The Daily Missoulian., 1917-02-08
THURSDAY MORNING. FEB. 8, 1917.
SOWING THE WHIRLWl


It is becoming more apparent. with each passing
day. that the invisible government that has con
trolled most things material in Montana in the past
still sits enthroned in the capitol at Helena.
The front page Of The Mssoulian this morning
carries the humliang story Of as bold and as revo-
lutonary proceeding. under the forms Of law, as
has ever been attempted in this state.
Some Of the people who have held up their hands
in holy horror at the wicked acts and teachings Of
Muckie Mcdonald and W. D. Haywood and En-
ma Goldman are now complacently smiling at the
smart trick that they themselves have put over.
in defiance Of law and orderly government. in order to
obtain a temporary advantage for the local mana
gers OF the big mining companies at Butte, in the
expressed purpose Of defeating the movement to
pei their New York owners to bear the burden Of
government as is borne by the common people who
make their homes here.
Stripped Of all unnecessary verbiage. that is the
plain, unvarnished statement Of the case.
1t is now certain that the forces in the present
legislature, arayed either for or against special in
terests. very evenly divided not single vote can
be overlooked when the final test shall come.
Last week, one Of the members of the Silver Bow
delegation died. The constitution of Montana
plainly provides that:
The powers of the government of this state
are divided into three distinct departments: The
legislative executive and judicial, and no per-
son or collection of persons charged with the
exercise of powers properly belonging to one of
these departments shall exercise any powers
properly BELONGING 10 eith nf tbo
cept as in this constitution expressly directed
permitted"
Where vacancies occur in either house the
governor or the person exercising the functions
of governor shall issue writs of election to fill
the same"
Yesterday morning Governor Stewart issued a
writ OF election directed to the Silver Bow county
officials. ordering special election for successor
to the dead legislator from that county Of course
no one even conemplates that the county commits
sloners will order election to fill one legislative
vacancy for about 0 days tenure Of office.
Having thus executed the letter Of the law, he
then proceeded to deliberately violate both the letter
and the spirit Of the plain constitutional provisions,
by appointing member Of the legislative branch Of
the state government, thing unheard of and never
before attempted in any state
o the everlasting discredt of Montana and its
people, subservient and obedient majority Of the
house OF representatives calmly accepted this revo]u
honary procedure by the man elected to the hisf
office Of governor Of Montana. and who had only re-
Gently taken his solemn oath of office to protect anc
defend the constitution and laws of the state.
his action was taken by the governor and ma
ority OF the members of the house in direct opposition
to and in defiance of the plain provisions of the
state constitution, and in face of the opinion of the
attorney general, who before the action was taken
advised them Of the unlawfulness of their acts
MIR. Cuts the newly "appointed' member thus
takes his seat in the legislative body. to which he
was never elected there to participate in every knowr
method Of procedure to defeat the proposed equal
ization Of the tax laws
When Mucke Mcdonald or some other hair
brained enthusiast or direct action anarchist at
tempts to set aside the laws of the state, he i
promptly hustled off to jail or the penlentiary, bu
when as revolutionary proceedings are taken by the
agents Of invisible government the perpetrators of tho
deed are applauded for having put one over"
1t is just these kind Of things that breed new
crops OF socialists Special privilege once entrenched
has never yet voluntarily yielded its position 1t seems
never yet to have been able to learn the lesson thai
while it may for long period of time successfully
defeat all attempts TO ous it from enrenched posi-
ton. that the ever-risng tide Of popular resentment
may in the end turn loose an avalanche.
For they have sown the wind and they shall
reap the whrwind'