Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1913-01-21
FERGUS MAKES
GOOD SHOWING
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THIS
COUNTY TAKING VERY AC-
TIVE PART IN WORK.
.0UTlOOK VERY HOPEFUL
Senator Tom Stout of Lewistown Ex-
presses Belief That Much Good
Legislation Will Be Put Through
During Present Session-Drinkard
Active for Good Roads.

| Senator Tom Stout of this county
came over from Helena Friday for a
brief visit with his family and to look
after some personal business matters
requiring his attention. He returned
to Helena Sunday, being accompanied
by Mrs. Stout, who will spend few
days at the capital CITY,
"The work of the Thirteenth legis-
lative assembly has started off well"
said Senator Stout in an interview
given the Democrat. "The expeditions
and exceedingly happy manner in
which the work of selecting United
| States senator was performed has re-
| lieved the legislature Of what has al
ways, in the past, been source of
annoyance. The unanimous election
of Hon. Thomas ]. Walsh to the u.
S. senate amply justiies the claims
which have been made during the past
| few years by the advocates of pri-
mary election law. This will, in all
human probabilities, be the last time
that legislative assembly will be
called upon to elect a senator. 1t is
confidently expected that before the
| time rolls around for the selection of
successor to Senator Myers, four
years hence, sufficient number of
states will have ratified the resolution
providing for an amendment to the
| constitution of the United States pro-
viding for the direct election of sena-
tors by the vote of the people. Mon
tana will ratify this proposed amend
ment at the present session of the
legislature.
Fergus Is Recognized.
Fergus county has Jared very we'll
in the organization of the present as
sembly. We have four active, intel
| ligent members in the lower house in
Representatives Burnett, Drinkard,
Jewell and Phillips, and all of them
are already looked upon as strong
men in the lower branch of the as.
sembly. In the selection of the house
committees by Speaker Mcdonald of
Flathead county, our four members
were excellently taken care of. Phil
| lips is on a number of very important
committees and is looked upon as a
man who does not waste much time
in talking, but makes up for any lack
of oratorical display by hard work.
Drinkard is chairman of one of the
big committees of the house, high
ways and bridges. There was lot of
Wire-pulling for this position and it
speaks well for the Fergus county
delegation that they were able to land
the plum. Drinkard has introduced
comprehensive good roads bill,
which seems assured of passage and
in substantially the form as drafted
by it's author.
Harvey Burnett is chairman of the
printing committee and is on the
stockgrowing and other important
committees. He is the youngest and,
deservedly, one of the most popular
members of the entire legislature
John j. Jewell has a place on the ju-
dietary committee, which is consid-
cred the big committee of the house.
Of course, all of the boys have other
assignments which will occupy their
spare time.
Will Fulfill Pledges.
"The democrats of both branches of
the assembly appear intent upon full
filling all of their platform pledges,
and | look for the present session to
be productive of much effective leg
|
measures have been introduced and
there Is great diversity of opinion
among the various labor organizations
in the state on this subject The big
Silver Bow Trades and Labor Council
is pushing a bill, introduced by Muir
ply of that county, providing for
compulsory system of compensation
for the injuries and death of employees.
Senator O'Shea of Carbon county has
introduced an elective compensation
bill, and this is strongly favored by
the railroad employees, electrical work
ers and other bodies. This great
variance of ideas among those for
whose benefit any compensation meas
ure is aimed will make it extremely
difficult to pass measure satisfac-
tory. to all, but some hard work is be-
Ing done on the subject by the lead.
ers in both houses.
The Utilities Act.
"There will certainly be passed an
adequate public utilities act, although
this is a matter which will require
considerable threshing out on account
Some favor having the work of this
department placed in charge of the
railroad commissioners, while others
strongly urge the creation of a sep
arate commission. A number of tax
commission bills have been introduced
and one will certainly be passed.
There promises to be lively fight
on the proposition which has been
advanced for the consolidation of our
higher educational institutions. There