The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-03-20
THE HELENA. HOG AGAIN.

JIG S6A0 SVuS0O 81 IUAs oAl4AA8s
Wholesale men could enter into com.
petition with wholesale men in other
jobbing points in Montana, had an
excellent illustration Of the Helena
hog to contend with.
When the Billings business men
reached Helena they discovered that
the meeting with the state raflroad
commissioners and railroad .omcials.
to which s.they#shad been invited, was
not to discuss local rates such as the
Billings men wanted adjudicated, but
long distance rates. It was discovered
that the state railroad commission
really had no authority to command
changes in rates such as the Billings
men = desired. After discussing the
matter, the Billings delegation decid.
ed to take steps to form . state trat-
&c association, composed Of wholesale
men from all the larger cities Of
Montana, for the purpose Of uniting
In an effort to persuade the railroad
omcials to equalize the local freight
rates. Business men from Mlssoula,
Great Falls, Butte and several other
cities Joined IN the movement, but
when the Helena wholesale men were
approacheids they threw Z up their hands
III horror, afraid they might offend
the railroads, and declared that Hell.
ena was satisfied With Her present
rates. as well she might be since
they enable her. to ship into Billings
for less than Billings men. 'can ship
into Helena. The Helena, interests
deliberately threw cold water On the
proposition. which was designed to
aid the other cities Of the state.
Needless to say the Billings men
do not feel any too kindly toward
Helena wholesale interests as : result
+of this demonstration that the Helena
hog still exists, TIE po~r.otestations Of
the Helena Commercial club to the
contrary Notwithstanding. The people
Of other sections of the state should
bear this In mind. II Helena is not
going to help the remainder Of the
state, then let the remainder OF the
state tell the capital city to go to.
This attitude on the part Of Helena
interests IN surprising indeed. It has
been but q few weeks ago that the
secretary Of the Helena Commercial
club came to Billings seeking the as
sistance OF this city IN promoting a
carnival and a state fair. He declar-
ed that Helena was extending the
glad hand, that she wanted to. help
eastern Montana grow and she want
ed eastern Montana to help the CAPT
tai city. All the "hot air" MI. Hull
peddled appears to have been poppy
cock" Of the worst sort. The first
chance the Helena interests were
given to help the remainder Of the
state they turned down. and boldly
admitted that 1t would help other
cities and not Helena. and that was
Why they would not participate,
It is also noticed that the Helena
papers passed up the visiting delega-
ton from Billings in commenting on
the proceedings Of the state railroad
commission. and nothing at alls was
said Of the temporary organization Of
. state traflc association which the
other cities Of the state intend to
complete, regardless ~ lselena. that
friendly discussioas, may be had be-
tween tie business men ofsMontana
and the railroads regarding matters
Of interest.
IL this be the spirit Of Helena, all
well and good. The people. Of. the
remainder Of the state should bear
1t in mind. There is q Fourth of July
celebration coming, there is a state
fair coming. and there are other
events which Helena wants 20 make
successful and which she must have
the assistance Of the remainder Of
the state to do.
Such cooperation as the Helena In
terests gave the other cities Of the
state IN the effort to secure more
equitable local rates will knock all
the boosting the Helena Commercial
club and its affable secretary can do
the remainder Of the year. There is
not one OF the Billings delegation. in.
all probability. but what has a sore
spot for Helena d . result Of the
received In the capital city.
The press dispatches tell. q ! won.
an In Los Angeles sleeping forty days,