The river press. [volume], December 11, 1912, Image 2

About The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current

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Published every Wednesday Morning
by the River Press Publish
ing Company.
THE MONTANA VOTE.
The official cunvass of the vote cast
in Montana at the recent election con
firms the newspaper reports that
ehowed a wide difference between the
number of citizens who registered and
those who went to the polls. The
registration lists contained the names
of over 112,000 qualiQed voters, while
the official election returns show that
less than 80,000 went to the polls.
A tabulation of the vote, made by
(he state board of canvassers, gives
this result for presidential electors:
Democratic 27,941
Republican 18,512
Progressive 21,937
Socialist 10,885
The vote cast for United States sen
ator, members of oongress and gov
ernor is given in this exhibit:
senator
Walsh, dem 28,421
Smith, rep 18,450
Dixon, pro 22,161
congressmen
Stout, dem 25,891
Evans, dem 24,492
Pray, rep 23,506
Allen, rep 19,633
Everett, pro 16,644
Borkan, pro 15,336
L&Beau, soc 10,271
Mabie, soc 10,056
governor
Stewart, dem 25,381
Wilson, rep 22,950
Edwards, pro 18,881
Duncan, soc 12,566
In the matter of issuing bonds for
the purchase of the Warm Springe
asylum the vote was 34,235 in favor of
the proposition, and 30,461 against.
The direct primary law and other
initiative measures received strong
support among the Montana voters,
more than 75 per cent of the ballots
beiog cast in favor of each of the pro
posed laws.
WEALTH FROM THE FARM.
In his sixteenth annual report,
which'is probably the last that he will
ever write, Secretary Wilson, of the
department of agriculture, will be able
to treat us to a new symphony in crop
reporting. The department just tells
us that cotton will very closely ap
proach the unprecedented yield of
16,000 ,000 bales harvested in 1911,
and may possibly pass that great total
while corn will reach 3,169,000,000
bushels, a quantity which leaves all
other figures far behind. The report
for wheat, oats, rye, potatoes, the
principal fruits and other food pro
ducts is likewise fluttering, the record
in some of them being broken.
To all of us this will be a pleasing
tale, suys the Globe Democrat, par
ticularly as it may tend to relieve a
scat'o which has been created in Eu
rope because of the danger of a
general war on that coutinent. Of
many of our great articles of food we
will have a surplus which could reach
large figures in our exports if a de
mand abroad hhould arise for them.
Accustomed as we have been in the
past few years to seeing the ag
gregate products of our farms reach
ing high figures, the altitude which
they promise to touch this time will be
calculated to make us dizzy. That we
are far ahead of any other country in
our- production of most of those
articles of food is a twice-told tale.
What would Gov. Bradford of the
Massachusetts colony, when he set
apart a day of thanksgiving for the
bounties of the earth which the year
had furnished, have thought could he
have glanced, prophetically, at the
great harvest which 1912 would bring
to the country whose foundations he
was assisting In planting. The corn
which the Wampanogas had taught
him how to cultivate, and which was
a native here, has since then traveled
round the earth, but even to-day we
produce three times as much of it
as all the rest of the globe yields. To
our remote ancestors the red, man
dealt out more kindness perhaps than
Bome of them deserved. He saved
them from starvation in the trouble
some days which they encountered in
establishing a great state, and inci
dentally they gave to the world one
of the most valuable of all its articleB
of food. The vast yield which it
brings us this year stirs the imagina
tion. The evolution of Indian corn is
one of the romances of American his
tory.
WILL BE RESPONSIBLE.
After March 4 next the democratic
party will be fully in control of the
United States government. It will
have the president. It will have
large majority in the house. It will
bave a sufficient majority in the senate.
The democracy will be fully responsi
ble for whatever happens to the Amer
loan people through their national
government.
This situation may not be a good
thing for the immediate welfare acd
continued prosperity of the American
people. Every democratic administra
tioQ 9,nce the civil war has c0,ncided
I"c)v3iwi>h—tnany believe has produced—
more or less of industrial stagnation,
financial distress and "hard times."
In the light of this experience prudent
men will naturally ineline to caution
in their enterprises and expenditures
for some time to come. They will be
the more inclined to caution by the fact
that the democracy is pledged to dras
tic and even revolutionary dealings
with the tariff.
However, the situation has certain
advantages. It makes for clearance of
vision and clearness of thought in
politics and public affairs. For the
first time in several years we will have
really responsible government at
Washington. We will have govern
ment for which a great party is wholly
responsible, and a situation in which
that party's responsibility cannot be
evaded, dodged or explained away.
We will have an end of the in-and-out
playing with great issues and vital
measures which has confused and ex
asperated the country for the last two
years especially.
With the president republican, the
house democratic and the sen ate either
or neither as happened to suit insur
gent fancies of the moment, the polly
wogs of politics have had a great time.
For whatever pleased the people they
could claim credit. For whatever
went wrong they could blame the other
fellows.
For the next two years there will be
no such possibilities of fooling the
people. They will know whom to
praise and whom to blame. The
shirkers and dodgers cannot hide be
hind one another.
In this situation is the republican
party's opportunity. It will have in
the house and senate a considerable
body of able men. Let these repre
sentatives of republican principles be
united, alertly watchful, not pttulantly
obstructive but soberly critical.
We now have the democratic party
wholly responsible for the national
government. It is for the republican
party to furnish a strong and sanely
responsible opposition.—Inter Ocean.
Coal Mining History.
The first mention of the occurrence
of coal in the United States, accord
ing to the United States geological
survey, is made in the journal of
Father Bennepin, a French Jesuit
missionary, who in 1679 recorded the
site of a "cole mine" on Illinois river
near the present city of Ottawa, 111.
The first actual mining of coal was in
the Richmond Basin, Va., about 70
years after Father Hennepin's discov
ery in Illinois, but the first records of
production from the Virginia mines
were for the year 1822, when, accord
ing to one authority, 54,000 tons were
mined.
Ohio probably ranks second in pri
ority of production, as coal was dis
covered there in 1755, but the records
of production date back only to 1838.
The mining of anthracite in Pennsyl
vania began about 1790, and it is said
that in 1807 55 tons were shipped to
Columbia, Pa. Reports of the anthra
cite coal trnde are usually begun with
the year 1820, when 305 long tons were
shipped to Philadelphia from the
Lehijjh region. Prior to this, how
ever, in 1814, a shipment of 22 tons
was made from Carbondale, also to
Philadelphia, and the production is
cooidered to have begun in that year
It is probable that the actual pro
duction prior to 1820 was between 2,500
and 3,000 tons. The production for
1911 was 496,221,168 short tons.
Peculiar and Pertinent.
In the year 1868 rat pies were fre
quently eaten in the neighborhood of
Nottingham, Eng. One inn made
feature of periodical rat suppers
Frank Buckland records the immunity
from scurvy of those members of
polar expedition who did not disdain
to partake of the cook's excellent rat
soup.
A curious form of water hole is
found in the deserts of western Aus
tralia. The hole Is dry by day, but
yields an abundant supply of water by
night. The flow of water is preceded
by weird hissing and sounds of rush
ing air.
In the "gumbo" regions of the lower
Mississippi valley, where the roads
have been the worst in the world, pro
gressive citizens have taken to burn
ing the clay of the soil and spreading
this material over the highways. The
''gumbo" is so changed by the heat
that it presents a fairly hard and mud
less surface even after a heavy rain
Want Offices For Democrats.
Washington , Dec. 3.— President
Taft seno more than 200 recess appoint
ments to the senate today and im
mediately indications of a movement
among some of the democratic sen
ators to prevent their confirmation be
came evident. Senator Gore, it was
said, would have the active support of
several colleagues in the movement.
The campaign is directed especially
against nominations, which, it is
claimed, had been postponed from
time to time, thus bringing the new
terms close to the beginning of the
democratic administration. Demo
cratic senators claim the president al
ready has deprived the democrats of
the privilege of appointing 50,000 post
masters by placing them within the
civil service law by a single order.
The Ages of Animals.
Undoubtedly the loogeei-lived ani
mal on earth is the whale, its span of
existence being estimated by Cuvier at'
1,000 years. The next largest animal
the elephant, will, under favorable
conditions, live 400 years.
When Alexander the great conquered
Porus, kiug of India, he took a great
elephant that be had fought gallantly
for the defeated king, named him Ajax
dedicated him to the sun, and placed
upon him a metal band with inscrip
tion, "Alexander, the son of Jupiter,
dedicated Ajax to the sun." The
elephant was found alive 350 years
later.
The average a. T e of cats is 15 years;
o f squirrels, 7 or 8 years; of rabbits, 7;
a bear rarely exceeds 20 years; a wolf,
20; a fox, 14 to 16. Lions are com
paratively long-lived, instances hav
ing been recorded where they reached
the age of 70 years.
Pigs have been known to live to the
age of 20 years and horses to 60, but,
the average age of the horse is 25 to 30
years.
Touching Memories
Senator Clapp, at a dinner in Wash
ington, chuckled over the appearance
before his committee of Colonel Roose
velt.
"The colonel," he said, "certainly
got back at everybody. He reminded
me of the Irishman.
'A friend of mine, traveling In Ire
land, stopped for a drink of milk at
a white cottage with a thatched roof,
and as he sipped his refreshment he
noted on a center table under a glass
dome, a brick with a faded red rose
upon the top of it.
'Why do you cherish in this way,"
my friend said to'his host, "that com
mon brick and that dead rose?"
1 ' Shure, sir,' was the reply,
'there's certain memories attachin' to
them. Do you see this big dent in my
head? Well, it was made by that
brick.'
1 'But the rose?' said my friend.
'His host smiled quietly.
' 'The rose,' he explained, 'is off
the grave of the man that threw the
brick.'
Pea Crop Is Profitable.
Townsend, Nov. 29. —For the first
time in the history of Broadwater
county the farmers harvested a pea
crop and this week have been hauling
the results of their venture here and
delivering to R. H. Moore, the repre
sentative of D. M. Ferry & Co., De
troit, Mich., said to be the largest seed
firm in America. Last January Mr
Moore induced 27 farmers to plant
peas, his company furnishing the seed
at three cents per pound and contract
ing to pay the farmers the same price
per pound for all the peas they might
deliver'in Townsend. The total yield
was 9,000 bushels.
Clark Hurlbert was the most exten
slve grower, having plauted 75 acres
aud sold 2,600 bushels, receiving
805. James Mondin and Ed Ragen
came next in order, with 50 and 30
acres respectively. The crop from one
field of peas of Mr. Hurlbert averaged
$80 un acre. A majority of those rais
ing peas only planted a small acreage
but these wiil enlarge their pea field
next year, due to the success they had
this season. There were a few failures
due to lack of knowledge pertaining
to proper and timely irrigation
fault that is easily remedied by ex
perience.
Peas scale 60 pounds per bushel and
the average yield per acre exceeds that
of wheat, peas here bringing $1 80
bushel &nd wheat about 60 cents.
Norris Urges Action.
Richmond , Va., Dec. 3.— Perpetua
tion of the governors' conference as
permanent organization with chief
Aim to attain rank as a force in mould
ing public opinion and shaping public
policies was advocated by Governor
Norris of Montana today in response
to addresses welcoming 19 state execu
tives to the fifth annual gathering
which opened here.
"Much of the actual value has been
accomplished in previous conferences
Governor Norris said, "but the con
ferences have not been the potent fac
tor|they should have been. No definite
position has been taken upon any
question and no fixed purpose has
been accomplished. Under our present
system the conferences seem to impress
the public more as social than as busi
ness gatherings. A vigorous expres
sion of the consensus of opinion on
subjects discussed and considered
would counteract this error and inject
into the conference a potency and
virility not otherwise possible."
To Pension Ex-Presidents.
Washington , Dec. 3.—Retirement
of a president of the United States as
commander-in-chief of the army at
salary of 910,000 was proposed in
bill introduced today by Senator Mc
Cumber. It also would pension
widows of former presidents while
they remain unmarried at $5,000
year.
Billings , Dec. 4.—Information was
received here today from the depart
ment of the Interior to the effect that
60 units located on the Huntley pro
ject and lying east of Pompey's Pit
lar, will probably be thrown open to
homestead entry about March 1, but
the exact date could not be given.
MAY IMPEACH JUDGE.
Member of Commerce Court Must
Face Serious Charges.
Washington , Dec. 3 —The trial of
Judge Robert W. Archbald of the
United States commerce court for con
duct amounting to a violation of his
oath as federal judge was set to open
today before the senate court of im
peachment as a result of Judge Arch
bald's request last August that his
attorneys be given more lime to pre
pare their case.
The charges against Judge Arch
bald arose in connection with private
and official acts both as a judge of the
court of commerce and as United
States District judge for middle Penn
sylvania. He was impeached by the
house of representatives after a full
investigation of the facts by the de
partment of justice, and extended
hearings before the house judiciary
committee.
Thirteen separate articles constitute
the basis for the impeachment trial.
These embrace dealings between Judge
Archbald and railroad officials and
others in regard to Pennsylvania coal
or "culm" dumps and coal lands;
contributions by attorneys and others
to the judge's vacation trip to Europe
in 1910; reputed "secret" corespond
ence by the judge with a railroad at
torney concerning a pending case; and
alleged attempts to have notes payable
to Judge Archbald discounted by at
torneys and litigants before his court.
Big Campaign Contribution.
Washington , Dec. 3 —Charles P.
Taft of Cincionatl, brother of the
president, led the contributors to the
republican campaign fund with $150,
000 according to the final statement of
the republican national committee filed
with the clerk of the house. The total
contributions received reached $904,
828. The expenditures were 900,463
for speakers salaries, advertising,
rent and other purposes, including
$75,000 to the American association of
foreign newspapers.
"Montana Harry" Is Dead.
Worcester , Mass., Dec. 3.—Harry
Willis Howell, "Montana Harry," as
he was better known throughout the
country, believed to be the last surviv
ing scout who was with Custer at the
battle of the Little Big Horn, fell
dead in a hotel here yesterday. Powell,
who was 64 years old, was the holder
of several gold medals of honor from
the government, bestowed for bravery
in the field. Oo his breast was found
a gold medal awarded for bravery at
Pine Ridge, Jan. 1, 1891.
Upholds Anti-Monopoly Law.
Washington , Dec. 3. —The consti
tutionality of the South Dakota anti
monopoly or "unfair discrimination"
act of 1907 is upheld by the supreme
court. The act makes it a crime to
sell, with intent to ruin competition, a
commodity iu general use to a dealer
in one place at a lower rate than to
another dealer at a different place
within the state. Similar laws have
been enacted in several northwestern
states and are regarded as among the.
most rigid anti-monopoly statutes
ever enacted.
Governor Defends Lynch Law.
Richmond . Va., Dec. 3.—In the
name of the state of South Carolina,
Governor Blease served notice to the
governors' conference here today that
lynchers of negro assailants of white
women would go unpunished in his
state.
Governor Blease warmly defended
his use of pardoning power. He de
clared that in 22 months he had par
doned or paroled approximately 400
persons, and said he hoped the num
ber at the end of the second term
would be 800.
"I have said all over South Caro
lina and I say it again now," he de
clared, '-that I never order out the
militia to shoot down their neighbors
and thereby protect the black brute
who commits the nameless crime
against a white woman. Therefore, in
South Carolina, let it be understood
that when a negro assaults a white
woman, all that is needed is that they
get the right man, and they who get
him will neither need nor receive
trial."
Sat On Box of Powder.
Prince Rupert , B. C., Dec. 3.—
Sitting on a box of powder and light
ing the fuse, James Bell, a Queen
Charlotte Island rancher, was blown
to pieces today.
That Bell deliberately planned to
take his life is indicated by a note
which he left in his cabin, stating he
intended to destroy himself. Â search
located the suicide's mangled remains
in the woods, some distance from his
cabin. _
Estimate Government Expenses.
Washington , Dec. 2.—It will cost
$824,415,450.14 to conduct the affairs
of the government for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1914, according to the
estimates of the various department
heads, submitted today to the speaker
of the house by the secretary of the
treasury.
Pine Book and Job Printing a spe
cialty at the River Press office.
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IIIHaâiv. CT
The Reliable Household Lantern
There is always need for a good lantern around
the home—in the yard, in the cellar, in the attic—
wherever a lamp is inconvenient or unsafe.
The RAYO is ideal for home use. It gives a clear, bright
light—like sunlight on tap. It is strong, durable, compact, handy.
Doesn't leak. Doesn't smoke. Easy to light and rewick. Will
last for years. Ask for the RAYO.
At Dealer» Everywhere
CONTINENTAL OIL COMPANY
Denver, Pueblo, Albuquerque,
Cheyenne, Bülte, Boise. Salt Lake City.
O. H. CAMPBELL & SON
Phelps Building,
Great Falls, Montana
WE LOAN ON HOMESTEAD PROOFS OR PATENTS
The Fort Benton Sanitarium
$
I
Newly furnished throughout, with
full up-to-date equipment
Graduate nurses and modern med
ical and surgical treatment
Rates from $8.oo per week up,
according to accommodations
For particulars address
The Fort Benton Sanitarium. Fort Benton, Mont
ELECTRIC LIGHT
FOR YOUR RANCH BUILDINGS
Has been made practicable by the recent improvements in elec
t rical machinery and lamps. You can produce electricity on your ranch
cheaper than you can buy it from a public service company in town.
The price of the equipment is within reach of all. Call and let. me
quote you price of plant installed, and you will be convinced that you
cannot afford to be without one.
GENERAL AUTOMOBILE REPAIR WORK
W. F. WILFOK».
Fort Benton
LOW
Round Trip Excursion
Fares East
From Anaconda and other Montana
Points on Great Northern Ry.
October 19th, November 23d and 25th and December
21 st and 23 d, the Great Northern Railway will have in effect
Low Round Trip Home Visitors Excursion Fares from
Anaconda, Butte, Helena, Great Falls, Billings and other
points in Montana on the Great Northern Railway to
Atchison, Kansas
Chicago, 111.
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Denver, Colo.
Des Moines, Iowa
Duluth, Minn.
Kansas City, Mo.
Leavenworth,Kans.
Milwaukee, Wis.
Minneapolis, Minn.
Omaha, Neb.
Peoria, 111.
Pueblo, Colo.
Rock Island, 111.
St. Joseph, Mo.
St. Louis, Mo.
St. Paul, Minn.
Sioux City, la.
Superior, Wis.
Tickets will also be on sale to St. Paul and Minneapolis
on November 9th. Liberal stopover privileges. Final
return limit January 31st, 1913; tickets sold December 21st
and 23d will bear final return limit of February 28,1913.
Take advantage of these low excursion fares and visit
your friends in the East. For tickets
and information call on your local agent
or
J. T. McG AUGHEY
Assistant General Freight & Passenger Agent
HELENA, MONTANA
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