The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-11-11
AN OPEN LETTER TO SENATOR
WALSH.

We OSN NOu. DcIiuloI W dlSIl. u
turn back with us through IA visit;
OF fifty-four years and gaze from
Il rugged mountain side at d seen,
etched III everlasting lines int
the history Of Montana.
Below us is a SNOW cuNcrc,
Eulch, lined With rude log build
lngs. Between is a crowd Of ;
thousand tense and ANXIOUS men
At one side is a glowing fire, fo'
il is winter and the air has q bit,
ing chill. Seated by The fire Is
II man with his hands bound ant
guarded by armed men. 1t is 6
trying moment IN the life of ihi.
man. because he has inst hcare
read IN The open verdict al
tWenty-four men declaring him
guilty Of Il foul aud cuWardlN
murder.
Now his gaze is fixed upon the
tall. 1.-THE form Of II Young man
Standing erect III an open Wagon
II IS Of that man that We would
speak, for really he is the chief
actor in this drama For four
days nc has stood in that place
with his life hanging IN the bal
ance, with the courage of q desert
lion and an intellect that was
thereafter to shine like il radiant
star in Montana. This man at the
behcst Of the people has been
prosecuting The man by the fire
for the graNest crimes. Lest that
may be regarded a trivial task. it
Is recalled that in that crowd
We're hundreds Of friends OF The
man on trial, weapons III hand
waiting for the slightest opening
to kill this prosecutor and all
honest citizens Who had awak-
cned 10 their duty. 0e..
And now as the gathering
shades of this December day en-
Wrap the hills and throw The fire
and its sinister figure into sharp
relief, the young man in The wig
on thrnsis his hands into his coat
pockets. where rest two weapons.
that the murderer be now. forth
with, hanged by the neck until
he is dead. The motion i car
red: there is q warning ciic!< If
rrNolvcrs as d rescue is started
ard The cruwd closes TO guard n,
proHec,kvf. In +wenty minutes
the mandate Of the people is
executed and George Ives is
swinging from IA rude gallows.
That was on the Goth DAY If
december. 1863. and on that day
III Montana began LAW and or1er5
Which have been maintained by
the stern force of public oplnlnn
until recent months.
Need We tell YOU. Senator
Walsh, that This prosecutor wa>
Wilbur Fisk Sanders. nlans Aasl,>
laler YOUR friend who. because oi
his confidence i'll your charneh'
summoned Noit 10 his Il, hrG
to execute his final wishes.
There, MAS Il real prosecuting
attorney, ole whose mcnor1 will
le held in grateful reverence
While HE history oi Montana l.
Told. In later Years the people
llanured him III high measure
and Of all The rugged men who
carved the WAY of civilization III
this state, none Was known for
finer courage or higher purpose
than this man Who struck down
HE reign of crime on that day IN
nevada tiulch Ia 1853.
Not are charged. senator. With
prosecuting officer Of the federal
government for This state at Il
TINE When HE forces Of treason
and revolution are working lay
day and by night IN orr very
midst, seeking iu destroy all that
has been bullt mp III these long
Years Of Struggle
Will You agree, that Wilbur
RISK Sanders VIA The tNp" If Il
prosecutor that j. NEEDED IN thi~
hour? VIII you forget politics,