The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-02-08
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8, 1911.
AcoRPoRATION DICTATORSHIP

The seuatorial deadlock in the
twelfth assembly supplies further
evidence of corporation interference
in the political affairs OF this com.
mouwealth. That has been the situa.
ton at former Legislative sessions,
and 1t threatens to continue until q
fair re.spportionmeut is made and .
direct primary law is enacted.
There IL q disposition among re.
publican newspapers, for partisan
reasons, to represent the present sem.
atorial deadlock as q horrible exam.
pie of democratic impotence; but it is
apparent to any fair.minded observer
that, were the conditions reversed-if
the republicans controlled the twelfth
assembly, and q majority Of the party
membership favored q senatorial can.
did ate who was Objectionable to GER.
tain corporate interests-the same
tactics would be employed to effect q
deadlock OF the assembly.
Reverting back to sen atorial dead.
locks of former sessions, it will be
remembered that w. A. Clark was
the leading senatorial candidate in q
democratic legislative assembly, but
was opposed by corporation inauen-
ces that controlled q minority of the
democratic membership. It was q
bitter contest, In which money was
spent with q lavish hand, and the
election Of Mr.. Clark at that time was
generally acknowledged to have been
accomplished by corrupt methods.
The stigma of bribery has defaced
Clsrk's political record since that
memorable occasion, but there vas
excuse for his alleged wrong.doing In
the unfair methods adopted by his
opponents. He fought fire with fire.
The democratic minority was de.
bauched by corporation tyranny and
other influences, and Clark's only
way to beat the game was to buy the
necessary votes. 1t was q dirty bust.
ness in which q senatorial aspirant
who was determined to win was COM
PEELED to soil his hands and besmirch
his reputation.
In the existing deadlock the princi
pal opposition to Mr.. Walsh, the lead
ing democratic senatorial candidate
comes from the Silver Bow delegation
among which are several business:
employees of q big mining corporation
For the past three weeks, the Silver
Bow members, with one exception
have voted for a candidate who is no
their real choice for the sen atorship
but with whom they hope to breal
down the Walsh strength and effect
compromise upon some other oandi
date who would be acceptable to tn
corporate interests. II this purpos
cannot be accomplished they are pre-
pared to continue the deadlock an
adjourn without electing q Unite
States senator, repeating the unfo'
tunate conditions that existed on
FORMER OCc8elOO.
Nor is corporation Interference cor
fined to the senatorial contest. I
matters of legislation It is frequent
the determining factor. When q men
Der introduces q bill upon some In
portant subject, his first endeavor
to ascertain whether corporate infu
ences are favorable or opposed to Il
II the latter, its chances of enactmer
into law are placed in the doubtfl
column.
This corporation dictatorship Is re
sented throughout Montana. 1t 10 bt
coming ~intolerable, and invites retail
alton. When the people are confron
ed with the proposition that corporal
influences shall dictate their choit
for congressional honors, or detel
mine the legislative service they cha
secure, it is not difficult to predict tt
result. A prudent regard for the +,
ture should suggest to corporate IL
terests that crowding the limit in tn
connection Is a short. sighted polio,
A HOME FOR PIONEERS.
A worthy representative of the piol
GERS of Montana has offered the SUI