The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1921-02-25

Aolo JcSteTudS lrcDTuaFy ~ I'LL tHt
house chamber, says the Helena In
dependent. In fact 1t was typical
Powder River carnival with all the
trimmings.
The show began at 5:45 O'Clock
and ended at 6:05. Members who
stayed saw the buckeroo from the
southeastern end OF the state defeat
the committee on federal relations in
a most greulling battle which ended
when the Powder River statesman
shouted Powder River! Let 'er
Buck!"
The trouble started when the COM
mittee on federal relations reported
to the house after having had under
consideration House Joint Memorial
Is, which is memorial asking con-
gress to pass an enabling act to en-
able the people Of eastern Montana
to set up a sovereign state of the
union. The committee recommended
that the memorial do not pass for
the reason that it was an abortive
attempt to take the agricultural sec
tion of the state away from the min
ing and lumber interests.
The chairman Of the committee
asked the adoption of the report and
the motion was seconded. Represen-
tative Scofield was on his feet at this
iuncture and began the fight of his
life. His face was red and he waved
both arms as he shouted, MIR.
Speaker" Upon being recognized by
the speaker he turned to the house
members and delivered speech
which will not be forgotten in many
pause he was applauded to the limit
by the members who were enjoying
every word of it. AS the speaker
got more eloquent in his description
of two beautiful states of Montana.
there We're shouts OF Powder River. y
Some member thought Mr.. Scotfield
wasn't talking to the point and arose
to protest. but his fellow members
didn't let him say much before they
pushed him back ino his seat with
instructions to keep stilf until the
speech had been delivered. When it
was over every member present con-
graduated the gentleman from Pow
der River county ana the house with
one loud shout voted down the re-
port OF the committee and the new
state of Eastern Montana still lives.
III his address. Mr.. Scofield said:
AIR Speaker and members Of the
18th legislative assembly of the grand
and glt rious empire state of the Gold
en- West: Montana.
You have before YOU for your con-
Il memorial to congress.
asking for the enabling act SO that
we can divide Montana into two peer
less states that would nave no equal
and would su,pass all other states in
wealth. natural resources and beauty
of scenery
"Hrcath.s ,hrr. a han with soul so
dead, that never to himself hath said.
this is my own, my native land.
Take he western states, the CilE-
inal Montana. and We find stored here
in her mountain businesses, n" NhitnS-
tible stores OF gold, silver. lead cop
per, coal and other valuable minerals.
such as are not known to exist in like
quantities in any other territory q
equal size on the face "f the globe
These mountains are the treasure
vaults Of the world, the development
of whose limitless resources has only
begun. Her mountain valleys arc fer.
tile beyond comprehension, all that is
needed t" make them blossom like the
rose il the application of the invigo-
rating waters from the everlasting
flow Of her mountain streams fed from
the melting SHOWS that rest etcrhall!
ON her misty, mountain tops. Her
streams are the fishermans paradise.
being filled with many varieties of
game fish which vie with each other
in their efforts to secure tn" . allurinS
the arden disciples Of Isaac Walton.
Her mountain sides are the. rendez-.
vous of four-focted and feathered
game. In fact. there is proof positive
somewhere in this vicinity SO great
is the variety. Her streams furnish
power sufficient for the development
CT all the resources of this, th. rich-
lunar sphere. This is my private opin-
ion Of western Montana, publicly cN-
pressed.
.Some Of YOU may ask why do we
wish to sesreSate OURSELVES apart
from such a grand and glorious CCun-
try endowed with such magnifcent
natural resources? In reply. | would
say that il is because OF the difference
between the resources and Industries :
of the two sections which viii! cXnlain
after giving y"p the political reasons.
we have in Montana a territory
equal in slZ, To 10 eastern states and
with natural resources exceeding any
rs OF them. and these resources will
be devel oped in the Immediate future.
These 10 states are represented in the
senate of the United States by 20 sen.
ators. while the great inland empire
state of Montana has only two sena =
tors. but if We divide into two states
as We have constitutional right TO
do. we will be represented by foul
senator's and judging by the talent and
ability exhibited by the members OF
this house. these four senators would
BE- equal in ability. though not in vot-
ing power. to their 20. and we all know
that In the long run ability counts.
'As l remarked before, our indus
tries are different. The people of West
Montana are engaged in mining and
related Industries. We of East Mon
tana are aSriculturists. They as a
rule do not understand our business
nor We. as rule. the mining business
Here is where our troubles always
comes up. Ycu think we farmers are
unreasonable. and impose upon you in
the matter of taxation. and the farm.
ers think they are paying more than
their share of the taxes. Both often
are wrong, but this does not help the
situation, as is seen here at every
session OF the legislature in our over.