the family.
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24

when everything was agreed on in
committee.
Swindlehurst of Park county said,
"Miller says he objects but he does
not tell us his objections.
Miller remains mum. Ross of Mis-
soula, derelict fireman and old party
Office hunter, hurried to Miller's assist.
anee saying that Whiteside's amend.
ment would make the bill unconstitu.
tional.
So it would if il were to insure the
railroadmen getting damages for in.
jury received. Railroaders are not
supposed to come back at the corpora.
tions for injury received. whiteside
claimed his amendment wys consid.
cred by the best legal talent in Mon.
tana and he was advised that il would
be alright to put in the bill. The
amendment was lost.
Whiteside went to the bat again
with another amendment. He wanted
the express messenger included in the
bill.
Miller took Tho oorno. ..
favor of his not moosrro ....;e -
he had studied and thought on this
question for two voor. 81 a.. ' 10
speaks for RAILROAD a. .L.
exactly like ,ho Ia ron1.. lr vas
railroad men wantoa on1 -
for. Miller bero s.,.oa -
falsehood when bo .a;d ra;,.aa, '
wanted the La FoIIot,e nm tn. "-
gressionaI records show ,ha, na.;.;s1.
from railroad brotberboods u, - ~
country wara re,d - o., ~ 'ue
protesting ogains, ,ho To p.,I..., a, ,,,,
and asking that !, bo ~. -,
whiteside insisted ,b,, ,Lo -
map sbopla A. -,
the rest "a tb.v ror, r. ."
Ross iumned ~ Niuo.,. -
stating that the b;II was - g.. -.
benefit of railroad man hr, o.. a.
lection of IN. travoll;n. nuh1i,
vent wraeks Trrn; u,,.
he wells, "Express mon !. -. -,
trains: why didn,t ,on -. a..
mail clerks mr. ,o - a.. -. -
and mt tho maeh;,;... =; A. ,,n,i, @
This shows what co.. % -.
mus Ross IL Uo q No. -.
mail clerks, IogoI harrs g.. a.. -. IN
are a long wav from ri. -. 49,
dred and twolro r.. .L
they want % lo,ol;vo g a.
crews mr. .,,ow,i, a. - -"
hundred and twaIya borr. no- -. e.
macbiuists wopId moon - ~.
up of every macb;,o or III. Il.
The Wbitas;do omo,au,.
and tbs Nfiuor b;n -, -, 20 -
a whoon,
During tba dohoto an A..
Miller stated thot bo H. ar ,,n
mn. but IL ia r,tbor s,rana. ~ -
liar biIl was irtro5noo1 - a., 80. 9,
more than two woors aoa. - -. an. ''ua.s IlV
il was stated oronr5 ,ha ta,,Lis. - ~,
hotels that Wm wouooo .La ~,
Pacific attorpsv bo1 1ras,o5 . Ian A.
IegaIize tbe six,oonhou. a., "
Miller also said Tho, ro;,,o,. ....,
devisad tho h;n W.. uai.
superinteuJcpts g,roral na,a,,... :.
wbatg Ono thing is suro no -.
tiops wero shoyr .on,;u, g.,
wav brotberbooas M oom,,i,.oa. -.
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24
NOTES ON MONTANA LEGISLATURE

The word has gone forth that this
is wholly a party Legislature. The re-
publicans vote solid as a party Moth
ing can be expected to go through on
mere merit
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24

Rumor has it that nothing has any
show in the Amalgamted Tenth except
what is favorable to the company. In
side information states that labor need
expect nothing. Working men, behold
your handi-work, and be proud of 1t.
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24

Eggleston, populist democrat, single
taxer.reformer, gave the star spiel at
the Dixon banquet. Verify, Bryan is
right when he says, "we re all getting
together" Working men, how many
Of you were at the Dixon banquet at
the Grandonf
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24

Judge Henry is lowering around the
Legislature fixing up his fences for an
other term. II is said he wants his
judicial district fixed up for fear he
won't be elected.
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24

DO you think that large increase
In the population will be good for yo'
as workeri If so, why don you
go back east whore there is already
large populationl-Westcrn Clarion.
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24

The Wisconsin party has set its goal
for 5000 members outside Of Milwau-
kce before the presidential election Of
1908.
Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-01-24

said he is playing the game for next
congressman.
The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1907-08-30
LATE NEWS ITEMS.

Secretary Garfield has returned to
Washington after to months inspecting
public lands in the west.
1t is officially announced that a score
of lesser governments will support
Brazil's position at The Hague regard
ing the organization of a permanent in
ternatiopal arbitration court.
The Northern Pacific and Great
Northern have signed up with the
union machinists in their employ and
the imminent danger of a strike has
been avoided.
Katrina, daughter of retiring Am
bassador Wright, was recently married
in Toxic to Charles Palmer, vice pres
idet of the International Bank of Man
lila. The couple will sail for San Fran
cisco. Twenty-one people were injured,
none seriously, by a derailment of a
train on the Southern railway at Red
Hill, nine miles south of Charlottes.
Vile. The entire train, excepting the
engine, overturned. The injured were
taken to Washington.
The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1907-08-30
VALUES OF THE OSTRICH.
Full Grown One Worth $500, the Eggs
Are Worth $25.

Arthur c. Hummer of Los Angeles
says ostrich eggs are worth $25. The
chicks are only worth $50. The full
grown ostrich is worth $500 to $500.
The average pluck is about one pound,
and is worth, On an average, about $50.
The best ostrich feathers come from
the Levant and the north and west
coasts Of Africa. Southern California
and Arizona have ostrich farms. The
American ostrich is only about half
the size of the African bird and its
feathers and eggs bring much less.
London sets the price on ostrich
feathers which, when the bird is four
years old, bring as high as 800 per
pound, the poorer grades selling as
low is $50. The eggs vary in value
from $40 to $25. Diseases cause about
a third Of the chicks to die in this
country.
The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1907-08-30
LATE NEWS ITEMS.

A fire took place in San Francisco
recently in which two dozen autos
were estroyod and a number OF build
ings Quilted. The total loss is estima-
ted from $50, 900 to $75, 900.
1t is settled that a large number of
battleships of the Atlantic squadron
which is to come to Pacific waters will
go to Puget Sound, the number to be
determined by the capacity of the
SCUM to accommodate them. The battle
ships carry only 100 fathoms of anchor
chain, and most of the water there is
more than sixty fathoms deep so, as
safe practice requires the chains to be
not less than three times the depth of
the water, only few vessels can be ac-
commodatod near Bremarton at once.
The thirtieth annual meeting of the
American Bar association met in Port
land, Maine, this week. -Four hundred
delegates were present. The city hall
was we'll filled when President A. B.
Parker called the meeting to order. An
important feature of the meeting is the
report of the committee on life insur-
ance legislation. Chief Justice Emery
of the Maine supreme court extended
the state bars welcome. Parker wss
loudly applauded when he rose to de-
liver his address, which was a lengthy
and able one.
1t is reported that arrangements have
been completed for the organization of
a $50, 900, 900 American syndicate,
which plans to develop several million
acres of oil lands in Mexico. More
than 100 gusher wells are reported on
the property with oil of the same grade
as that of the Southeast Texas fields.
The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1907-08-30
EXPLOSIONKILLSTWQ
POWDER WORKS NEAR BERK-
LEY, CALIFORNIA.
Ten More Were Injured-After Ex-
plosIon Acid Tanks Caught Fire
ana Spread to Mixing House,
Where Another Terrific Explosion
Oecurred-Many Buildings Ruined

Berkeley, Cal, Aug. 26.-The nitro
glycerine mixing house of the giant
powder works at Sobrante, 70 miles
north of here, on the bay shore. blew
up about IL a. m. and sent two men
to their death and injured some 10
others. The dead: Richard Thomp-
son. foreman, 20 years old; William
Doane, aged 80.
Immediately after the explosion the
acid tanks caught fire and the flames
spread to the nitroglycerine mixing
mousse, where three tons of ~nitroglycer
Inc in great watts blew up with a fer.
rlble defamation, scattering flames
and debris in all directions. So ter
rifle was the force Of the explosion
that thompson and Doane were lit
orally blown to atoms and not a YES
tlge OF their remains was found over
which to hold an inquest.
Three buildings of the plant were
laid in ruins and all that remains is a
pile OF twisted iron and debris. Thou
sands of gallons of acid in the lead
tanks in roaring flames added to the
catastrophe. The property loss will
reach $4,000. The conclusion caused
by the explosion was terrific and
every window in the vicinity of the
powder works and San Pablo, a mile
away, was shattered and persons were
thrown to the ground by the force of
the explosions. One of the big tanks
of the Standard Oil company, a mile
distant, was ripped open and thou
sands Of gallons of oil flowed into the
road. The Giant company is an indie
pendent concern and is not owned by
the powder trust. No definite cause
is given for the explosion.