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The River Press. Published every Wednesday Morning by the River Press Publish ing Company. jl'dge parker's advisers. The democratic candidate for presi dent may deserve all the compliments bestowed upon him by his admirers, but he appears to be in mighty bad company. The men who secured his nomination and who are managing' his campaign have reputations that are not of the best. Among his most ardent supporters and advisers is ex-Senator David B. Hill, of New York, an unscrupulous politician for whom self-respecting citizens have the utmost contempt. Chairman Taggart, of the democratic national committee, is president of the French Lick Springs company at West Baden, Ind., under whose aus pices is conducted the biggest gamb ling casino in the country. Two other confidential advisers of Judge Parker are the subject of these remarks by the San Francisco Examiner, which supports the democratic ticket: August Belmont—This gentleman is the typical Wall street and racing man. As the agent of the Rothchilds it was his business to get for them from Grover Cleveland, United States bonds as far below their actual value as possible. His house and his em ployers, the Rothschilds, profited very largely through the infamous bond deal, with assistance of Grover Cleveland. It is not necessary to tell anybody what the public thinks of this bond deal, or what effect it. had upon the democratic party. August Belmont is a great figure in the gambling business of racing, as well as iu the gambling business of Wall street. He is president of the Jockey Club and an owner of race tracks. Tens of thousands of moth ers and wives in New York state are heartbroken every year by the losses of their sous or husbands at the tracks over which Mr. Belmont pre sides. Mr. Belmont is at the head of the organization which takes a hun dred dollars a day each from book makers, giving them in return per mission to plunder the public at the race course. There is no objection to Mr. Bel mont as a Wall street broker, a bond buyer or a racing man. On turf or iu Wall street his reputation is good he plays the game according to the rules. Patrick McCarren—It is only neces sary to mention his name to arouse wonder at his being received by the presidential candidate. McCarren is another gambling, race-track man, but of a lower stripe than Belmont. In the legislature of New York his role is notoriously that of a trust ad vocate. He is universally recognized at Albany as the spokesman and agent of the gas trust, the sugar trust and any other trust wanting advice and assistance. Certainly if Judge Parker knows this he will not accept assistance or advice from this source. Mr. Lawsou of Boston, a mail of large means and intimate acquaint ance has declared publicly that Mr. McCarren is on the secret payroll of the Standard Oil monopoly at a sal ary of $20,000 a year. Mr. Lawsou quotes H. II. Hogers and Rockefeller, the rulers of the Standard Oil, as his authorities for the statement. He lias offered to donate $100,000 to the na tional democratic campaign fund if Mr. McCarren will prove that he is not in the pay of the Standard Oil com pu ny. Complaint regarding unjust freight charges also comes from the North west Territory, where the Canadian Pacific railroad has no competition. The local rate from Medicine Hat to Calgary was TO cents per LOO pounds, while fror» Calgary to .Medicine Hat it was only ;«> cents. A protest was made to the railroad ollieials, who thereupon proceeded to "equalize" the mutter 'ny making the rate TO cents each way—ami the public pays the freight. I t is announced that Mr. Bryan will go on the stump on behalf of the democratic presidential ticket. This recalls a speech made by Mr. Bryan, some time ago, in which he said: "A campaign with Parker as the candi date will begin with a foot race and end with a rout." Butte luter Mountain: The Detroit Free Press is seeking a solution of the problem confronting a man in that city who has an income of $30 per month and has been ordered by a court to pay $40 per mouth alimony. He might address some of the public officials out this way who are credited with saving from $5,000 to $10,000 per year from salaries ranging from $2.1)00 to $4,000. Another I.and Lottery. St. Paul , Aug. 24. —The drawing of laud iu the Fort Totteu reserve be gan this morning at Devil's Lake in the presence of a big crowd. The first allotment, valued at $5,000, was drawn by Bruce Warren, Forest River, North Dakota. prokits from public fi nos. A matter of general interest to the people of Montana is the subject of comment by the Great Fails Tribune in remarking upon the large crop of candidates for the office of state treas urer. It is supposed to be the most lucrative public position in the state, the incumbent generally having on hand a big cash balance upou which he is supposed to receive interest from the banks in which it is deposited. Under present conditions the interest thus earned by public funds becomes the perquisite of the treasurer, a sys tem that would not be tolerated in any business undertaking and should uot obtain in the conduct of public affairs. The Tribune discusses the subject to this effect: It has probably been noticed that there are about as many candidates for the office of state treasurer in both parties as there are for all the other state offices combined. There is noth ing remarkable about this, because the office of state treasurer is under stood to be worth about as much to a man elected to fill it as all the other offices combined, from a monetary standpoint. This is the case uot because the state pays the treasurer any more salary than it does the others, but because that official is the custodian of from a half to a million dollars of state money during all the time that he is in office. This money, under the pres ent system, is entirely iu the hands of the state treasurer to do with just about us he sees fit. provided he does not destroy it or steal it. and gives it over to his successor when his term of office is done. There are certain re strictions about depositing it so that it shall be safe, but these rules don't seem to have any binding effect. For all practical purposes the treasurer has absolute control of this money while he is in office. This great amount of money is wor th a good deal in interest. At 2 per cent, half a million dollars—and that is putting the average amount on hand much smaller than it is—would earn $10,000 per annum. This $10,000 per year and it is probably more than that—belongs to the state. Be cause the treasurer gets it under the present system the people of the state have to pay $10,000 per annum more iu taxes. If the treasurer did not get it the amount of taxes needed would be reduced that much, or $10,000 more could be expended for the benefit of the people of the state in some direc tion that is uovv impossible because of a scarcity of funds. At this time, while both democrats and republicans are considering the matter of a state platform, this sub ject might well be taken into consider ation. The question of the deposit of state funds so that the state shall re ceive the benefit rather than an official of the state is a live i.ssue in the cam paign in our neighboring state of Ida ho: and there is very good reason why it should be here as well. The Idaho democrats have declared iu favor of doing away with this annual gift to the state treasurer,.and the democrats of Montana might well do the same thing. The same arguments apply, only in smaller force, to the funds iu the hands of city and county treasurers. Of course there the amount is compar atively smaller, and in some instan ces the men holding these office» make no effort to get interest ou the public funds. But there is uo reason why state, city and county should not get interest on the public funds. This is secured in other state.-, and it should be in Montana. KOOS F VI LT AND THF POSTAL IK AIDS. William Allen White performs a public service in the September Mc Clure's in telling clearly and intelli gently the inspiring story of how President Roosevelt uncovered the frauds in the postal department. Mr. White not only gives the facts con cerning this great administrative sen sation, but he interprets their signifi cance and analyzes both the tendencies which made these frauds possible and the newer trend which exposed them. i'or nearly thirty years, Mr. White claims, the corruption of public offi cials has been growing steadily worse under the fostering care of the party system. He who exposed public offi cers in their semi-legalized looting has been viewed as an enemy of his party. But recently there lias been a visible growth of moral perception in matters political among the people, and this force may compel the lever of the party system to act for the peo ple. In the access of a real moral in telligence about their politics, iu the fixing of the trait of civic honesty the people of the L'nit-ed States are dis covering ;m important function of government. To bring about such a condition means more for America than the adjustment of tariffs or the establishment of any kind of currency, argues Mr. White. "The real inter est in American politics is in the moral uplift in the administration of the existing laws given to the country by President Roosevelt. The most important manifestation of this is found iu the way he cleaned up the corruption he found in the post-office department. That story is one which the people have not had in as exact detail as they should have it to realize what manner of man 'they are dealing with in the White House." Mr. White then tells that story in sufficient detail to inform all of the essential facts, yet so concisely that the whole miserable conspiracy is un covered almost at a glance. For years there has been crooked ness in the post-office department, yet so skillfully did the grafters cover their tracks and protect their interests by collusion with congressmen, sena tors, editors and others, who shared the benefits of their loot, that no pro secution was even suggested. Official Washington knew the power of the grafters and honored them. And never a hint of the conditions came to President Roosevelt's ears until a Washington newspaper made the gos sip concerning them the basis for a series of articles. Washington was aghast at such effrontery. The news paper was boycotted and its editor discharged, but some of the honest officials iu Washington took the mat ter to the president, and he ordered an investigation, choosing Joseph L. Bristow, Fourth assistant postmaster general, to do the work. Every possi ble influence was brought to bear on the president to stop the investigation, but with angry abhorrence for the alleged thieves he went after them as a terrier goes after a rat, and today the truth is out and this branch of the public service immeasurably cleansed. Many convictions, resignations, ilights and confessions have followed the in vestigations, and dishonesty in the public service is at a discount. It makes wholesome as well as in teresting reading, this story of public duty fearlessly performed, and its les sons must have a far-reaching effect. Great Men's Favorite Dishes Lincoln, in the days when he did his own marketing, often stopped at a certain shop for his favorite—ginger bread, says What to Eat. He used to say, "It swells up and makes me feel as if 1 had had something." Stonewall Jackson delighted in buck wheat cakes iu season and out of sea son. R. W. Emerson was fond of pie, especially that made of plums, which he called the fruit of paradise. Dr. Holmes, on the contrary, said of the peach: "When nature has delivered it to us in its perfection we forget all the lesser fruits, and if uot found by the River of Life an earth born spirit might be forgiven for missing it." Charles Sumner's private secretary tells of the statesman's sweet tooth for chocolate creams. Andrew Jackson surrendered to ice cream at first taste when Mrs. Alexander Hamilton introduced it into Washington, and his usual oath, "By the Eternal" he would have it at the White House, and he did, at the next reception. Washington was noted for his fondness for hickory nuts, and the amount he could consume. The Canadian Wheat Crop. Montreal , Aug. 23.—A Canadian Pacific official estimates the wheat yield for western Canada at (55,000,000 bushels. Four million acres will be harvested this fall. Reports from TO out of 00 elevators in Manitoba and the northwest territory indicate a dam age from rust of 10 per cent iu Mani toba and practically none at all in the northwest territory. The estimate of 05,000,000 bushels is the same as that made by the Bankers' association a week ago. Insuranee .Money Returned. Little Rock , Ark., Aug. 22.— Dr. R. C. Lightle, who was supposed to have been burned in his barn at Searcy on May 22, and on whose death insurance companies paid $10, 000, on policies, returned to Searcy and surreurled to a deputy sheriff. Lightle says he did uot attempt to commit fraud, but left suddenly be cause he had a corpse in the barn for dissection, ar.d when t lie building burned he feared he might be arrested for grave robbery. Mrs. Lightle has returned $1.">,500 of the insurance money. Smuggling Scheme Exposed. San Francisco , Aug. 2.'!. — Exten sive violations of the customs laws have been unearthed here by the cus tom.- inspectors who searched the United States naval transport Solace, which arrived last Friday from Ma nilla, Guam, and Honolulu. Forty one seizures were made, amounting in value to several thousand dollars, in cluding cigars, silks, embroideries, decorated porcelain and Japauese curios. The goods have been sent to the appraisers' store. Among the persons to whom dutiable goods were addressed are a number of United States naval officers. Mil} l.xiend Great Northern Vancouver , B. c., Aug. 24.— Jas. J. Hill, it is reported, has three camps of surveyors at work between Leth bridge and 1'inciter Creek, Alberta, making a preliminary survey for an extension of the Great Northern. This is in line with Mr. Hill's accredited plans for a connected line through the Crow's Nest to southern Alberta. It is said the Morrissey-Fernie liue will uot stop at the latter place, but will be extended to Michel without delay. JAPANESE CAPTURE FORT. Russian Authorities Believe Attack on Port Arthur Will Fail. London , Aug. 22.— The Evening News this afternoon published a dis patch from Chee Foo, under today's date, announcing that the Japanese captured "Chain fort" of the Port Arthur defenses yesterday after a tremendous attack. The dispatch is simply a repetition of the announce ment of the capture of Itshan or Etsehan, known as "Chain fort." Etsehau fort, according to the avail able maps of Port Arthur, is almost in the center of the chain of forts of which it forms one, defending Port Arthur, from which it is only about a mile and a half distant. It occupies a commanding position and is second in importance only to the Golden Hill fort. St. Petersburg , Aug. 23.—Despite the popular feeling that Port Arthur is doomed, the success with which Lieut. Gen. Stoessel has been beating off the Japanese assaults and the heavy losses sustained by the besieg ers offer considerable encouragement to the war office. "There is a limit beyond which troops cannot go, uo matter how gal lant," said an officer of the general staff this morning. "A fifth of the army before Port Arthur is a small estimation of the enemy's losses up to date. If the storming operation, which we understand is now progress ing, fails to give them a foothold in the ring of inner defenses, the Japan ese will be compelled by sheer ex haustion to stop and recuperate while awaiting additional reinforcements, and believe they will abandon the idea of a general assault and settle down to regular siege operations. "Starving out the garrison is less brilliant, but it is quite as effective a way of reducing a fortress. The Jap anese purpose in rushing matters has doubtless been to release a section of the south army and enable it toco-op erate with armies iu Manchuria." Range War In Oregon. Portland , Aug. 23.—AnOregonian special from Antelope, Ore., says: Over 1,000 thoroughbred sheep, be longing to Morrow & Keenau, of Wil low Creek, Cook county, were killed last Friday evening at Little Summit Prairie, 40 miles east of Pineville. This fact was announced last evening by telephone message by Mr. Keenan's sou, who was in charge of the sheep. Keen an states that, while the herder was alone and occupied with the care of his (lock during the late afternoon, he was accosted by three horsemen, who departed after a short conversa tion. Almost immediately following their disappearance, a band of about 20 horsemen, with faces blackened, emerged from the timber and ap proached within a short distance of him, when a command to throw up his hands was given and complied with. Leaving him near a tree, aud behind it for protection from the bullets, a general fusilade with Winchesters was commenced by the members, which lasted nearly two hours, or until sun down, by which time the entire band had either been killed or scattered iu every direction. No clew has been obtained of the guilty parties, and o.v I to existing conditious in that sec tion, apprehension and conviction is osidered almost au impossibility Mrs. May brick Returns. New York , Aug. 23.—On board the Red Star liner Yaderland, which ar rived today from Antwerp, was Mrs. Florence Chandler Maybrick, recently released from prison in England. Mrs. Maybrick was entered on the passenger list- as Mrs. Rose ingra h.am, a name which she took from her grand parents. This precaution was not designed to evade official inquiry, but merely to avoid annoying obser vation on the part of fellow passen During the voyage she wrote a state ment which was given to the press on her arrival. She expressed a desire uot to be interviewed. The statement expresses joy aud thanksgiving that she is back a free woman to her na tive laud. There are frequent vivid expressions of gratitude to the Ameri can friends who for years fought for her liberty. Reservoir Gates lilown l'p. Sr. Marys . Ohio, Aug. 2.'>.—Before daybreak today the gates at the head of St. Mary's reservoir were blown up by dynamite. The report of the explo sion was heard for miles. The build ings were shakeu aud windows were broken. Intense excitement prevails, but every precaution has been taken to prevent a iluod. Many consider the reservoir a menace to surrounding farms. II the explosion had blown out the entire bulkhead and opened the tlood gates hundreds of li\es doubtless would have b'.-eu lost. This bulkhead is the one through which the Miami and Erie canal is fed and the reservoir is the largest artificial body of water in the world. Bloodhounds have been put on the trail of the dynamiters. There has been much ill feeling among the peo ple living in the vicinity (_>f reser voir owing to the widespread belief that the banks of the big body of wa ter are not safe, notwithstanding the state has spent large sums of money in strengthening the earthworks. Could Not Find Heinze. New York , Aug. 23.—Under an order of the court, F. A. Heinze was to have been examined today before Clifford G. Roberts, a notary public, in the suit of the Boston & Montana Consolidated Copper & Silver Mining company against the Johnstown Min ing company, but no hearing was held because efforts to serve Mr. Heinze with a subpoena have not been suc cessful. The New Overland HOTEL, FRANK McDONALD, Prop'r. First-class service. Central location. Hot and cold baths. Furnace heat. Electric lights. 3§T Bates : $1.25 aucl $1.50 per day. $7.00 per week. FRONT STREET, FORT BENTON WHENEVER YOU WANT Up-to-date Stationery, School and Office Supplies, The Freshest of Fruit and Candies, Tobacco and Cigars, The Latest Magazines or Novels, COME TO THE Post Office Store. HAGEN & WICKHORST Builders and Contractors. FORT BENTON, - MONT. SATISFACTION GUARANTEED. Estimates Furnished on Application. c Burn GALT, LUMP and NUT In Stoves and Ranges. NELSON LUHP sind EGG For Furnaces and Steam, A. L. LEWIS, Local Agent DO VOL WANT LAND? A postal will bring our booklet "Tine L and Q ukstion ' , describing all forms and application of Land Scrips. We have for sale thousands of acres of Scrip which will take title to any Government land open to entry (except mineral) without the necessity of residence or improvement. No limit to the amount of acreage which, may be taken by applicant. If interested ask for ''Till'. L and Q ukstion ", sent free on request. THE WYOMING LAND CO., ^ I I I f ' ^ U ° ' || .'i 1 °" ^ LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION St ! nuk May Ist to •J l • LUUlo December ist, 1004. The Largest and Grandest Exposition Ever Held. The GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY Will sell Excursion Tickets at favor able rates, with suitable limits. For further particulars see your local agent of Great Northern Ky., or ad dress F. I. WHITNEY. Gen'l Pa^s'r and Ticket Agent, St. Paul. Minn. (4194) STOCKMEN'S NATIONAL BANK. OF FORT BENTON, flONTANA. Capital Paid Up Undivided Pro its $200,000 S 175,000 CHAS. E. DUER, Prest. J. V. C AI BOLL, Vice-Prest. LCb'IS B : SHARP, Cashier. Board of Directors —Chas. E. Duer, Chas. Lepley. Jos. Hirsliberg, Geo. W. Moore, C. H. Merrill, Jno. V. Carroll, M. E. Miluer, David G. Browne, John Harris. TRANSACTS A GENERAL BANKING BUSINESS Local Securities a Specialty. Interest Allowed on Time Deposits Conrad Banking COMPANY, GREAT FALLS, MONT O?.mncoruorated.l PAID IIP CAPIVAI S 100,00€ INDIVIDUAL R ESPONSIBIL1TY..2 000,000 W. G. CONRAD, Pres. JAMES T. STANFORD, Vlœ-Pres. and Manager. P. KELLY. Cashier This bank solicits accounts, and offers to depositors absolute security, prompt and careful attention, and the most libera] treatment consistent with safe and profitable banking. Buys and sells foreign exchange, drawing direct on all principal American and European citie.s, and issues its owe Letters of Credit. Interest paid on time deposits. The highest cash price paid for approved state, county, city and school bond« and warrants. W. M. DAVIS & SORS... Carry a Complete Stock of Staple and Fancy GROCERIES And are prepared te» supply your wants at all times. Country Produce, Confectionery, Fruits and Nuts. A COMPLETE LINE OF Cigars. Tobaccos, Pipes. Etc. Front St.. Fort Benton m GEO. F. LEWIS k SON, Prfrs Livery. Sale and Feed Stables Liiilit aiul Heavy Turnout:« by the day,-.veei-;, o month. FINE TEA» A SPECIALTY. Horses Wagons, liuiriries and Harnes* on h an. 5 , at ai time?, and for sale at reasonable price?. CO YEARS' EXPERIENCE Patents ' RADE lYIARKS Designs Copyrights &c. Anyone sending a sketch and description mav quickly ascertain our opinion free whether an Special notice , without c harg e, in the Scientific American. a handsomely illustrated weekly. I.arcest cir culati-m of any scientific journal. Terms, $3 a year : "four months, $1. Sold by all newsdealers. MUNN & Co. 36IBroadwa ^ New York Branch Office, 625 F St., Washington, D. C.