The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-22

what it is we are fighting for, some
what blunter statement seems to b
demanded, We arc forced to face a
= issuc. s4sytttSV
CARBOHYDRATES demand that w
shall not only not defend the Non
partisan League but that we shal
make no reference to that organiza
ton in these Scolumns unless it be TO
the purpose Of branding it as disloy
al. They demand that we shall stan,
aloof from Nonpartisan as from me,
afflicted with smallpox or some othe
Rloathesome n1alady. They deman,
that the very name Nonpartisar
League be a by-word, a kissing and ;
reproach among gentlemen.
AndWe face the issue squarely
Rather than yield to this damnable
demand of the powerful and corrup,
corporations of Montana and the
mighty Merchants (NationaD Bank
officials of Billings and of men am
groups of interest affiliated with tina,
powerful and autocratic and aggres.
slve bank, we prefer, if it becomes
necessary, to seek other employment
and to see our Enterprise go to the
wall. There will be to us more con-
Solatida in honorable defeat than in
lgnominous triumph. But we NAV
be here when this powerful bank has
closed its doors. Stranger things have
happened: We hope the bank may
continue, to flourish, bu5 that it NAV
grow less intolerant and more Ane1i-
can in spirit.
An independent paper like The
Star is 4ot a menace to a good bank
and wasdo not believe that any bank
claiming to serve the people should
be menace to The Star. The Star
seeks only the highest welfare of all
the people.
So we understand the issues and
our opponents understand it, and we
trust that our friends will henceforth
begin to understand it. There are
men in this city, respectable men it
may be who have never beaten their
wives or run away with the wives of
other men, who have gone up and
down the streets of Billings warning
merchants not to advertise in a boil
shevik paper like The Billings Star.
Not one of these men or the rich and
powerful men who support them and
whom alone we hold responsible for
such conduct, would want to make
such statements to the editors of The
Star, nor would they care to under
sign such ISLANDERS for publication in
the papers, nor would they be willing
10 lace the editor in the forum of I
public debate in support of the charge
nat Thet Star is a Bolshevic organ.
If any of. the big fnanciers wish |
o puts matter to the test before
'ho people, appropriate occasions
nay doubtless readily be found for
.acing the issue at the bar of public
'pinion bothSin the city and in the
country. !
We repeat that our concern is with
he men atthes top We, haves-,s.,ly
I'D it shoss busi. |.
IS 20 g all work oil.
rocked men and corrupt corporations.
hey do their work and they often
% it wen and they have their reward
'ut how miserable is that reward
My the victims OF big business know.
hey seldom get rich, even the editors
f subsidized papers. For no ex-
lo1ter or criminal of great wealth"
yer loved an independent man. Only
use who art dependent wh,, must
ave hep in order to hive, are eager
sought for by men who subsidize
apers for selfish, personal ends.
ometlmes of course even the most
oWerful corporations are forced to +
eat with rich and avaricious men I
no ask Tor nothing but demand what t
ley want. p
1t is tclear, therefore, that The !
Tar must rely for support, not upon v
lie bounty or charity of powerful e
ID corrupt interests but upon the a
nse ofsjustice in the people of Mon
ma; upon the workmen who earn 9 :
elr bread by the sweat of their Il
oWs ;a!upon the farmers who out il
lder the blue sky live by honest s.
II; upon merchants who prefer to c
AXE small profits and carry on . p
sltlnatef business rather than to y
lie up riches by combinations in re- Sc
antf6s trade and for the exr,res, pl
rpose of robbing the people; upon o.
achers and preachers and all honest . .
OCCASIONAL men whose interests are s;