davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-08

building bill introduced by a Montana
senator al a %pacifying measure, but
we are almost there. And we admit
that, in view OF the Miners past his
tory, it Is tough to have to agree with
it, vet there seems no alternative.
The need Of a public building here
must be impressed upon every one.
There is not a government depart
ment but what is situated in crowded
quarters. There are several govern
mental departments that should be
established here and will be in the
neal future. Room will be needed for
Offices. 1t will be hard to find. The
government building should be con-
structed to supply that room and to
relieve the congested condition in the
quarters occupied by branches Of the
federal service now located here.
Realizing this need. we anxiously
scan the Congressional Record for
some notice Of the bill providing for
the construction Of a public building
here, but we fail to find it. Still, we
have faint hopes that before congress
adjourns something will turn up and
an appropriation will be made.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-08

and unless the railroads concede to
the demands Of the Tammany leader
he threatens to have the delegation
attending the convention cut to the
minimum.
It seems that the Tammany boss
had been given to understand, ac-
cording to the Atlanta Constitution,
that the cost Of the round trip from
New York to Denver would be $68,
whereas the railroads are now getting
ready to fix the figure at $s2 per head,
a difference of $14-not so much ap-
parently, but decidedly something to
be considered when more than 5000
Tammanyites are anxious to make
the trip.
If Murphy should succeed in cut
ting the delegation in half, even, as
he is doubtless able to do, it would
mean a loss Of more than 100000 to
the railroads at the $64 rate, COM
pared with their receipts on 1000 per-
sons at the $82 rate.
Of course the railroads are after
business and 1t is reasonable to sup
pose that they will come to Tam
many's terms, but should they not,
the Denver gathering would not seem
much like a national democratic con
vention. Such a convention without
the Tammanyites would seem as
strange as a production Of Hamlet
without the Dane.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-08
SIGN COMMUNICATIONS.

It ought to be unnecessary for a
newspaper to call editorial attention
to the need for correspondents sign
ing their communications II they ex-
pect to have them published. Dur.
ing the past few days this paper has
received several communications
which have not been signed. They
have been upon subjects of current In
terest to the citizens and worthy Of
publication, but it is the policy OF
this paper and of every other paper
to refrain from printing any letter that
is not signed by the writer. Any one
sending communications to The Ca
zette must either sign them or they
will not have them printed.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-08
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.

Cleveland is testing the wisdom of
the municipality owning its street car
system. The city has acquired abso-
lutte control Of the municipal traction
lines, which it is operating through a
holding company. Yet at the very
beginning Of municipal operation Of
its traction 1ines, the holding COM
pany is having trouble. The motor
men and conductors have demanded
an increase in pay.
The municipal control of the trac-
ton lines in the Ohio metropolis
therefore will also afford a test to the
socialistic theory that government
ownership will do away with strikes
and labor disputes. The experience
of Cleveland SO far will not bear out
the claim.
Cleveland's street railways have
been brought to a condition as near
municipal ownership as is possible
without the %professed and direct own
ership and operation of the lines by
the city government. The holding
company without profit to take and
operate these lines was devised by
that champion of municipal owner
ship, Tom L. Johnson, as a substitute
for the avowed thing until such time
as the legal obstacles could be cleared
away. But before the new arrange
ment has got into working order the
men vote to strike for an advance,
and the managers OF the lines indi-
cate withSfsho uncertain voice that
they win fight 1t out.
TheVuccess or failure Of the Cleve-
land experiment will be watched with
interea8 by students of civic ques-
tions. (which ever way it results It
will ehaYilhl considerable influence on
the agitation for municipal ownership
of public utilities. Sc far 1t has been
proved that the danger of strikes I'M
der municipal ownership is not Les
sened.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-08

II really matters little to the Amer
lean people, what is the ultimate re-
suit Of the controversy between Presi-
dent Castro and this government.
This country no longer has to depend
on the South American nation for its
supply Of asphalt.
There was a time when, the Vene-
zuelan product was almost a neces.
sity in the United States, but that
was before the Bermudez Lake AS
phalt company fomented a revolution
in Venezuela and President Castro
gave the concessions granted the
company to another American corpo-
ration. Since then The asphalt indus
try in this country has been devel-
oped and Americans can secure a bet
ter supply of asphalt in their own
country than from Venezuela.
Development of the oil fields of
Texas and California has wrought
wonders. The oils of those regions
are on an asphalt base. Refining sep
arates the asphalt from the oil and
the asphalt production Of the two
states aggregated about 100000 tons
last year. Venezuela last year sup
piled less than the state Of Texas, and
California produced twice as much as
Texas.
The entire controversy is really a
war between two American compa.
MES as to which shall have the asphalt
concessions in Venezuela, with one
company in possession and the other
fighting for possession. The general
public is not interested in the dis
pute, and the supply Of asphalt will
not be affected no matter how it is
terminated, since the United States
now produces suf1cient for local con,
sumption.
The chief import from the southern
republic to the United States haf
been asphalt so that II by any rea
son our trade relations should be
terminated, as has frequently beer
threatened at Washington, this coun
try would not mind it. The local pro
duction OF asphalt would meet all de
mands.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-08
WHERE is OURS?

Occasionally we read in the Assoc
ciated Press dispatches where con-
gress has seen At to appropriate
something for a public building some.
where. Not long ago an appropriation
was made for one in a town in Wyo-
ming, but we have failed to note any
thing about an appropriation being
made or even recommended for such
a structure in Billings. While as long
as congress is in session there is hope,
still the hope grows fainter every
day.
OF course, we have not reached the
position where We can agree with the
esteemed Butte Miner that the public
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-08

If the Butte baseball team will
kindly scatter their shutout defensive
work throughout two or three games
instead Of concentrating 1t into IL
extra innings it will help some
Butte Miner.
Governor Johnson had an earlier
start, and there are other reasons
why Mr.. Conrad should feel abund-
antly satisfied If he can divide the
New York delegation with the Min
Observation-Disclosures Standard.
Denver can't Guido Billings. The
metropolis Of the Yellowstone Is now
bidding for fame through the an
nouncement that a white woman Of
that city became the wife Of a Chi
nese flaundryman last sunday.-Hel-
ma Independent.
Mayor Lewis L. Lehman OF Mat
tooh, I'LL, has resigned because the
citizens voted to abolish the 10 sa-
loongssssof that town. Any man in the
habit Of visiting 10 saloons daily, be-
tween working hours, can see that
the mayor a justified, and that he
looked supon the action Of his fellow
citizens as a personal insult.-Mis-
soula Herald. S
The kickers on the farm are not so
hard to get along with as the kickers
in town. On the farm there is the
kicking COW, and our %long-eared
friend, the mule, while in town there
is the old mossback who wants all
the municipal Improvements without
paying for them. The COW may be
sold for beef, the mule traded for a
shotgun. but, nothing but a funeral
will get rid Of the town Kicker
Joliet Journal.
4ASta M u.4@& E.&H M&-Mgs &$- #W, %4M44 GE &tErs
By their newspapers, you shall
know them. A town that is represent,
ed to the outside world by newspa-
pers that are editorially feeble, fall
tering, uncertain, that are mechani-
cally dirty, grimy, slouchy; that are
dry, listless, lifeless in news features;
that are sickly, weak and half-starved
for want Of business-a town repre-
sented by such newspapers will be
known as a mighty poor town to To-
cate in, and a pretty good place to
fight shy of. BY their newspapers we
know them. We can classify the
good, bad and Indifferent towns in
the state by the papers on our ex-
change table. and we are willing
that the world should Judge Forsyth
by its newspapers.-Forsyth Times.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-08
BUSINESS in BILLINGS.

The growth of one of the new bust
ness houses in Billings is an excellent
demonstration of the opportunities Of
fered for men to engage in mercantile
pursuits here. Less than two months
ago two young men who had been con-
nected with one of the local stores
decided to engage in business for
themselves. They secured a location
and after overcoming many difficulties
and being delayed, opened for bust
ness, employing two clerks and two
delivery men. They have done a
strictly cash business, and yet in a
very short time their business has
grown so that on Monday morning
they were compelled to employ addi-
tional help, for which they have q
permanent position, while they assert
that they need more help. During that
same time none Of the other stores
have noticed a falling of in business;
in fact, each one has declared that
EEsaaTHF4N' TEE 3F|5Eg
business has been steadily increasing.
What these young men have done
other young men can do in Billings.
The wonderful increase in population
which is assured Billings through the
construction of the Billings & North
ern and Milwaukee railroads in east
ern Montana, and the wonderful in
lux Of settlers and consequent in
crease Of productiveness Of the land
tributary to Billings guarantees an
increase in business in mercantile
pursuitsshere. There is not a place in
the entire county, it is safe to say,
where the opportunity to do business
Is so good.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-08
LIMITING THE SALOONS.

Naturally, The Gazette is gratif1ed
that in its efforts to bring about a linn
itation Of the number Of saloon IL
censes that shall be issued in Billings
1t should have the support OF the local
liquor dealers association. Morally,
socially, financially and industrially
The Gazette believes too many saloons
are bad for the community. There
n now nearly forty saloons in Bill
ings. That is too many for the popu-
lation OF the town. It is no wonder
that the liquor dealers should adopt
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-08
Of EASTERN MONTANA

LlrL - r.
Since commencing the agitation to
have a true history of eastern Mon
tana compiled, The Gazette has re-
ceived several encouraging letters,
one Of which, from State Librarian
Bell, is printed in this mornings is
sue. No man is in as good a position to
know the need for such a history as
Mr.. Bell. Possessing an acquaintance
with the best books on early life in
Montana and Knowing many Of the
earliest settlers, he realizes how far
from correctly the books which have
heretofore been written recount the
early settlement and development Of
eastern Montana.
The Gazette hopes to hear from
other old timers on this matter. It is
the intentions to secure the names and
addresses of the old timers, such men
as Yellowstone Kelley, George Town,
Uncle Bill Hamilton, the men who &C.
tually paved the path Of progress
through the northwest. It is then the
intention of the men, who have sug.
gested this agitation, to correspond
with these men for the purpose of Sc
curing from them the story of their
early lives, which is really the story
of Montana's early development.
The interest, which has been taken
in the suggestion that a meeting of
these pioneers be held for the purpose
of permitting them to tell the story of
the early days correctly, is encourag-
ing indeed. It raises hope that such a
meeting will be held and that such a
history will be compiled. 1t will
prove to be one of the most enter
tanning, as well as one Of the most in
%structive historical works, ever writ
ten.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-08

resolutions requesting the city coun-
licenses shall be granted here.
Yet let no one suppose thatsthe res.
olution was adopted because of any
sudden change in the moral attitude
Of the local liquor dealers. Such is not
the case. When the saloons ere only
a few less this paper urged repeatedly
that no more licenses be granted, yet
neither the saloon men nor the city
council saw fit to heed our suggestion.
That has been a short time ago., so
why this sudden decision on the part
of the liquor men that no more IL
censes should be granted? There is
a reason for it, and 1t is a financial
enc. Few Of the saloons in Billings
are making any money. There are
too many of them and not enough
business to permit all to earn much
over expenses. Naturally, for tinan.
cial reasons, the saloons do not want
any more licenses granted.
There is another reason. Most Of
the saloons in Billings are agents for
some well known brand of beer,
whose popularity has been establish
ed. It is rumored that one st. Paul
brewing firm and one Minneapolis
brewing firm, recognizing the advan-
tages Of Billings as a distributing
place, have decided to open wholesale
depots here and also operate local
saloons. These two breweries have
no agencies here and no saloons han
die their beer. 70 open new saloons
and to introduce new beer they must
secure licenses. A decision by the
city council not to grant any more
licenses means that, in order to secure
a local saloon to sell their product the
representatives Of the eastern brew
cries, which propose to make this
distributing center, will have to pur-
chase some saloon now operating.
When it is remembered that nearly
every saloon is under the control Of a
brewery or a brewery's representative,
who would dictate the terms of sale,
it a be een how difficult it will
prove for any new brewers to retail.
their liquor in Billings.
It is apparent, therefore, why the
liquor dealers have experienced a
change in heart since some OF the
newer, saloons were given licenses. It
is also di%scernible how easy it is for
the breweries whose retail dispen.
saries have been established to control
the brands of liquor sold in Billings.
The Gazette is glad that al last
the liquor men, as well as the tenn
perance advocates, realize that the
number of saloons in Billings should
be curbed, but the liquor men and The
Gazette have different reasons for de.
string the limitation.
This is one instance in which a de-
sire to m%onopolize one industry is
probably beneficial to a community.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-08
SENTIMENT in THE VALLEY.

Sentiment among the republicans Of
the Yellowstone valley and eastern
Montana is undoubtedly opposed to
sending an instructed delegation to
the Chicago convention. In Dawson
county the county convention that
named delegates to the state conven-
ton expressed itself as against send
ing an instructed delegation. The
convention that named the delegation
from Rosebud county defeated a reso-
luton to instruct for Secretary Taft,
and in Carbon county the delegation
that has been named is divided as to
the advisability Of sending an instruct
ed delegation. In this. county the
sentiment is undoubtedly very strong
against instructions.
It therefore behooves the. .republi-
can county convention, when 1t meets
next Tuesday, to take a vote Of the
delegates as to whether or not an in.
structed delegation should be sent to
Chicago. It will be well for US to let
the people Of western Montana. whom
the political heelers have tried to con.
vince that the state is for an instruct.
ed delegation for Secretary Taft, know
the feeling in eastern Montana.
Eastern Montana is going to be an
influential factor in the contest next
fall. The party in the state should
be acquainted with the sentiment here
and If the party leaders play politics
they will not instruct the delegation
to Chicago.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-08
DO YOUR BEST FOR MONTANA.

Ea
The republican state convention OF
New Jersey adopted instructions for
the delegates to the national conven-
ton similar to the instructions that
should be adopted by the republican
convention of Montana for the dele.
gates from this state to the national
convention in Chicago.
After voting down a resolution In
structing the delegates to vote for
William H. Taft, secretary Of war, for
the presidential nomination, the con.
vention, according to the telegraphie
reports, practically instructed the
delegates to 90 all they could to se-
cure for the state Of New Jersey what
ever favors they could at the national
convention. Then the convention
elected some OF the brightest and
ablest men in New Jersey as dele
gates.
The New Jersey republicans appar.
emily appreciate the condition that
will exist in Chicago, where Secretary
Taft will control a large per cent Of
the delegates, but not SUFFICIENT to
nominate, while the combined opposi.
ton will control probably a similar
number Of delegates. That will make
the u~ninstructed delegates the most
powerful influence in the convention,
practically leaving to them the nam
ing Of the party's candidate for the
presidency.
In national conventions politics are
played to the limit. The instructed
delegates will be ignored. They are
as SO many proxies, but the unin-
structed delegates will possess o
siderable influence in the convention,
as their support will be needed Dy the
successful candidate to procure the
n mination. They will be placed in a
position where they can do something
for the state-have inserted in the
platform some plank that the Mon
tana republicans desire, OF in some
way, known to political life, make
Montana an important factor in the
councils Of the party.
The recent conventions have sent
a majority Of the delegates uninstruct.
ed to Chicago, so that there is no
occasion to get on the Taft band
wagon or any other band wagon.
There Is now no doubt as to the In
auence Of the uninstructed delegates
in the coming convention, 80 the wis.
dom Of adopting the course pursued
by the New Jersey state convention
q be cen
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-08

alleged La Porte murderess,. has
been translated from Norwegian into
English, as follows:
carl Peterson, Waupaca,. Wis
Dear Sir: AS / some time ago re-
ceived from you a letter in answer
to my advertisement in the scandi-
navian, l will with pleasure answer
the same.
"The reason I waited for some time
is that there have been other answers
to the same advertisement. AS many
as so have been received and It has
been impossible to answer all. I have
picked out the most respectable, and
I have decided that yours IS such.
First, I will tell you that I am a
Norwegian, and have been IN this
country for 20 years. I live in Indiana
about SO miles from Chicago and one
mile north Of La Porte. I am the sole
owner Of a nice home, pretty location.
There are rs acres Of land, also
all kinds Of crops, improved land, ap-
pies, plums and currants. I am on a
boulevard road and have a 12.room
house, practically new, a windmill and
all modern improvements, situated in
a beautiful suburb of Chicago, worth
about $15, 900.
Tells Of Her Family. -,
"All of this is nearly paid for. It Is
in my own name. / am alone with
three small children, from 5 to IL
years old. The smallest is a little
boy. The two largest are girls. all
frisky and well. I lost my husband in
an accident five years ago and have
since tried to get along as we'll as 4
could with what help | could hire. I
am getting tired of this and I have
found that it is not well to trust 9th.
ers with so much.
1T Is too much for me to look after
things, and things are not as / want
them anyway. My idea is to take q,
partner to whom Y can trust YER
thing, and as we have no acquain-
lance ourselves / have decided that
every applicant ! have considered
favorably must make a satisfactory
deposit Of cash or securities.
II think that is the best way for
parties to keep away grafters, who
are always looking for such opportu-
mites, as / have had experience with
them, as ! al prove.
"Now, II you think that you are
able to in some way put up $1,000
cash, we a talk matters yer per.
sonally. II you cannot is It worth
while to consider? i would not care
for you as a hired man, as ! am tired
Of that, and need q little rest in my
home and near my children. I will
close for this time. With friendly re-
CARDS.
MRS. p. 8. GUINNESS.
LA Porte. Ind"
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-08
~ I3-.l V #EtaNa ~ I4aNs NJ |f-lI4 IL ~
Australia is 26 times larger than
the British isles.

Australia Is 26 times larger than
the British isles.
The elder Pliny speaks Of a certain
Novellio Tricintius, a Milanese, who
could swallow three large measures Of
wine in one gulp.
The imperial post Of Austria has Is
sued the Jubilee stamps commemora-
tive Of the sixtieth year OF the reign
of Franz JOSEPH. There are eight
stamps, and these form a miniature
portrait gallery Of seven Of Austria's
rulers.
Court dresses, hams, costumes, ci-
gars, cameras and cheese were among
some OF the articles alleged to have
been stolen by William F. Eggleston,
Great Northern railway platformlin-
spector, who was remanded at Ret
ford, England.
Another hot spring was recently
added to the 10 which Carlsbad had
for years enjoyed. Workmen who
were engaged in clearing out the
channels Of the "Muhlbrunn'' sudden
'ly broke into a new spring Of hot min
eral water 90 feet below the surface
of the ground.
.
James Otis Kaler OF South Port
land, Me-, is a prolific writer for boys.
He is the author of more than 100
books. He reads new manuscripts to
his boy friends, and If they do not
listen with interest he throws the.
book aside and starts another. He
had his first book published in 1878.
"A girl named Gordon, working In q
laundry at Ballymena, Belfast, ireland,
was caught in a machine by the hair
and completely scalped. A doctor or.
dered her removed to a hospital. The.
scalp was also taken there, and Dr..
Davidson succeeded in sewing 1t on.
The girl Is alive and making good
progress. =
Germany's war in Southwest Africa
has cost $780, 100000, which has been
spent overcoming the resistance Of
one or two native tribes. The losses
in action were heavy. Eighty-six
commissioned officers were killed and
the non-commissioned officers num-
bered 229; rank and file, 1,167; total,
1,482. Among the colonial troops 16
officers and 1876 men persisted.
Sailors cast away on uninhabited
islands in temperate regions have
managed to subsist for long periods.
Thus, the e Of the Caroline,
wrecked on Ducie Island, in the South
Pacific, in July, 1888, lived there quite
comfortably until taken OF In May,
1885; while two survivors Of the
whaler Essex we're three years and
four months on the neighboring Hen
derson Island before being rescued.