The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1922-07-28
MON TAMA NEWSPAPERS LOYAL
TO INTERESTS OF PEOPLE, is
DECLARATION OF SMGLSOM

Stoutly defending the loyalty oil
the Montana press to the people OF
the state, Pete Snelson, editor OF the
Blihngs Gazette and president of the
Montana State Press association, in
an address before that body at its
annual convention at Missoula, de-
n0unced as false and unwarranted
charges which he said had been made
against Montana newspapers by an
individual representing a group of
eastern bankers and investors to the
effect that Montana papers had not
sufficiently encouraged their own
people by printing sunshine news as
opposed to gloom" in regard to the
crop prospects of 1922, and by fail
ing to take proper note of the optim-
istlc conditions governing in livestock
and wool growing industries and
mines and oil development.
SnelsOn asserted that it had come
within his personal knowledge that
Montana bankers, than whom" he
said, there are no more loyal Mon
tanans and none more interested in
the welfare of our people," had warn
ed individual members of the Mon
tana press against becoming over
optimistic at a time when there was
still possibility of disappointment in
connection with the harvest of 1922.
More Complete Harmony
He saw in the situation, however, ),
evidence that Montana newspapers
and Montana bankers are not work.
ing on sufficiently common ground,
and recommended to the association |
that Montana banker and an east
ern investment banker from some
point where Montana investments are
of Importance, be invited to appear
on the next convention program, ex-
pressing the belief that the inter
change of views would lead to a more
complete harmony which will greatly I
advance the development of Mon
tana's infant resources. Snelson also
warned his fellow newspaper men
against the dangers of radicalism
which he declared are spreading
throughout the country and urged
Montana editors to keep their hands
TO the editorial pillow with unremit-
ting energy and ''kindIe the fires of
patriotism where they have have re-
Ii
flame of loyalty where it has flicker
3D. and waned," in the endeayor to
'upplant idleness with industry and
each that liberty is not license.
He said in part: i
Not Profitable Year
''The crop year of 1921 was not a
profitable one for Montana At the
lose of the season the farmers were
n the dumps because of the limited
production and the low price for farm
produce. The stockmen were dis
.ouraged and many of them were lit
'rally hanging on by their eyebrows.
great industrial depression had
losed the mines of Butte and the
meters of Anaconda and Great Falls
nd the saw mills of the lumber re-
ions. Business generally was at
cry low ebb. s
In the face of these difficulties [
he press of Montana has carried mes |
ages of cheer and optimism into the +
ONES of the residents of the Urea |
ure state. There has never been a {
eek when the newspapers of Mon t
ina have ceased to impress upon v
leir readers that Montana is all a
ght; that she has the resources of
n empire; that she has been but pas
ng through the vicissitudes which t
yery other great state in the west v
as suffered and that as Kansas and g
ebraska in years gone by weathered k
lie hot winds which cooked the corn j
its infancy, and the grasshopper 7
agues which cut the wheat even n
it'll the ground, so would Montana N
sc triumphant over all obstacles to p
come greater than any of them. t;
Support Forward Movement W
There has never been time when