The Billings gazette. [volume], October 19, 1909, Page 2, Image 2

About The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
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Entered at the Billings Postoffice as Second Class Matter
He Should Fully Investigate
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson is doubtless a very estimable
gentleman and highly efficient cabinet officer but it is to be feared
that he has reached the age when a man does not care to learn
things which may set at defiance the preconceived notions of a life
time. This does not imply that the secretary does not know well the
things which he knows, but rather that it is unfortunate for the
West that he is not open to conviction upon questions of vital interest
to this portion of the country.
There was a time, not so many years ago, when the veteran
cabinet officer was rather doubtful of the value of irrigation, but
today irrigation has not a more staunch supporter anywhere on
earth. Today he laughs at the idea of raising crops in the West
without irrigation, and it is unfortunate that he does not seem
disposed to come out and investigate for himself.
Mr. Wilson has done magnificent work for agriculture since
he has been a cabinet officer. Under his direction the department of
agriculture has sent experts to all portions of the world in search
of plant life which would thrive under the varying conditions whi,'h
obtain throughout the United States. Durum which was one of the
discoveries the credit for which is due the secretary, a number of
forage plants adapted to growth on the range, also were provided
through his foresight, but there is no question that the secretary is
altogether wrong when he says that only some forage plants and
Durum wheat can be grown in the West without irrigation.
We of Montana have learned that there is such a thing as scien
tific agriculture; we have found out that through the proper cul
tare of the soil we are able to raise as good wheat, and more of it,
than any other section of the country. We have found out that our
dry farms will produce beautifully of everything from sugar beets
to alfalfa, and we stand ready to show the world results instead of
'theories.
If Secretary Wilson will come to Billings during the sessions of
the Dry Farming Congress and will examine the magnificent display
of dry farm products that will be found at the great international
exposition, we believe that he will change his mind concerning the
possibilities of crop productions upon the dry lands of the West,
and then we could hope for the cordial co-operation of the depart
nient of agriculture in the movement upon which so much of the
prosperity of the West depends.
Need of Trained Diplomats
W ITHIOUT any regard to the personality of Mr. Crane who
Swho was relieved from the duties of minister to China be
fore he had taken charge of his post, the fact remains
that he to say the least, was decidedly indiscret in discussing affairs
that would probably come before him as the represen
tative of this government, and the fact that President Taft advised
him to make as many public appearances as )possible in order that he
might gain the necessaily amount of prestige. would not excuse a
lack of diplomacy in a presumed diplomat.
It would be difficult to imagine the scholarly Wu discussing with a
Chinese journalist the relations of the United States with Japan, and
yet there is not a diplomat in the world that has more frequently ap
peared before the public, and who possesses a greater amount of pres
tige as an after dinner orator than does the Chinese diplomat. It is
possible that President Taft did not expect Mr. Crane to deal entirely
in platitudes but he certainly did not expect frank statements of
opinion upon questions of state especially in which the country to
which he is accredited, was interested.
"Language is given to conceal our thoughts" declared that prince
of diplomats. Tallyrand, and every diplomat knows that so far as
his service is concerned, this is strictly true. A detective does not
announce in the papers that he susplects the crinminal and that he
is going to investigate him at a certain hour, while the diplomat
who takes the world into his confidence and into the confidence of
his government, will find that lie will sever but little congealed liquid
when it comes to dealing with affairs of state.
The Crane incident has caused considerable bitterness in American
political life, but the affair ihad not progressed to the point of pro
voking international complications, in fact all that we get out of it i
the humiliation of knowing that Amieriana diplhomaiiy has bLecome the
laughing stock of the world, even of the seimii-barbarous nations of
the Orient.
The principal lesson to be learned from the incident is that there ;
just as much reason why we should have trained nien in the diplo
matic service as in the army or the navy. John Smith may be an
enterprising lawyer famed for his ability to handle votes and swing
conventions but that does not make him a diplomat nor does it put
him upon an equal plane with the trained mien of Europe. So long
as diplomatic posts are handed out as rewards for political services.
so long will we be subjected to the chances of being humiliated as we
have been in the case of Mr. Crane of Chicago.
It must make William Randolph Hearst smile to view the mix-up)
in the Democratic councils of New York. While Mr. Hearst stands no
chance for winning he may reasonably expect to have some fun at
the expense of some of the men who had formed the habit of turning
him down.
Peary's negro servant has taken to the lecture platform. Now if
,the Cook Eskimo and Mr. Barrill of Missoula can He persuaded to,
mrr in vaudeville, 'the world will get a surfeit of exploration.
Will Soon Be Realized
HE time is not far distant when the dream of James J. Hill
for a great north and south trunk line will have become an
accomplished fact and the traffic of the country between the
sound and the gulf will be passing over a continuous line of, rails.
The gaps in the great system are being closed as rapidly as men and
money can do the work and it will be but a short time before the
cotton of Texas will be moving along the new trunk line, to be placed
on ships in the Puget sound while the wheat of the Northwest will
go to Liverpool by way of the Gulf of Mexico.
Billings is peculiarly interested in the completion of the great
Sound to the Gulf railway, for it will be one of the most important
points upon the system. It is here that the great Hill transconti
nental lines, both east and west and north and south will come
together, and Billings will be a center in one of the greatest trans
portation systems upon the continent.
The completion of the north and south trunk line will give ade
quate and rapid communication with the rapidly developing regions
of northern Wyoming, and it will give the best of opportunities for
the opening up of the vast regions lying to the northward of this
city. With the best of facilities for handling all the business that
can be developed, the new trunk line will place Billings in a com
manding position so far as the trade of the regions both north and
south are concerned. Taken in connection with the railway facilities
to the east and west, the day of the commecial supremacy of the
metropolis of the Yellowstone cannot long be deferred.
Billings is today recognized as the logical trading point for a
territory extending for hundreds of miles, but its prestige as a com
mercial center will be greatly enhanced when it has been placed
upon another trunk line which will give to the 'regions of eastern
Montana and northern Wyoming a development so rapid as to make
past performances look insignificant indeed.
When the wheat of eastern Montana is sent to the seaboard without
the long haul now necessary, the production will be vastly stimulated
and this will mean more famers upon the lands of the northwest, and
more trade for the Billings wholesalers and jobbers. In turn this
will make for a greater Billings, and for increased prosperity for
us all.
It has well been said that one of the great
Great Asset assets of Montana is its matchless climate,
and less is known concerning this, through
Practically out the country, than of any one other
thing connected with the Treasure State.
.UnkInown The average man, consulting the atlas,
notices that Montana lies well toward the
north, and without consulting data relating to climate, he jumps to
the conclusion that Montana must be a region of long 'winters and
deep snows.
How many people in the central regions, now sufferingfrom in
clement weather know that in eastern Montana there have been but
two or three dlays when a wrap would have felt at all comfortable
and that while the telegraph carried stories of snows in Iowa, Min
nesota and West. Virginia, eastern Montana has been going about
in its shirtsleeves?
The visitors to the I)ry Farming congress will have a chance to
compare Billings weather 'with the brand they have at home, and
despite the fact that the congre.,s comues at a time when bad weather
can reasonably be expected anywhere, we are confident that they will
decide that Montana's climate will compare most favorably with
that of any other spot on the continent.
Forsyth is planning to run an excursion
Forsyh's to this city during the sessions of the Dry
Farming congress, designated primarily
Splendid for the benefit of the pupils of the public
Sceme of the public schools, and herein Forsvth
is shoe\ving its wisdom and its foresight.
During the assemblage of the noted men of
the west, there will Ibe notable utterances the hearing of which would
lo the children good, and in addition to this, there will be many things
to be seen that will prove of great value to the coming men anid wom'en
of eastern Montana.
The Billings schools. and Chamber of Conmmerce should promptly
take such action as will assure a proper reception for the youthful
citizen. of Forsvth when they come to this city. to the end that they
will be nicely entertained and that they be given an opportunity
for seeing and hearing the things which will do them good.
The children of Forsyth will doubtless be welcomed in a proper
manner. and the people of Forsyth whoi have evolved so splendid a
schelle are deserving the warmest of congratulatiios.
I)r. Cook says that if the public doubts that he climbed Mount
McKinley, he will perform the feat over again. Now if both I)r.
Cook and Commander Peary will agree under the same circumstances
to attempt the polar feat over again, the public as one man, will arise
a1n in no uncertain tones, will express its doubt that either man
would know a north pole if he met it on a country road.
There imay have hbeii no "'frameup" in the contest for the world's
I aseball cha.:.ioiishlipl, but it's a cinch that the "fans" of the East
~ere worked to a finish in the way of the sale of admission tickets.
Seven gaines to decide the championship is certainly going some.
.Judge Gaynor, I)emocratic candidate for mayor of New York,
is credited with presidential aspirations. Evidently the jurist has
fergotten what haIlened to another mayorality candidate who had
as-pirations for the pretsidency.
With St. Louis. Spokane, St. Paul, Rapid City and several other
towns bidding for the Fifth Dry Farming Congress, it begins to
look as though some lively times are in store for Billings during
the congress week.
It is said that the execution of Ferrer in Spain was hastened to
prevent intervention from outside. Hurry up executions and press
censorships would seem to indicate that Spain is making very rapid
strides toward civilization.
PRESIDENT TAFT ADDRESSES
INDIANS IN AN OLD PUEBLO
Remarkable Scene at
The Village of
Laguna
FAVORSSTATEHOOD
He Is Emphatic in His Declaration in
Favor of Self.Government for the
People of the Southwest.-Advice to
the Indians, Who Received Him in
Their Pristine Glory.
LBUQUERQUE, N. M., Oct. 15.
President Taft had another day
of travel through the far south
west today and traversing the long
reaches of the territory of New Mex
ico, had a glimpse of the most ancient
adobes in America, leaving the train
at one time to go into the Plaza of a
Pueblo to witness an Indian dance
especially arranged.
The color of the southwest tinted
his reception at all the various stops
along the way. Arriving here at 5
o'clock, the president was greeted by
one of the largest audiences of his
territorial travels of the past three
days and aroused intense enthusiasm
by a repetition of the declarations he
made in Arizona, that he favored state
hood for the two remaining territories
of the United States and would do all
in his power to see that the long-de
ferred hopes of the people of Arizona
and New Mexico are gratified.
The president spoke from a plat
form near the railroad station and
was later entertained at a banquet at
the Alvarado hotel by the Commercial
club.
Following the banquet the president
stopped half an hour at the Montezu
ma ball, an annual function rivalling
the fete of Mardi Gras.
It was at Laguna township made up
entirely of Indians, that the president
was met by a local committee of In
dians and where he had one of the
most unique entertainments of his
trip. As he sat in a little canopied
stand in the plaza enclosed with adobe
huts and walls, the president was
showered with presents. There were
blankets of gaudy color, Indian bread
and other offerings which the red men
had fashioned in his'honor. The plaza
itself, the walls and thatched roofs of
the adobe houses were lined with In
dians, the squaws being attired in
fantastic costumes which seemed all
the brighter under the glare of an un
clouded sun. And there was hardly a
squaw in the pueblo that did not have
a bright eyed, chubby faced little pap
poose, either in her arms or swung in
a hammock over her back. More lit
tle Indian boys and girls were ar
ranged in a long row to welcome the
president and each carried an Amer
ican flag. As the president was leav
ing the plaza, after the weird niusic
of the tom-toms had died away, and
the last steps of the Apache dance
had been taken by the gaudily bon
neted braves, the little children sang
a song of New Mexico.
The president stopped several min
utes to listen. The tune was that of
"Maryland, My Maryland."
From the plaza, crowded by a cu
rious throng of Indians, the presi
dent went to the church, an adobe
building.
In a little speech, spoken slowly and
with emphasis on each syllable in or
der that those who spoke English at
all, might understand, the president
assured the Indians of the good will
of the government and urged them to
be good farmers and good artisans.
He was warmly applauded and every
Indian wanted to shake his hands.
These evidences of interest were
unique coming from such a stolid
race. In his address to the Indians,
the president said:
"I want to convey to the Laguna
and Acoma Indians, who, I under
stand, include those present, the good
will of the government of the United
States. I hope that the Indians whom
I am addressing are working indus
triously at the vocation which they
know, agriculture, and in other
branches of the industry. I hope
that their flocks, their herds and all
the products of the soil may be profit
able to them, and that they may con
tinue to live in comfort under the
auspices of the government that is
pledged to look after their welfare. I
hope the children are being educated,
so they may grow up to be good men
and women and good citizens of the
United States."
The president was presented with
an especially attractive Navajo blan
ket for Mrs. Taft. It was woven by
the same Indian squaw, Elle of Ge
nado, who made the blanket which
was presented to Mrs. Roosevelt at
the time of the former President's
visit to this city. In all of his
speeches today the president again
urged the people of Arizona and New
Mexico to take their time and to de
liberate in the formation of their new
state constitutions once they have
been admitted to the union.
The president seems to take for
granted that statehood is soon to
come to the territories, althodgh he is
careful to say that his authority is
only of the executive and that the
first action must come from the legis
lative branch of the government.
Postmaster General Hitchcock, who
is accompanying the president through
the southwest, in an address at Grand
Canon last night paid a striking com
pliment to the people of this section
and declared that he hoped their am
bitions for statehood soon would be
realized.
In his address to the people of New
Mexico, the president said:
"I am glad to see that you are or
thodox in this community and believe
in a future state. I might have had
some other impression if I had not
come through a territory yesterday
that intimated to me that there were
people on this side of the continent
who had the same views that they had
with reference to becoming a state
cnd that they preferred to have each
community work out its own salva
tion.
"Now, my friends, I might Just as
well make the announcement now so
as to relieve any doubt on the sub
ject, that I was elected on a platform
that declared in favor of the admis
sion of New Mexico and Arizona as
separate states and that so far as I
can properly exercise any influence as
the chief executive for, bear in mind,
I am not the legislator, I expect to
exercise that influence to carry out
the promise of the platform on which
I was elected.
"You are looking forward to state
hood as if it were heaven. Well, I
venture to think that there will be
considerable difference between heav
en and that state after you become
one. That you will have a great many
responsibilities that you do not now
have and a good many difficulties, the
weight of burden of which you don't
now appreciate.
"There are quite a number of pre
liminary steps that you have to take.
You have to draft a constitution and
that is going to affect the character of
your state for years to come. And, I
want that you shall have time and de
liberation to make a good constitu
tion and not harness yourselves with
a lot of restrictions that will really
interfere with the growth of your
state.
"Don't put into your constitution a
provision as to the length of the linen
sheets to be put in a hotel. It may
be that they ought to be limited. It
may be that they ought to be made of
a certain size. I sympathize with
that feeling myself. But the constitu
tion is not the proper place to put
it. You want to trust your legisla
ture and you ought to follow the
model of the constitution of some of
the older states which have also
modeled after the constitution of the
United States.
"An amendment to the constitution
is a difficult thing as we are finding
out now in attempting to amend the
federal constitution. Therefore, put
there only general principles and
don't attempt to legislate every fad
of every man who is voluble and gets
into your constitutional convention. I
CO1 E TO
BILLINGS
W E HAVE a bargain for you at the
right price and on easy terms.
Things are moving again, more sales in
the past ten days than in six months be
fore. i his means an advance in values
very soon and you cannot afford to de
lay. Let us sell you some town lots,
acre tracts, a home, business building
or a farm. We are -uying and selling
real estate for everybody all the time,
adding value to your property and would
like to have your business. Come in.
NORTH INVESTATE COMPANY
Opposite Court House Billings, Montana
THE GEISER STIM PLOW
A. KUNK[L, General Agent, 1116 Ide Avenue, Spokane, Washington
You can see this Plow now at work on F. W. Shauer
ranch, three miles west of Laurel
local Representative, G. W. MORRISON
lOffice at Yegen Bros.' Implement Store P. O. Box 881
say this with a great deal of fervor,
not as a partisan, not as a Republican
or a Democrat, but in the interests of
your state, as a state, whether yon
vote the Republican or Democratic
ticket.
"I want, if we are responsible for
your coming into the union as I am
.willing to be and as the Republican
party is willing to be, that you should
justify that admission by making
yourselves progressive, but at the
same time a conservative community."
Cook Will Climb to
Top of Mount
Again
NEW YORK, Oct. 15.-Dr. Frederick
A. Cook announced tonight that he
will organize an expedition to ascend
Mount McKinley and procure the
records which he says were left there
on his former ascent.
This step will be taken to refute
the charges set forth in the affidavit
of Edward N. Barrill, the guide who
accompanied him.
CATTLE STEALING CHARGED.
Samuel Garvin Arrested for Grand
Larceny on Warrant from Caster.
From Saturday's Daily.
Charged with grand larceny, Sam
uel Garvin, well known in this city,
was yesterday afternoon arrested by
members of the sheriff's office and on
a complaint sworn out by James Per
ry of Custer. He at once provided
bail and will be given a preliminary
hearing on October 20.
It is alleged in the complaint that
Garvin stole eight head of cattle be
longing to Mr. Perry. and that six of
the cattle are now in the corral of
the P. B. Merrill Packing company in
this city, whither, it is alleged, Gar
vin brought and sold them.
ZELAYA GETS NERVE.
Is Mobilizing Government Forces to
Resist Rebels.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Oct. 15.
The revolutionists are now in posses
sion of Bluefields, Corinto, Freytown,
Rivas, Cape Gracias, Rama and San
Juan Del Norte.
President Zelaya is mobolizing the
government forces for an attack on
the revolutionary forces at Rivas and
San Juan Del Norte.
The number of the adherents of the
revolutionary leader, Juan Estrada, is
not known.