Yellowstone monitor., 1914-10-15
POLITICAL CONDITIONS IN 1912


When the Republican National Cor
vention met at Chicago two years age
it became apparent as soon as the cor
ventions were organized that specia
interests had assumed control of tn,
organization and were determined t,
put thru their program, regardless o
the will of the people. In that con
vention every state whose delegate,
were elected in the Direct Primar,
stood solidly for Colonel Roosevelt;
those whose delegates were elected
under the old system were voted as the
special interests directed. On &C
count of the strenuous fight put VI
by the delegates elected by the people
the interests were forced to show
their hand more openly than they
had desired.
The Invisible Government
On account of this stenlous opposi
tion, the invisible government was
forced to use every resource at
hand to carry this program. the right
became supplanted by the expedfent.
Any wrong was cheerfully resorted to
by the interests in order to gain q
point. For years, students Of political
affairs in every state in the union
realized that an invisible government
had assumed charge of public affairs
and were debating and directing the
of the union to the other shrdlurdlu
course of public officials. The result
was, that all right thinking people
from one end Of the union to the other
arose as one man determined to over
throw the special interests and again
place the public affairs in the hands
of the people. The Progressive party
is the inevitable result Of this condi-
tion and was formed for the sole pur-
pose of restoring popular government.
Only those blinded by party prejudice
or special interests remained in the
old organization. The Republican
party as an instrument Of the people |
died in Chicago two years ago and the |
special interests siezed the name and
the remnant Of the organization and |
made it q private instrument In their !
hands to exploit the people.
Political Conditions In Montana In |
404o ~~A r~S~.
In the State Of Montana It was
known. for years that the Republican |
OF the State was in abb
solute control of four men, to-wit: !!
Doc. Lanstrum, Tom Marlow, Johnnie
Edwards and Ed. Donlin. The people |
OF Montana were Overwhelmingly in
favor of Colonel Roosevelt's nomina-
tion. Not two per cent Of the people
of Montana favored the nomination OF
Taft, yet the Livingston convention
was so manipulated by the special
interests that solid Taft Delegation
vas sent to Chicago. not only willing
70 vote for Taft's denomination, but I
anything that was necessary to be
lone In order to overthrow the viii
II the people. ]. c. Kinney Of Dawson Il
County. q former reputed democrat /,
elected to the Livingston convention I
y Roosevelt delegate, was elected Il
me OF the Montana delegates to
chicago for Taft. This was the ad- Y
rent OF Mr.. Kinney in Montana Poll
les. He later received his reward ini (
ne form Of nomination for Lieuten-
mt Governor on the Republican ticket I
q 1912. Upon the forming Of the Pro II
resstve party. all independent Re- Il
left the organisation ana !
ecame allied with the Progressive | /
'arty and left the old organization IN I
ne sole charge Of the special interests
nd their representatives.. i
Perhaps in no State Of the union are Il
le special interests more firmly ii, &
'enched In the Republican party. than q
our State Of Montana. And the one i
ksrttng the predominant influence
yer them all. is the Montana PoWer 4
ompany. commonly known = the v
over Trust. MI. Donlin controls the y
ower site Of Thompson F,alls: n. Ed- ltl
ards controls ths Light and Power !
ant = ct Forsyth: % extend II H. y
nence. this concern Il endeavorins to b
~ itself with evety lisht and Bower \
.mpeny q other public servico 60
ltsftons g tl.e state q Montana 4 III
I 1eaitiea o1srss,oa1. 1his - i