The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-01-14
MONTANA REPUBLICANS MEET At
HELENA in TRIBUTE To dixon

selves.
"For this purpose representative
government under a democracy has
been instituted among men.
No Government Perfect
Il know that no form of govern
ment, neither the personnel of gov
ernmental machinery, is ever perfect.
In like manner, no political party or
g~anization is perfect. Yet, for so
years, l have believed that the great
majority of forward-looking men and
women Of the nation have held allegi-
ance to the historical Republican par
ty, both in the nation and in the
state.
-Four years ago, the majority Of
the people of Montana entrusted into
our keeping the temporary control Of
government in Montana. Personally,
/ was hOnored as the titular leader
Of that organization, and, in the pop
ular belief, endowed with not only
executive but also legislative power.
eve took over a bankrupt state
government, whose expenditures had
exceeded its revenues by a little more
than n million dollars the year
previous. We took over the work Of
administration at the very time that.
the finances of not only the state it
self, but that of most Of it's business
institutions and private fortunes
ready to collapse.
''The livestock interests were fac
ing actual bankruptcy.
"The great mines of the state for
two full years showed no net returns
on operations.
Farmers TerrOrized
ut was the beginning of a veritable
reign of terror for the farmers of the
northwest. The very homes of not
less than $4,000 Montana men and
women in the farming districts went
under the sheriff's hammer at fore
closure sales.
"Nearly one-third Of all the bank
ing institutions in the state closed
their doors, bringing rOut, ruin, and
disaster in their wake.
"Under these conditions. we were
bade to cut the GOrdian knot and like
Moses Of old expected to strike the
barren rocks of bankruptcy, in the
hope that new streams of revenue
might gush forth.
"Like Hezekiah on the return from
the Babylonish captivity, we were
compelled to rebuild the walls of the
temple, with the trowel in one hani
and the sword of defense in the
other.
Under Continual Fire
During these four years of re-
construction, we were at all times un-
der continual assault by the combined
forces Of our Democratic enemies,
reinforced by all the concentrated
money power, which so bitterly. re-
scented the challenge to their ancient
regime Of special privileges and over.
lordship in the conduct of government
in Montana.
I'm addition to these, Benedict Ar
nOlds were not unwilling to sell theil
souls In exchange for tempting messei
of pOttage, prepared by chefs of Ions
experience. ranging all the way from
promised political preferment t
proffered financial gain.
while at no time would I urg
that Hamilcar should swear youn
Hannibal to vengeance, yet l coul
not become over-enthusiastic for
program in the future that would er
trust the placing of the Republica
banner in Montana in the keeping {
= those who had deserted the colors I
enlist in the january CORPS and unde
? the subsidy of the allied forces
tire common enemy.
4 In the American r%evolutionaT
days that tried mems souls,' whe
Washington, at the end of his bite
retreat across Ntw Jersey, suddenI
= turned at the crossing of the Del;
n ware, preparatory to the assault {
Trenton, in posting his pickets tn;
night, said to the officer of the de
Put none but Americans on guard.
5 ON the face of the breakdown
d the states revenues in 1920, charge
with the duty of carrying on the wol
= of the states Institutions, it was ii
y peratlve that new sources of incon
h had TO be found. In doing this,
d seemed imperative that equity d
manded that the nonresident Ian
lords CT our own natural
al ell, coal and minerals, be COMPEL
to carry exactly the same portion
,e the burdens of government the eli
ID zens OF the state had borne in an u
e air proportion and with undue NEE
2css during the previous 50 years
IN statehood.
This, together with a gradual
ne inheritance tax and a constitution
of ornament tax commission, / pl
r. posed to your legislature as the OF
j. sane way to accomplish the impeI
al tive and immediate demands that e
fronted us.
Fair Thing TO Do
at was the fair thing to do a
in the final accomplishment we hi
to some degree lifted the burden fr
the backs Of those who toll.
ITO the man of vision it was p
fectly apparent that the future
tvelopment of Montana rested aim
wholly upon the development of
agriculture.
During the coming years the min
I'll and timber resources will e;
decade become more and more a di
z .nishing factor. The agricultural {
. livestock interests will in the sa
: time become more and more an
Z creasing factcf in Montana's econol
- re