Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-19

Missoula. July 1S.-Stoutly defend
ing the loyalty of the Montana press
to the people Of the state. Pete Snel
son. editor of the Billings Gazette and
president of the Montana State Press
- ,ciation. in an address before that
BODY at its annual convention here,
Tuesday denounced as false and un-
been made against Montana news
paper by an individual representing
a group of eastern bankers and in
vcstbrs to the effect that Montana
papers had not sufficiently encouraged
their own people by printing sun
sh. ne news as opposed to gloom" in
regard to the crop prospects Of 1922,
and by failing to take proper note Of
the optimistic conditions governing in
livestock and wool growing industries
and mines and oil development.
He called attention to the fact, as
recently announced by the Montana
Development association. that more
than 1000 columns had peer given. by
the Montana press during the past
year. to the campaign for the advance
ment of summer tillage in the state.
and declared that even that large total
was only a small part of the space
which the Treasure state press has
given to carry messages of encourage
mcnt and optimism and bumper crop
news to their readers.
Mr.. Sneison asserted that it had
come within his personal knowledge
that Montana bankers than whom"
said he, there are no more loyal
Mortanans and none more interested
in the welfare Of our people" had
vro ,-I.Jy ~&- A.
Montana press against becoming over
optimistic at a time when there was
still possibility Of the disappointment
in connection with the harvest of 1922.
Wants Bank Speakers
He saw in the situation. however.
evidence that Montana newspapers and
Montana bankers are not working on
a sufficiently common ground. and
recommended to the association that a
Montana banker and an eastern Invest
ment banker from some point where
Montana investments are of impor-
lance. be invited to appear on the
next convention program, expressing
the belief that the interchange of
views would lead to a more complete
harmony which will greatly advance the
development Of Montana's infant re-
sources. Mr.. Snelson also warned his
fellow newspaper men against the
dangers of radicalism. which he de
clared arc spreading throughout the
country, and urged Montana editors to
keep their hands to the editorial pillow
with unremitting energy" and "kindle
the fires of patriotism where they
have refused to burn and feed anew
the flame of loyalty where it has
flickered and waned." in the endeavor
TO supplant idleness with industry and
teach that liberty is not license.
He said in part:
The crop year of 1921 was not a
profitable one for Montana. At the
of the season the farmers were
in the dumps because Of the limited
and the low price for farm
produce. The stockmen were discour-
aged and many Of them were literally
on by their eye brows. A
great industrial depression had closed
the mines of Butte and the smelters
Of Anaconda and Great Falls and the
of the lumber regions. Bust
ness generally was at a very low ebb.
breaches Brighter Day
I'm the face of these difficulties the
press of Montana has carried messages
of cheer and optimism into the homes
of the residents of the Treasure state.
has never been a week when the
newspapers of Montana have ceased to
upon their readers that Mon
is all right: that she has the re- I
sources Of an empire: that she has
been but passing through the ~vicissi-
tudes which every other great state in
the west has suffered. and that as {