The Western news. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1890-1977, 1910-12-16
NO ACTION necessary,
LEAGUE OFFICERS DECIDE

A meeting of the officers of the In
dependent league was held Tuesday
night for the purpose of considering
the advisability of inviting Senator
elect H. c. Croft of Victor to appear
before the body and explain his pecu-
liar position with reference to reform
legislation. The saloons hold
signed pledge by Mr.. Croft to oppose
legislation wanted by the Independent
league, while he had also pledged
himself to support measures wanted
by the anti-saloon league; but as the
officers had received word from Mr..
Groff's friends that he would support
reform legislation, they decided that
there was no occasion for action at
this time.
1t seems to be the belief of the anti
saloon league members that, although
Mr.. Croft is pledged to the liquor in
terests, he will support reform meas
ures when they come before the state
senate. No one doubts that he signed
the saloon agreement, but it is
thought that he will make every effort
to square himself with the people for
this breach of faith and that the sa-
looms can expect nothing from him.
On the other hand expressions of
fear have been heard that.the grip the
saloons have on Mr. Croft may be
utilized by the allied lobbyists of the
Jobbing corporations. These men, it
is known, never overlook an opportun-
lty to use member of the legislature,
and with the Ravalli senator-elect un-
der signed pledge to the saloon inter-
ests, and afraid of further exposure,
1t is thought the Anaconda company
may attempt to use this club, as we'll
as the state liquor dealers organiza-
ton. 1t is recalled that this company
was instrumental in nominating Mr..
Croft in the democratic county con-
ventlon. Mr.. p. j. Shannon, manager
OF the DAILY Stock farm and confiden-
t1al agent of Messrs. Ryan and Nor
ony, was one of his chief sponsors.
When Mr.. Croft protested, in keeping
with the pre-arranged 'frame-up,"
that his business interests at Victor
would not permit him to make the
campaign, Mr.. Shannon took the con-
vention floor and offered to "go down
and run his bank for him.
Groff's subserviency to the political
department of the Anaconda company
has been marked for a dozen years.
His serf-like attitude was most pro-
nounced in the campaign of 1900.
when the state revolted against the
Anaconda company's interference in
politics. In the primary contest of
that year Croft represented Superin-
tendent McGinty of the DAILY Stock
farm, in Corvallis precinct.
In the last regular legislative ses-
sion Croft was counted a company
man. 1t is true he lodged House Bill
l6O, the New Jersey trust law, by not
voting when it passed the house (See
page 269. House Journal, Eleventh
legislative assembly,, but it was un-
derstood that the Amlagamated lobby
lists could have had his vote If they
wanted it. Groff's name appears in
the rollcalls as voting on other meas
ures just before and just after House
Bill $50 was passed, on that same aft
ernoon. (See pages 267-269 House
JournaD. Since that bill received more
attention than all others combined in
the Eleventh assembly, and was doubt
less the bill of most far-reaching con-
sequences ever passed by a Montana
legislature, encoutering the most bit
! ter and dramatic opposition, Groff's