The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-03-17
Tuesday, March ~ 1908.

Tuesday, March ~, 1908.
FRIEND OF THE WEST WANTED.
Within the next few weeks state
conventions will be held in nearly all
the western states to choose dele
gates to the coming national republi-
can convention, which will choose the
party's nominee for president. I'm
doubtedly effort will be made by the
friends OF the umerous statesmen
and favorite sons who have been
spoken Of in connection with the nom
nation to secure instructed delega-
lions. But it is debatable whether or
not 1t will be wise for Montana and
other western states to send instruct
ed delegates to Chicago.
The coming convention will be OF
greater Importance to the west than
any that has taken place. Much of
the energies Of the federal govern
ment are being spent developing this
portion of the commonwealth. There
lie hardly a western state but what
has some enormous irrigation project
under course OF construction by the
government, and in Montana there
are at least four. The national govern
ment has adopted a system Of forest
reserves, intended to save the great
forests OF the nation to posterity. It
is already considering improvements
to the western waterways, and invest
igating with the intent Of saving the
great water power possibilities OF
western rivers so that they may be
utilized. 1t has taken up the work Of
providing homes on arid land, which
It is preparing to furnish water to ir
rigate, for thousands OF American
families. It has commenced the work
Of opening for settlement the Indian
reservations. The federal adminis1
tration has commenced the work of
Furnishing the land thieves Of the west
and restoring to the people land
which was illegally taken from them.
It has commenced to curb and con-
troll the great corporations whose
transportation systems Cross the west
ern commonwealth. The national
government is spending more money
In these and other matters Of inter
est to the great west than ever in its
history.
While, in common with the eastern
southern and northern sections Of the
United States, the people Of the west
are interested in seeing the reforms
i~naugurated by President Roosevelt
carried to completion, the west in ad-
dition, is interested in seeing In the
presidential Office a man who will not
only e to the best of his ability that
the government continues the great
works It has commenced In the west,
but that It extends its scope Of opera
tions in other great projects here. 1t
is such a man that the west should
be interested in seeing nominated as
the republican candidate for the presi.
dency.
So far as The Gazette knows all OF
the leading candidates are friends OF
the west. But before a western state
gives an endorsement to any candi.
date 1t should know that he favors the
carrying out of the present attitude OF
the federal administration toward the
west. Montana should send to the
Chicago convention delegates who will
support a man. who is known as a
friend Of the west.
II instructed the delegates should
be pledged in this respect. II unin.
structed, then Montana should send to
the national convention delegates who
are bound to do what is best for the
party, best for the country and above
all best for the west.
M 8