Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1912-05-24
THE STATE CONVENTION.

the STATE CONVENTION.
TO one who is not acquainted with
political conditions in Montana and
who was u spectator at the republic
al state convention held last week at
Livingston it would appear that there
was Il general uprising Of the people
in favor of the denomination Of Presi-
dent Taft.
The convention was overwhelming
" one sided. The term steam roller
is used to designate the operations Of
q majority I'M convention which does
not actually represent the true senti-
ment Of the people whom they are
supposed to represent, advocating
men or measures that are not popu-
lar, and putting the obnoxious men or
measures to the front by the unit
rule Of counties or by combinations
among the delegates.
There are four cities in the state
that have up to the present time con-
trolled the politics OF Montana, name
~. Butte, Helena, Great Falls and
Missoula. The counties in which
these cities are located are cont rolled
by the Amalgamated Copper COM
pany Of Butte and Wall Street, New
York.1s For some reason best known
to itself the big copper COMPANY de-
sired that Montana give the distin-
guished occupant Of the white house
an endorsement for a second term.
Their henchmen in the different
counties which they control were Or
dered to bring to the Livingston con-
vpntion delegations favorable to Taft.
The method of making these selec-
tiOns is familiar to most of the people
Of the state, and the less said about
it the better for the. rising generation.
Suffice ii 10 say, that high handed
tactics were pursued in several of the
big counties in order to carry out the
wishes of the Amalgmaated that
would have caused the rankpst Tam
many brave OF Boss Tweed's day to
drop dead of envy. The local bosses,
where opposition was met, whipped
into line the timid voter with the
lash of Il Simon Legree: others were
forced to bury their patriotism and go
against their honest convictions for
fear Of losing their positions or suf-
fer in business: others We're robbed
of the opportunity of participating in
the selection of delegates by having
the delegates picked by a boss by
manipulating county committees to
do the dirty work: while the respect
able element i'll communities like
Missoula and Helena were kept from
The slogan was: Anything to get the
delegates" Money, nerve and Drawn
won. The Amalgamated went to the
Livingston convention with Il ma
jority Of 200, .'hog tied and copper
wired" as one of the victims con-
fessed to a friend at the convention.
Does any sane man believe that
with presidential preference prim-
airy in operation i'll Montana that this
state would give Taft the eight dele
gates to the Chicago convention?
One Of the delegates from Silver
Bow county told a friend in Living
ston that sixty per cent Of the Butte
delegation at the convention was
strongly for Roosevelt. The delega-
ton came to the convention in Il
special train. Everything was free.
board. lodging and refreshments.
The same is true of the Helena dele
CATION. The boys were treated roy
ally by !.anstrum and NARROW, and
were not allowed to spend any money
for necessities or Injuries. The
state band of over 20 pieces accom-
panlea the ii elena train. The
aeader of the band informed the
writer that every member Of that mu-
sicial organization was a strong ad-
herent of Roosevelt. and he asked for
Roosevelt badges for all the music-
ans.
The real enthusiasm manifested at
any time was when RoOsevelt's name
was mentioned. The Amalgamated
crowd could not enthuse, because
they knew they were not represent
ing the true sentiment of the people.
And it is the same way in both
parties. When the democratic state
convention is held the same program
will be carried out. The Amalgamat-
ed will pay the freight and name the