The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-02
WHY?

For more than a year the Amalgamated interests have
owned, maintained and paid the monthly deficiency for the
publication of their local organ, the Missoula Sentinel.
For the production and distribution Of this publication,
there has been paid, out of the Amalgamated war chest,
about s., 700 each month, this being, the deficit after the
collection of what could be levied in the way OF advertising
and subscription from the local community.
Since the Amalgamated established this branch of its
publicity service, the Sentinel has cost something more than
So, 900. During this time, the Amalgamateds state agents
have caioled or threatened with financial punishment more
than one Of the local business interests in western Montana,
because of unwillingness to contribute to the maintenance
of an Amalgamated publicity bulletin.
To the casual observer, this statement OF cold fact may
seem strange; it may seem at variance with the policy OF
the Standard-Ol interests OF New York, which control the
Amalgamated as these interests have not been noted for
philanthropic purposes; their widely established policy has
been to control by fair means or foul; they have laughed at
public sentiment, unless; it was crystaillzed into statute
always stood willing to pay immense sums from the enor-
nous fund which they maintain for this express purpose.
But, when local conditions are understood, the sit situation
becomes clear. Here in Montana, the Standard-Oi. inter-
ests, represented by the Amalgamated, New York interests
all of them, are in control of the mineral and the timber
interests of the state and have, more recently, acquired all
ception of the Clark power development at Bonner. These
owners of the natural resources of the state are foreign to
Montana; they are the absentee landlords OF this common
wealth; they live and make merry in their gilded palaces, in
and around New York City and look upon Montana from
exactly the same point of view as did the Roman procon-
suls of old upon the remote foreign provinces whlch mao
ldllCH DClOIC III ohNuSoN c"N ~" 'ASA sNy AS'0~
tribute and whose taxes they farmed out to their local
agents.
For years. our overlords of Wall street have avoided
their just share of taxation to support the local government
in this state. Millions of dollars have gone into the
princely salaries of Amalgansated officers and into divi-
dends to WalEstreet SPECTATORS. lhese mliiions-or a
large part of them-should have gone to help lit the bur-
den of taxation from the merchants, the farmers and the
home-owners Of Montana where the wealth was created.
But these foreign interests do occasionally fear an out
break of righteous Indignation on the part OF the common
people, who have been both patient and pliable and, too
often, simply good-naturedly inactive. Recent discussion
and agitation throughout the nation OF questions OF public
policy have finally wakened the people OF Montana to at
least a partial realization of the injustice which has been
practced upon them. Now, viewing this wakening, the
on the part Of the people may lead to the enactment of
equitable laws, which will compel a more just distribution
of the burden of local government. .
The subtle policy of the agents who direct and control
Amalgamated affairs is to confuse and smother public
opinion relative to the true situation. So long as they can
negative the power of the people to change present condi-
lions and so long can the interests remain in control. The
counties of western Montana have recently shown positive
signs of discomfort with past methods. Ibis Weakening
has alarmed the interests, which have come to the conclu-
sion that they, themselves, should take direct charge and
control of the channels of publicity. They figure that a
stitch in time will save nine. 1t is their firm policy that
IN the event they cannot control men or newspapers, they
will hamstring and assassinate them, politically and
financially.
They figure that the cheapest way and the safest method,
in the long run. is to own or control all channels OF public
information. The more than thirty thousand dollars
which these interests have invested in the Missoula Sen
tinel is just a little item; it is a good investment it it can
accomplish its purpose. To the Amalgamated exchequer
lit is only the insurance premium which they pay to con-
tinue their past policy.
all agencies for auck mo easy do right . w and he might make