The river press., 1911-09-06
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. s, 1911.
DiSCREprTING lDIxON.

The existence of conspiracy TO dis
credit Senator Jos. M. Dixon-to be-
little his work in congress and TO
bring him into disrepute among his
Montana eonstituents-was exposed q
few days ago by the appearance OF
"carbon COPY" editorials in Glendive
and Helena publications that we're Is.
sued on the same date. These editor.
ial articles, which made adverse criti-
cism of Senator Dixon g speech upon
wool tariff revision, were exact dupli-
Gates of each other, and the only
reasonable explanation of the coinci.
dence is that they originated from q
source that Is antagonistic to Mr..
Dixon, and which supplied copies to
the journals that published them.
The criticism of Senator Dixon that
was made in these "carbon copy"
editorials-that his speech upon wool.
tariff revision was . partial repetition
of remarks made by Senator Mantle
upon the same subject several years
sgo-is not of serious consequence.
There is possibly an element of truth
In the allega alton. It Is also possible
that in the prep ar alton of Senator
Mantle's speech of several years ago
its author obtained inspiration from
remarks previously made by others;
or, 1t may have happened that the
several congressional students of the
wool tariff question. consulted the same
authorities and based their speeches
upon the same information thus oh.
tanned. The similarity Of rem arks, un.
der such circumstances, Is no rehec.
tion upon members of congress who
seek to present facts and arguments
In support of their views upon any
public question.
But the source and the animus of
this covert attack upon Sen ator Dixon
are the features of the incident tn at
concern citizens of Montana and the
public generally. The criticism was
undoubtedly instiga ated by interests
that are opposed to Mr.. Dixon, and
which are after his political scalp. 1t
has been current gossip in political
circles for some time past that the in.
fluences which invariably control in
Montana politics propose to retire
Senator Dixon, and the recent publ
cation of "carbon copy" editorials
designed to injure the senator's poll
teal prospects, confirms rumors to
that effect.
Senator Dixon, during his term in
the United States senate, has shown q
spirit of independeuce-a desire to
serve the best interests of the people
that is displeasing to influences that
seek special privilege at the expense
OF the public. A conspicuous inst ance
OF Senator Dixon's service In beha all
OF the nation at large, as we'll as to
his own immediate constituency, was
his long and short haul amendment to
the interstate commerce act, which
was adopted by congress and now
forms part OF the railroad rate regu.
lation law. This legislation secures
to the people OF Montana and other
western states relief from unjust and
oppressive railroad exactions that b ad
been in operation for q quarter of q
century, and compelled the transpor.
tation companies to give western ship.
pers square deal.
The position taken by Senator Dixon
in this natter, and his active work ir
the enactment of legislation that wat
opposed by corporate interests
aroused the animosity of influences
that now desire his defeat for re.elec
tion. Their plan of campaign will de
velop from time to time-msny of thei
attacks being made from ambusl
through "carbon copy editorials O
other forms OF attempted concealmen
but the senator's public recor'
should be sufficient protection agsins
such methods of political warfare.
1t is the general opinion that "Joe'
Dixon is something Of scrsppe
himself. and his opponents in eac
political party will not win an cas-