The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-08-09
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 8, 1911.
SENATOR MYERS EXPLAINS.

60V~ Wv
In the news dispatches from Wash
ington during the past week 1t was au'
nounced that Senator Myers, OF Mon
ana made his maiden speech In the
senate, his remarks consisting princi-
pally of an explanation of his vote
upon the wool tariff bill and other
measures that affect the interests OF
his constituents. The senator con.
sidered the occasion Of such impor.
lance to the public or to his " poll
ticalreputation, that advance copies OF
the speech we're sent to several Mon
tana democr attic newspapers, in order
to secure publicity to the widest posi-
BILE extent.
The speech in full occupied several
columns of newspaper space, but 1t
might have been condensed into the
brief and simple statement that Sena'
tor Myers obeyed the commands OF
of his party leaders. His retreat from
the attitude of independence in thought
and action, which he proclaimed be-
fore his departure for Washington,
cannot be concealed from the public
by an excessively voluminous speech
defining his position before and after
entering the United States senate.
His explanatory statement said In
part:
upon my election, without my soil.
citation, to this body, | announced
that I would, at all times during my
term of service here, endeavor to give
fair considers alton and Justice to every
legitimate industry OF the state OF
Montana or of the nation. also an.
nounced that / would stand for the
rule of the people and against the rule
of special interests. did not and l
do no now consider those two declar-
atoms inconsistent. Wool growing is
one Of the principal industries OF Mon
tana. Montana is the leading WOOL
growing state Of the Union. In the
production of wool 1t leads all of the
states and territories. Montana has
within its borders more sheep than
has any other state or any territory
in the Union. According to the last
TcDOEV Vi VuS CCu6uo OuICouS III ACAO
there were in Montana 4,978, 963 sheep.
I am told that the wool.growinR in
dustry OF Montana represents invest
ments of $45, 600, 600. \ simply state
facts. No deduction should therefron
be drawn that I favor giving that in
dustry any more than justice, or any
undue ad vantage, or giving it any
thing at the expense of the people,
1t is a matter of record that q few
days after his election to the United
States senate. Judge Myers was quot
cd in newspaper interviews as express
ing almost completed ignorance as &c
the merits of tariff reductions anc
some other measures proposed by hi
democratic associates. He declared
his purpose to give such matters hi
careful and deliberate thought, con
sidering the evidence In favor of ant
against the propositions, and to ar
rive at conclusions through q process
of judicial reasoning that he ha'
heretofore exercisedlwhile presiding q
q Montana district Judge.
Incidentally, it was remarked b
Senator Myersjthat, in his opinion
hasty action upon'lthe wool schedul
was inadviea b!e-that q revision G
wool duties should await the repor
Of the tariff board a. to the cost c
production In the United States an
foreign countries, and that no harr
would result from: postponing actio
in the matter until.the regular sessio
of congress.
In view of thisSposition, so clearl
defined by Senator Myers only a fe'
weeks ago, his action upon the voc
tariff measure probably suggested hi
speech of explain alton. The senator
it is presumed, has studied the quel
ton carefully-under tuition of hi
party leaders-and felt himself quail
fed to vote contrary to his forme
opinions.
1t occurs to this newspaper tn
Senator Myers, having acquired il
formation upon the wool schedule
an extent sufficient to enable him
act intelligently in voting upon /
should give his constituents the ben
fit of some Of his recently acquire
knowledge. What reduction won
be made, for instance, 10 the price
q suit of clothes made from ''wethel
wool, II the bill for which he vot
should become a law? The senat
should be prepared to give prom
and accurate answer to this reque
for Information.