The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-03-29


showed up the statue of General
Meagher and his horse, which felt like
warm flesh and blood compared to the
steely looks of the Brigade.
Finally there appeared at the top
of the stairs this figure in military
uniform who said Montana sub
jects, l present His Accidency, Mon
tanius T..
Pandamonium broke loose and with
it my hold on General Meagher.
My feet were still cold, but
started to sweat, and fought to keep
my hold on the statue. think it was
the tail of his horse that saved me.
After an appropriate time of howl
ing the crowd was quieted and His
Accidency started to speak. He was
choked with emotion and he seemed
to have a nervous reaction of hold
ing his hand inside his coat sorta over
his chest. was nearly hysterical by
this time and said to a fellow next
to me that it looked as if he might
have an itch, and ne said maybe but
not the kind you think Then my
blood cooled a little f. in fact a
chill because he was right.
The speech was beginning. He was
saying when Madison was Presi-
dent of the United States, no my
people it. was earlier than that
Here was history being made and
| had neither a shorthand pad nor
pencil, so / must listen hard to try
and remember as best l could what
he was saying.
He talked about the fact that Mon
tana was now an independent princi-
pality and in the best of patriotic ira
operate under the same kind of 'loose
confederation that prevailed in the
1780's and 1905 following the great
revolutionary victory for which the
founders of this country gave their
lives. He glorified General Washing
ton and said something about the
Washington had made
was great enough we should try and
forgive him for refusing to be
king.
He said we would cast copper
coinage it had been decided by
5he representatives of the people in
The persons of the leaders of the
Brigade that it would be less cost to
he taxpayers to use the image on
he Great Centennial Medallion. We
would exchange these for dollar cred
is when necessary.
We would have paper currency on
which would be the symbol of state
power in the form of Reddy-Kilowatt
iding a cement transport truck.
Montana would defend itself from
vi enemies and maintain its private
rmy by tax funds, but if there wasn't
nough taxes we could apply for lend
ease-from the u. S. Government.
He wanted the people TO partici-
'ate i'm the great benevolent gov
he was heading, SO he was
nnouncing contest which would
e our first act of dedication to
he new status. There would be a
rlze for the most colorful design
or the Brigade Uniform!
Cheers, whistles and clapping and
hen the onrush toward the top of
ne stairs. | lost my hold on the horse
nd started fighting my way out of
ne crowd. After what seemed an
lterminable time | was far enough
way to look back and there they
ere carrying His Accidency on their
loulders toward the statue of Gen
raj Meagher.
AS | walked away they were hoist
lg him on the horse behind the Gen
raj. There was such melee / could
se there were going to be problems
ut they got it right they put
m back to back with the General,
icing the back-end of the horse.
AS the crowd cleared the top of the
airs | thought | could see, sitting
row of chairs under the portico
We grey ghosts of the Montana Trans
'rt Association, and the Montana
over Company was there also
face that should be associated with
e liquor interests?
1t was late. remembered my cold
ct. looked down and I still had
Y iron in my hand back and
Il u n