The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-04-10
THE MEANING OF THE CITY ELECTION

While Comparatively small vote was polled at both
school and city elections, strong interest was manifested
IN the issues and should be a plain index to the sentiment
and temper of the people. In the city election the choice
of Robert M. Thompson by 65 per cent of the vote is 9
distinct compliment to him and the impression he made
during the short campaign. 1t is also a distinct and I'M
mistakable indication of the temper of the men and wo-
men Of the city on the vital questions of bootleggers, stills
and gambling as a business. The earnest, handwriting
people of Wolf Point who have boys and girls in their
families or among their friends mark with alarm the in
creasing menace to their homes and their loved ones
found in the vice that follows without fail in the wake OF
this vicious traffic.
The people who are the bone and sinew Of the fine,
modern little city of Wolf Point, the people who carry on
their business in daylight in the open, rather than in hid
den places at night, feel that the time has arrived to de-
termine the moral gauge and standard this city is to fol-
low. Mondays vote shows that these people are of no
one calling but are businessmen, professional men, wage
earners, mechanics, mothers, daughters, sisters, sons and
brothers, and they are determined in their purpose to have
a dryer, cleaner town. They are not kill-iOyS, who favor
blue law conditions, but they do demand decency and
they propose to have it.
This is not intended to mean that Wolf Point is worse
than the average town or as bad as many of them. But
what is wanted is q town we'll above the general run that
will attract the right sort of people, a city Of homes in
which clean, high standards prevail, a city safe for boys
and girls, a city where honest earnings go to pay legiti-
mate bills Of legitimate business. Moonshine and hooch
in its various forms is the deadly enemy of man, physical
ly and commercially. 1t unde1nines health, shortens life,
decreases prOduchVeness, enormously increases the cost
Of government, breaks down personal and public morale.
The responsibility that Robert M. Thompson will as
sumo on May 9TH is not light. He is tackI1ng a man-SlZe
Job. But he will be surrounded by as fine a body of men
as ever made up our city council, and he will no doubt be
careful in his selection of police. The people Of the city
will not, it is hoped, expect impossibilities but they will
expect earnest, courageous, persistent effort that results
IN progress. AS q plain Wage-earner, equipped with eX-
perience and education, but relieved of business obliga-
tiOns, Mr.. Thompson is perhaps in a better position to as
sumo the trying duties of mayor than many of the business
men. He has declared for economy in city business which
should mean that he will favor no policy the city is not
financially ready for. He has publicly declared himself
on the moral 1SSnpS and nT1V9tpIU no Saws he 9SO1PpS tn no
not the railroadmen's mayor but the mayor Of the whole
city Of Wolf Point. He fully appreciates that he received
many votes besides those of railroad people. Mr.. Thomp-
son also r~ightfully declares that he wants and has a right
to expect the WhOle-hearted, SQuare-tOed moral support
and cooperation of every citizen who sincerely wants a
better town and who is not afraid to say SO in both private
and public.
Neither the election nor these remarks should be
as a slam at the outgoing administration. Mr.
Moore through his large investment and splendid public
institution has done much for Wolf Point. AS a large
in the citys biggest concern he has the inter-
est Of the city at heart. Relief from the demands of pub
lie office will be to his business advantage. The record
of his administration from the standpoint Of economy
will, we believe, stand the test.
There can be such a thing as too much economy which
will ultimately prove expensive. When it, comes to law
enforcement the old administration has had a tough lob.
The insane wave of moonshine has engulfed the country.
But in recent months the local police have at least made
a dent in the big job of law enforcement and have brought
not a few vendors Of the poison to as much Justice as the
lenient law allows. But all of us, individually and col
lectivey, are prone to seek a change in the hope of attain
ing something better. Hence Mondays election results.
CHARGES AMI JUDGMENTS TROUBLE
THEM
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