The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1922-09-13
wRECKING A GOOD SHIP.

In the wear 1920 the good ship, Democrat, set
sail upon the political sea of Montana with hopes
running high of a most successful and prontaple
VOYAGE. All seemed to indicate fair weather, WIN
favorable winds, and everyone from skipper 10
cabin boy rejoiced in the prospects. They were
not long out of port however, before some dis
satisfaction seemed to be developing among the
crew. There was an apparent breaking away OF
the peaceful harmony SO evident at the ourset.
Some of the members of the crew were looked
upon with doubt as not altogether dependable.
The cruise continued, and upon the horizon
there appeared one day a strange ship, tying a
flag often heard about by the good ship Democrat.
1t was a brilliant flag with IN. 2. l." neatly
woven upon it in more brilliant letters. This
strange ship sailed straight to the good ship
Democrat, saluted and asked her to lay to that
the shippers and crews might visit together. Inc
skipper of the good ship Democrat, being sus-
picious of the strange ship and its crew, refused.
Then the stranger shot a broadside, moved along
side and her crew boarded the good ship Demo
crat, took possession of the staunch old craft,
forced the skipper and crew to accept leadership
of the newly arrived band of political pirates.
The rollicking skipper of the strange ship fly
ing the IN. P. l." at her masthead, the swash-
UuChlu1S DOllIICdl pL y IL CAO POAhOAOCA ON0O3 SOON
command of the good ship Democrat, changed
her course, and ordered all hands to submit to
his orders. Some of the old crew of the staunch
old Democrat refused to do this, and were forced
to walk the plank. Others, in the hope of sharing
in the success of the cruise under this rollicking
skipper, bowed their heads in submission to his
commands. The cruise continued, after the faith
full had been disposed of in true buckaneering
style, amidst the gleeful cheers of the reorganized
crew.
All did not go well, however. High seas began
to interfere with the progress of the old shiI
Democrat. The new skipper and his crew were
unfamiliar with her. Did not understand how
properly to navigate her. Then there came one
day a great tidal wave of such proportions never
known before upon the political sea Of Montana
This tidal wave drove the good ship Democra
out of her course, the crew lost control Of her
the skipper was overcome with changing condi
tions, lost command, the good old ship was driver
upon the reefs, broken in two, and sent to Dav,
Jones locker.
In 1922 a new ship Democrat set sail agai
upon the political seas of Montana. This shi
has been builded by those faithful survivors G
the ill-timed cruise of 1920; it is the pride an
hope of it's builders. But again this same swasl
buckler appears upon the sea and captures til
new ship, greatly to the distress of the old ar
faithful crew of the Democrat. He comes owe
the political sea in a ship flying the same fla
that waves from the masthead of the good sh
Democrat. He sails under a new flag, simulatir
his great predecessor, Captain Kidd, whose met
DDS were so successful. A different flag f
every cruise.
The rollicking pirate of the political sea
Montana now has the good ship Democrat aga
under his command and will sail her to his on
pleasure. Some of the crew have Joined hi
but many of the faithful will not, SO must We
the plank as did those of the cruise of 1920. WI
cares this swashbuckler how many are fore
overheard, so long as he controls the ship. S
on, he commands.
From expression heard upon every hand
staunch members of the Democratic party, Burr
K. Wheeler will not be elected United States 5
ator for Montana.