The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1912-08-07
OFFICIAL PAPER OF cHOUTEAU COUNTY
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 2. 1912.
THE MONTANA PROGRESsIvES

sive psrty' Of Montana was effected
st q mass convention held in Helena q
few days ago, at which q formal
declaration Of principles was an
nounced. The membership Of the new
party, Of indicated by the personnel
Of the county delegations at the Helena
meeting, appears to consist princi-
pally of citizens formerly classed as
republicans.
The action of these men in cutting
loose from lifelong political associa.
tions is a significant sign of the unrest
that prevails among the voters. and
the resentment caused by "steam
roller" methodist and other ways of
accomplishing the!desires of political
bosses. In Montana, as in other states,
the voters are tired lof1machine poll
tics, and propose to manage their own
affairs without instructions or dicta-
ton from corporate or other sources.
The revolt against political machines
has become so general thatIa new order
of things is assured-but whether the
change q be.best effected by organ
izing q new|party, or by reforming the
old organizations, is q question about
which many citizens will honestly
differ.
The declaration of political indie
pendence adopted by the organizers of
the progressive party of Montana
favors q number OF reforms, and reads
in part sslfollows:
With the fullest confidence in the
rectitude Of III cause and the Ger.
tainty that It's principles will triumph,
willing at all times to submit direct
to the people u every claim for rec.
ognition and support and to abide by
the decision Of the electorate without
dissent, we herewith make the follow
ing declsrationi. of principles of the
progressive party OF the state of
Montana, and invite all citizens who
are in sympathy with the same to
withdraw from previous party afRlia.
lions and unite with US in the redemp.
ton of Montana from heretofore ex.
listing intolerable political conditions.
The constant effort of crooked bust.
ness In unholy alliance with crooked
bosses to usurp the powers OF govern
ment, through control of party ma
chinery, constitutes the greatest men
ace to realIpopular rule.
Therefore, we declare as the first
essential for correcting this condition
the necessity of the enactment of the
following laws:
Direct primary: direct election OF
United States senator's, presidential
preference primary and corrupt prac-
tices acts. which :are now definitely
before the people ofsMontana through
resort to the initiative and referendum
law, to be voted upon at the coming
fall election.
We declare ourselves as being un.
slserably in ~fsvorcof q complete re.
form OF taxation laws and methods
In Montana, to the end that there
shall bela fair and equal assessment
of all classes OF property. We be-
lieve that under present conditions
the railroads, the.lAmalgsmated Cop.
per company andl other corporations
are avoiding the payment of their
just proportion of the taxes, and we
pledgesourselves, If placed in power
by the votes OF the Ipeople, to correct
this condition by requiring an exact
physical valuation of property, with
q fair adjustment OF rates and tax.
alton based thereon. Equal assess.
ment will at the same time operate to
reduce the ratio of assessment of
those citizens who, at present, psy
taxes on the basis OF fair valuations.
We favor the amendment of the
state constitution 90 az to leave to the
legislature the power to determine the
method of assessing the mines and
railroads Of the state.