Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-10-14
A BIRD IN THE HAND.

Treasure State: Every time think
over the race Thomas II. Carter is
making against the two or more
Democrat candidates for the Senate,
am reminded of the old adage about
the bird in the hand. Thomas Henry
is certainly Il bird. lie has done and
is capable of doing more for his own
State, than any other Senator from
any other State has or can accom-
plish in a similar direction. For
twenty years the people Of Montana
have been training Carter for this
very specialized efficiency, and he has
proved an apt student and al honor
graduate. He has been Senator for
many years now; but lie was q Con-
gresham before that, and territor-
ial delegate before Montana was a
State.
His achievements in behalf Of Mon
tana during that long period Of SER
vice, probationary at first but later
professed and approved, would make
long story Of benetices, battles,
hard work and adroit craftsmanship.
Besides his great and enduring SER
vice to the local interest of Montana,
Carter has cOntrived to loom largely
as a figure Of national Importance.
Since the passing Of John Colt Spoon
er, Senator Carter has been the fore
most factor in harmony both with the
dominant majority and the execu-
tive head of the Republican admins
tratiOns.
| know that in gaining advantages
for his constituency here, Carter has
snapped away many vote Gil meas
ures more remote if more significant
in IA national sense. But. so far as
Montana is concerned, Carter has
been a good and faithful servant.
He has delivered the goods, brought
home the bacon, stood always for his
people in this State. The whole West
is indebted to him for his fight for
and capture Of the irrigation appro.
priations; tor his hostility to con-
servation encroachment, for Il is
struggle for comprehensive develop
ment. The nation at large is his deb
tor for the Postal Savings bank law.
AS against these tangible assets, the
Democrats offer us problematical re-
forms, theoretical establishments. For
the bird in the hand, they propose
the two i'm thp huSh
When Service Counts.
The kind of service which Thomas
IL. Carter has rendered and can rem
der to his home State is best esti-
mated by the needs of Montona as
compared with the less vital require
ments Of older States. Montana is
yet in the formative period; the stage
Ut adolescence. Having by dint of
long and dynamic service to his party,
won eminence in the national coun-
cias. Senator Carter, more than any
OF his contemporaries. is able to COM
mand for his constituents both the
attention and the service of the legis-
latire and executive power ut Wash
ingtvn.
w Aatevercriticism, fair or exagger-
ated. that he may have incurred by
reason Of his utilization with the con-
servn*iyes, the stand-patters and the
reactionarles of the C0ngre ssiOnal
majority, Carter is yet to be COM
mended. appraised and estimated in
the light Of persistent and strikingly
successful exercise of his own in
tluenc~ in behalf of Montana and the
West. Let us not forget that if he
had bnlted the policies ct his Senat-
orial associates in mamy issues of
national moment, he mast perforce
have failed in his efforts, towards leg
islati,on OF local Montana Importance.
1t may be said adversely of him
shat NJ is for Montana frst, and for
the sation ut large afterwards. Well,
so asl | and | guess m:ony more have
the same viewpoint. 1t has been
said reproachfully, that Carter is the
groOmed and selected successor of
Aldrich: that the Montana Senior
Senator is to be the future autocrat
of the conservative wing of the upper
house in place of the Rhode Island
autocrat, Well, what of it? pre-
fer Carter to Aldrich, even as | pre-
fer Montana to Rhode Island. In Il
broad and adventurous national
sense. insurgency and the Democracy
generally may be right in this clam
or for Il revolution in the national
legislature, but SO far as Montana is
concerned. think it would be an eg-
| regiOus mistake to unseat Carter
now. The people Of Montana can