The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-02-20
THE LINES ARE DRAWN

Last summer, when the progressive party was born, the
forecast was made by its sponsors that the coming political
battles in this country would be fought upon a new align
ment in the nation. Those who p%rofessed to regard the
new party as a temporary organization, sneered at this
declarations. There were some men in the republican
believe that the party which they had did idoh izsy had BEEN
thrown from its high position by men who had sought to
employ its prestige for selfish ends; There were men in
the democratic party who believed sincerely that their
organization could be made truly progressive in practice
as we'll as in declaration. And the reactionaries in both
parties felt sure they could retain control and maintain
the old system of mock warfare which SO long had deluded
the people.
In the national campaign which followed and in the
state campaign in Montana which was concurrent with it,
upon the new issue, the issue which will just as certainly
be the real issue in political battles of the future as it is
certain that those battles will come. In this state the pro-
fessional politicians laughed at the progressive declaration.
They put forth platforms which in form were as progress
sive as platforms could be made. One of the veteran plat
form-builders of the republican party in Montana said:
I'VE :; must lima make to our our pattern And 6o 90 f4 4a old than narti tne m prG,
pledges which we're intended-not for fulfilment-but to
deceive the people: TO some 4 extent, the people were " sh de-,
in the state who chung to the belief that their platform
meant what it said, to make victory possible.
The faith of these voters has been shattered. The eyes
Thirteenth assembly. At the very outset the issue Of
platform performance was raised in the democratic caucus;
the vote was a tie. In a few days the reactionary lineup
had been formed. 1t was not all republican,; it was not
~ " ~ WV " f"'
Then the lines we're drawn. But, even then, there were
some who refused to believe what they saw and heard.
Some there we're who spoke openly in denunciation. The
printed a statement written by a democratic
senator in which the reactionary alliance was denounced.
printed, also, the verbal statement of Representative
democrat, in which he denounced the alliance
he exposed. Party lines ceased to exist IN the
Thirteenth assembly.
Now We have Senator Duncan and the associates for
whom he says he speaks. The senator for Madison
county tells his former party colleagues that the parting
of the ways has come. He says the reactionary element
has made it impossible for the democratic party to exist
as q nroqressive organization. And he tells the reaction
aries the very thing which they were told last summer and
last fall and last month by others. He says:
This resolution is intended to defeatth the legislation promises to the
people OF Montana by the democratic party, and because of which
bly, and III governorship 1t IA only pass by the aid of democratic
votes in this chamber I warn yu ht II IT does pass another
party will col nto power n this state. But it viii Tot be you
epuhicans 1t will be the progressives who will control in the senate
am house two years from TO- and it will be the progressves M
will elect he governor four years. from thst M l warn YOU, speak
ig al a democrat hat if this measure is persisted in will no longer
be a democrat, but will be a progressive will not be alone In Sc
doing among the members of this assembly we will be far from
being alone in that attitude among tn democratic voters of ontana"
After he mas beer in office II II