The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-10

this article. | am not seeking an,
cheap advertising from such a journal
| reserve the right to express m,
opinion withoV the dictation of an!
such daily. or man, or set of men.
do not think that this assembly is 20.
ing to submit to such an attack. II
the standing of this body is of any mo.
ment and If some OF them wish t.
follow the lines of least resistance, W,
should still consider the honorable and
venerable citizens of the State. who
should carry some weight and who
voted to seat me in this assembly
This body as representatives of the
people Of the state OF Montana should
resent such an insult to the members
of this house."
Representative Beldcn, Fcrus, here
moved as substitute to Mr.. Cults
motion to adopt the resolution that il
be referred to the committee on ju-
dietary. Representative Cotter, Broad.
water, held that the article was not to
be condoncd, but that he believed the
resolution should go to the judiciary
committee for through consideration
Higgins Defends Missou,ian.
III this house had voted to send this
matter to the judiciary committee
when the question of seating Mr.
Cults was first brought up for con-
sideration," said Representative Hig-
gins. replying to Mr. Cults ''all this
need not have happened. l still hold
my same opinion as to the constitu
tionality of this procedure. The re-
marks of the gentleman from Silver
Bow with regard to representation call
to mind that for many sessions thu
legislature refused to grant proper
representation to the eastern counties
Of the state and it was not until til,
Twelfth legislative assembly that thu
consistent hammering of the press Of
the state brought about a rcapportion
mcnt / recall 4 similar resolution in
troduccd In the house at the time a,
attempt was made to move the state
fair to Great Falls and failed by the
vote of two of its representatives who
were nearly mobbed when they went
home. The gentleman from Silver Bow
opposed such resolution at that time
but now when the shoe Is on the othe,
foot he introduces such a measure.
This is absolutely legal propo.
sition. l have yet to find a lawye,
who places his endorsement on the
action which took place hero the Other
day. l do not entertain the same view
OF The Missoulian's article as does
Mr.. Cults l do not think that there
was any violation Of newspaper ethics
| am not taking the position that I en-
dorse the article. / do withhold te
myself the right to my own belief
The press certainly has a right to dis.
cuss violation of the constitution. II
there has been such a violation thai
article was right and proper. If there
was not there may Or may not have
been malice in the article. This is q
legal and not a legislative matter. !,
Is question of the right of Il free
press. With the exception of the gen
tlcman from Silver Bow do not know
of anyone who has had the darts OF
the press directed at him more per.
sistently than they have been at me
have seen fit to ignore any such at
tacks. II congress and the president
should bring before the bar of the
house every individual who criticize.
their actions in harsh terms they
would not have time for anything
else"
Representative Davis, Teton, rose tc
the defense of The Missoulian in its
stand against seating Mr.. CAts. He
said:
Davis Presses the Lever.
II have a high regard for the gen.
tleman from Silver Bow. He Is loya
to the people who sent him over here
and that is the reason why I did not
want to see him seated. You will re.
member that myself and some Of m,
colleagues were attacked by the Butte
Miner and accused of double crossing
the people who sent us here. That at
laSh lS NoISc lHdn inc afJlcle
read this morning. l think the dlgnit,
OF this house should rise above any.
thing like this. / believe that tn.
newspapers should form their owl
policies and should be free from die.
tation in the forming OF those policie,
and IL they overstep their bounds tn,
law can always be called into effect
move as a substitute to all motion.
that this matter be laid on the table
Mr.. Cults here injected into tn,
record few remarks about the gross
way In which the ladies of the hous,
had been insulted by The Missoulian
Representative White. Fergus. the,
stated that he was one Of the men re
ferred to as coming here to fight specia
privilege rather than to uphold 1t ant
that the article was a reflection OF
his integrity. He said that he woui,
not willingly strengthen the opposi
tion, but that he deemed the governo