The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-04
THE SITUATION AT HELENA.
Cleo II. Faust in Libby Times

Cleo II. Faust in Libby Timesh
returned to Libby yesterday from Helena. where
was called by Governor Stewart to attend meet
ing OF the state board OF education While there
naturally ! had occasion to meet many members
OF the legislature and from them got the informa-
ton that not since the days OF the great industrial
and political warfare between Heinze and the Anal
ganated has there been such brazen exhibition Of
corporation meddling with the legislative branch of
the government. And appearance certainly seemed
to warrant the statement
On every hand is found some representative of the
Anaconda Copper Mining company. Their lawyers
are there in force. Their heads Of departments are
from all sections of the state the spy and the spot
ter and all arc on the job When it is recalled that
THIS great concern taxes in something like 90
OF the Al counties in Montana, its ramificatons and
its Influence will be appreciated They get a direct
hearing on members from many counties and be-
lieve me they are not making any bones about being
on hand to let those representatives know that they
are on the job.
"One would think they had moved the headouor
ters of the Anaconda Copper Mining company from
the Hennessy building in Butte to Helena" is the
way one of the members expressed his notions to
me. And this great force is apparently being di>
rected from the lobby of the Placer hotel by Roy
Alley himself continued my informant 81 have
attended many sessions of the legislature either as
member or an onlooker. but have never seen such
cold blooded. card-index system this great con-
Germ is playing this session. And they may get
away with It, but to me it looks too cheap and too
much like childs play. It's raw that unless
there Is absolutely self respect left in the men,
hers of the two houses it will fall Of it's own
weight"
The reason for this gathering Of such a mighty
host is the great question Of taxation of mines For
years this great corporation hasn't been paying its
share of the taxes. Thorough a most careful manip-
ulation of states affairs attention has always here
ofore been diverted to race track gambling pool
halls, boxing bills prohibition and generally whole
lot of sumptuary and regulatory stuff and great
zeal and energy have been employed in wonderful
contests for the common good. And this same old
bunk is being attempted this session again. Note
the Amin bill to make prohibition effective on De-
celnber 81 this year. thus shortening the time by a
year after the people had voted to allow two years.
Now, We all know that Senator Amin has no con
nection with the Anaconda Mining company, yet he
is being made their instrument through ministerial
associations here and there which have been
steamed up to place him in the position where he
has to pull the chesnuts from the fire. Note the
many eight bills and other measures along the
same lines all affecting labor and the laboring in
terests. and so on down the list Of a whole lot of
bills all having for their object not only the taking
of time but for the important reason that they
hope thereby to create the impression that this leg
isaturc is composed Of such large element of rad-
cal legislators that it will become discredted in the
eyes of the people generally and this will draw to
the big copper assistance which NAV be suf-
cient to enable them to again off the passage
of such measures as will place the various proper
ties of the state upon equal basis for taxing
purposes.
| And generally all of the little tricks which those
who are handling the corporation end Of the fight
are attempting are not getting anywhere. The only
thing the corporation lobby is doing is to make it
self thoroughly dstasteful to the members of both
houses. While there is absolutely no danger of a
Montana legislature doing anything which would in
any way materially injure the Anaconda Coppe,
Mining company or any other concern. big or little
lyet the stockholders Of that company would be do.
ing themselves and the state n splendid service II
they would call off this system of petty espionage
OF members and this cheap and worn out system OF
working" the members of the legislature. 1t ism,
dece1Ving anyone but those who ore operating it.