The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-20
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 70, 1907.
LEST WE FORGETi

upon which the people of Montana
are entitled to better laws, the repub-
lican state platform of 1906 said:
1--WE pledge all republican members
of the Legislature and all republican
officials to the faithful carrying out OF
the pledges of this platform, to the end
that faith be kept with the people, that
the cause of popular government be
advanced, and the prestige and bened.
sent influence of the republican party
may be maintained and fostered."
At the election which followed these
promises to the people the membership
of the tenth legislative assembly was
determined, the result being Is repub'
iicans and Is democrats in the Assem-.
bly,. There is q strong republican
majority in both the SEN ate and house,
with full power to redeem every prom.
ice made in the republican state plat.
form.
One of the planks in the republican
state platform related to q railroad
commission law. A bill having that
end in view was introduced the first
week of the session, aud after drag.
ging along for thirty.ive days it fin
ally passed the house.C 1t is now be.
fore a committee of the senate, and,
according to recent: advices, is threat.
ened with ~inexcusable delay in that
body. In the words of the concluding
portion of the republican state plat.
form, do these proceedings in onnec.
ton with the railroadscommission bill
convince the people of Montana that
''the prestige and b%eneficent influence
Of the republican lparty" is being
maintained andsfostered?
Another neutrality-suspicious. plank
said: "We favor such amendments
to the present direct primary law as
will make it fully and completely eff
fective."
What amendments have been pro.
posed in Ithes tenth assembly? News
paper reports Iof legislative proceed
ings state that albillsfor the entire re.
peal OF the direct primary law has
passed the lsenate, and according to
the informationiavailabl at this writ
ing, no effort is being made to place
. better law on the statutes. That il
not the proper way to keep faith with
the people.
Another promise made to the PEG,
pie in the republican platform was te
this effect: eve are opposed to the
use of publicimoneys for private gain
which lie forbidden by u constitution
and by public rights as we'll; and W.
demand that all.sums which may have
been o%btained.by private individual.
out of the unlawful use iof the public
funds belrecovered for the state. Ant
we insist upon the passage Of suct
Legislation assmay be required to pre-
vent such,misuse;of public funds."
Bills relating ito this matter wer,
introduced the;:firstIweek of the session
by Representative Blake and others
and were referred tOsone of the com
mittees. Nothing has been heard o
them since that time, sand their pres
emit status is unknown.
The state senate is composed o
eighteen republicans and nine demo
Gratis: the house lcontains 81 republi
q and Observation-Disclosures. Tn,
republican members Of the tenth as
sembly have the lpower to carry GU
every pledge madesin their party plat
form. Will they>do it?
Again, lest weLforget: 1--WE pledg'
all republican members OF the legisla
ture and all republican officials to tn,
faithful carrying out OF the pledges 0
this platform, to the end that faith b
kept with the people, that the cause Q
popular goverument!be advanced, an
the prestige and benefcent inhuenc
of the republican party may be main
tanned and f~ostered.o
~@c- @e Een.A~ ooEc,neA,r