Big Timber Pioneer 1917

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Historical Society of Montana.
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VOLUME XXIX. NO 7
ANNUAL MESSAGE
OF GOVERNOR
JOINT SESSION OF BOTH HOUSES
LISTENS TO THE EXECUTIVE
BIG TIMBER; SWEET GRASS COUNTY, MONTANA, THURSDAY. JAN. 4, 1917
PRICE $1.50 PER YEAR
SEVERAL CHANGES URGED
Consolidation of  Many State Boards
Suggested—Future Revenues An
Important Factor.
Helena, Mont., Jan! 2. — Believing
that the interests of the state can be
best served by the merging of some of
the bureaus, Governor Sam V. Stewart,
in his message today to the Fifteenth
legislative assembly in joint session,
recommended a number of things which
will work to the benefit of the taxpayers.
He swept aside all consideration of
party and suggested that the people
have demanded efficiency in office and
have made it evident "that a record of
party loyalty' will not serve as a substitute for personal and official efficiency.
* * * * There are no party measures
and the people know it. 'The people
want results—some non partisan, ordinary work-a-day results, without any
party label, but sufficiently plain and
homely to be of service to them as individuals rather than to the politicians.
"If you are to give forth sueh results
you must for the time forget all other
considerations save the state and her
citizens," he urged.
Looking to the f uture.Governor Stewart suggested that all safety departments be consolidated and that the
weights and measures department be
merged with the state health board and
likewise that the livestock boards be consolidated into one.
He urged tbat the state be divided
into congressional districts.
Owing to the coming of the "dry"
law and the attendant loss of a large
revenue, the governor suggests that
earnest efforts be made to provide for
a» additional revenue to meet the con-
pVantly increasing expense of government due to the growth of Montana and
a warning is issued that appropriations
in excess of the revenue of the state
should be observed.
Farm, legislation is treated at some
length as well as taxation. Amendments are suggested as to the farm
loan, compensation and primary laws,
tending toward simplification. State-
owned terminal elevators, amendment
of the grain inspection laws, state hail
insurance, are among the farm measures advocated.
A state- taxation commission is suggested for the purpose of studying taxation and suggesting means of economy.
Attention is called to the fact that
. with the growth of the state, all state
institutions, both educational and corrective, are in need of additional room.
The governor's message occupied juat
30 minutes.
O'Connor Easy Winner
In Speakership Fight
Helena, Jan. 1.—Receiving the votes
of every representative elected on the
democratic ticket, Judge J. F. O'Connor, Park county, was elected speaker
of the house of the Fifteenth legislative assembly on the first ballot taken
this morning. The vote stood 49 to 45,
with Elie", ranking republican, ot Beaverhead, absent because of illness.
As Speaker O'Connor took the chair
he was warmly applauded. He acknowledged his election as follows:
"Honorable Sirs: I wish to take this
opportunity, to wish you a very happy
new year and many of them. I thank
you for the honor you have bestowed
upon me in giving me the right to preside over our deliberations as your
speaker.
' 'I do not believe that what I have
done in the past justifies the complimentary remarks of the gentleman who
introduced me, but I sincerely hope that
I will be able to justify those very flattering remarks. Our interests are all
the same. We are to do what we can
for the good of the state of Montana
first. Democracy and republicanism
come next, and I wish to say that the
republican side of this bouse will get
just as much consideration as the democratic side. I will doal as fairly and
justly as if you were in our own party.
We are working for the state as a
whole.
"The prosperity of the mines means
the prosperity of tho state as a whole.
The prosperity of the farmer, the prosperity of the railroads affects the prosperity of the state and in  working for
president, Woodrow Wilson, in which
work he has been so ably assisted by
Senator T. J. Walsh, Senator Henry L.
Myers, Congressmen John M. Evans
and Tom Stout. [Let us uphold the
hands of that progressive man, Gov.
Sam Stewart, and aid him in securing
the laws which he will ask from this
body.
"I believe in the equalization of
taxes, the betterment of roads and cutting out the useless timber in the various departments of the state government and putting its offices on an economical basis. When we have done
that, it seems to me that we shall have
done our duty.
"My only desire is to serve you honestly, justly, fairly and courteously and
if you will try to extend the same consideration to me it will be of great assistance and I again thank you for the
distinguished honor you have extended
me today."
Drys Not Satisfied
With Popular Vote
' Helena, Dec. 29.—Three days before
the Fifteenth legislative assembly convenes there are indications that the big
contest of the session will be between
the wets and the drys.
Joseph Pope, superintendent of the
Montana Anti-Saloon league, arrived in
Helena tonight and he announced that
he would remain durine the session.
But he will do more than keep an eye
on legislation. He said tonight that
there would very likely be an attempt
made by the dry friends to amend the
prohibition law enucted at the last general election so that it will go into effect
Jan. 1, 1918.
. Mr. Pope said that, looking at the
subject from a standpoint of the liquor
men, he thought they would be glad to
have the time shortened a year because,
in his opinion, if the saloons are allowed
to remain open for two years, the local
option movement will become statewide
and to fight it would cost the saloon
men more than they could hope to make
by remaining open for another year.
.But whether Uie dry io-rces1 takevdc-
cisive action, as indicated by Mr. Pope,
he said they would insist upon the passage of laws designed to assist officers
in keeping Montana dry after the law
does go into effect. These will include
ouster, seizure and abatement laws.
On tlie other hand, it is said the liquor men will endeavor to have enacted
legislation repealing the prohibition law.
Montana Population Is
Showing Big Increase
Helena, Mont*, Dec. 31.—Figured
from the basis of the authentic school
census from each county of the state,
Montana in September had a population of 648,316, according to the annual
report of H. A. Davee, superintendent
of public instruction This was'figured
on the basis 147,374 persons of school
age, which basis was taken from proportions comparing the federal census
with the state school census.
There has been an increase of 11,509
school children in Montana in one year,
equivalent to 55,040 increase in population. The importance of the agricultural counties of the state is shown by
the population of the farming counties
which will be a revelation to many who
have not followed the progress of the
state.
According to the figures the ten leading counties in Montana are Silver Bow.
Cascade, Fergus, Yellowstone, Missoula. Flathead, Carbon, Sheridan, Hill,
Lewis and Clark.
In 1910 the federal cen sus gave Montana 376,053 population and the school
census was 85,126. This gives Montana
an increase of 73 per cent in population
in six years. Accurately compiled figures by counties are as follows from the
report of H. A. Davee:
Beaverhead, y,288; Big Horn. 4,061;
Blaine. 10.650; Broadwater. 4,761: Carbon, *Jj,oi8; Cascade, 43,190; Chouteau,
16,918: Cu3ter. 15,594; Dawson. 20,759;
Deer L-*dge, 2;J,860; FJIon, 12,619;
Fergus, 40,066; Flathead, 23.940; Gallatin, 20.689; Granite, 4211: Hill, 22.585;
Jefferson, 6,116; Lowis and Clark, 22,-
308; Lincoln, 8.186; Madison, 9,808;
Meagher. 7.787: Mineral. 2.592; Mipsou-
Ma. 27,034; Musselshell, 14.001; Park,
13,064: Phillips, 9,852; Powell, 7.146;
Prairie, 1,721; Ravalli, 14,027; Richland.
14,146; Rosebud, 13,024; Sanders. 11.387,
Sheridan, 23,211; Silver Bow, 65,252;
Stillwater,   9,837;   Sweetgrass,
Governor Sam V. Stewart, who began his second term as chief executive on Monday last.
Edwards Named As
Leader of Senate
Helena,' dan. 1.—A demsind for etj*ux?-
ization of taxes in fact, aa well as in
name, was made of the legislature today on behalf of the republican party
by Senator J. E. Edwards of Rosebud
county in the course of the remarks he
made after being unanimously elected
president pro tern. Senator Edwards
said the will of the people, as registered at the November election, indicated a desire on their part that party
lines be cast aside "and that we adopt
principles and policies relative to the
existing conditions of today."
He declared under the present system of taxation there have been large
increases upon agricultural classes, but
that the constitution ' has restrained
these upon,, mining industries. He
charged "special interests" have heretofore aiwavs maintained a lobby at the
legislature, and said a law will be asked
for compelling these lobbyist** to l-egis-
ter.
Ferris Homestead Bill
Now On Statute Book
Incoming Attorney General
Declares on Bawdy Houses
Announcement was made recently by
S. C. Ford, attorney general-elect, that
houses of ill fame must go out of business after Jan. 1 next. He said that
the provisions of the law making it a
misdemeanor for any person to keep a
house of ill fame or to reside in one
would be strictly enforced; that it is
also a misdemeanor for the owner of
any building to permit it to be used for
such purpose, and prosecutions will first
be undertaken against the owners.
"I made my campaign upon the republican platform and upon a personal
platform that, if elected, I would impartially enforce all the laws," said Mr.
Ford. "I realize there are many laws
upon the statute books the wisdom of
which is questioned by a considerable
number of people. Whether they are
right or wrong does not enter into the
matter. That phase of the situation
is for the legislature to consider, and if
people consider the state would be better off without such laws, let them take
it up with the assembly that will be in
session here for the next two months.
"The people, through the legislature
and the initiative, have placed certain
laws upon the statute books. The attorney general is the officer designated
6,200;' °V the constitution and the laws of the
V.A'if aahington, Dec..19.—president_Wilr
•In late today signed. the Ferris bill
opening up 640 acre homesteads for
stock raising and grazing purposes. It
is accounted of great importance to the
.western states.
The bill passed the house a year ago,
tbe senate on the closing day of the last
session of congress and final agreement
was reached between conferees last
week.
Representative Ferris of Oklahoma,
its author, said tonight that a considerable part of the 300,000,000 acres of
public-lands in the west and the 375,-
900,000 aeres in Alaska could be utilized
for stock raising under the law. Thus,
he said, thousands of homeless citizens
would be able to gain homes. .The law
raises the homestead unit from a maximum of 320 acres to 640 on arid, semi-
arid, non-timbered lands. Improvements of $1.25 an acre must be made
by the homesteader.
The bill was strongly endorsed by the
interior department, which informed
congress that it would result in having
the number of cattle in the west "greater than during the moat prosperous
days of the cattle king.."
Entente Rejects Peace
Proposal of Powers
Washington, Jan. 2.—The entente reply rejecting the peace proposal of the
central powers was cabled by the state
department today for presentation to
Germany and the other belligerent governments whose diplomatic interests tbe
United States represents at allied capitals. To save time, the cabled English
translation will be dispatched from here
and Ambassador Sharp was instructed
to forward the French text direct from
Paris.
It was authoritatively stated during
the day that President Wilson had not
decided what, if any further move in
the interest of peace he might make,
but was keeping an open mind on the
subject while waiting for the entente's
answer to his note proposing a discussion of terms by the belligerents.
Discussion of the advisability of legislative action approving the course of
the' president in sending his note occupied the senate for more than an hour
and will be resumed tomorrow.
Ambassador Fletcher
To Return To Mexico
demand that the protocol providing for
withdrawal of the American troops
from Mexico be ratified, there were indications that efforts to enter into an
agreement with the de facto government through the commission would be
abandoned. For the first time an official admission was made that Carranza
had refused to sign the protocol. The
commissioners said they expected to
draft their response to Carranza tomorrow.
The failure of the commission to
give to Mexican-American relations a
brighter aspect was offset somewhat by
official intimations that Harry P.
Fletcher, confirmed as ambassador to
Mexico almost a year ago, was about to
start for his post where American interests are now represented by a clerk.
The report that General Pershing's expedition soon would be withdrawn regardless of Carranza's attitude also
gained fresh impetus and it was understood the administration had this move
under consideration.
WOODMEN DANCE
WELLATTENDED
MANY IN COSTUME TAKE PART IN
GRAND MARCH AT 9 P. M.
GALLERY  SEATS FILLED
After Unmasking the Galleries Became
A Part of Dancers-Winners of
the Prizes.
Woman Wins Contest
For County Superintendent
Helena, Dec. 29.—Miss Mary J.
Crichton, who on the official returns
was declared elected superintendent of
schools in this county over Miss Eva
Harrington, and to whom a certificate
of elscticn has been issued, was today
declared by Judge R. Lee Word not to
have been elected. This was because
in one precinct the judges of election
failed to stamp the ballots with the official stamp. Miss Harrington brought
a contest, and the recount of the votes
gave Miss Crichton a lead of 30,20 more
than the official canvass. But durign
the trial contest the recount showed
none of the ballots in the Gilman precinct had been officially stamped. This
precinct gave Miss Crichton 56 votes
and Miss Harrington 20.
Miss Harrington's attorneys held that
the votes in the Gilman precinct must
be thrown out, and Judge Word upheld
the contention, saying that the codes
specifically required that all ballots
shall be officially stamped, and that under the law he must hold that these cast
'Ur th'fe '-'CHimair"p?tiei/Vet *"_<sonTCh not'|be
counted'.,   ' --*■'• '' •     "'
The case .will, probably go to the
supreme court.
Teton, 115.790,; Tuole, 6,151; Valle>, 11,•
G95; Wibaux,   4,506;  Yellowstone.  32,
one we are working for all. I hope that' 041.
this  legislature will keep step with the !    Total.  (1916), 648,34*;.
progressive laws  promulgated  by our Total (1915.. 597.906.
state to see that they are enforced, and
I consider it is not within his purview to
say this law is good and that law is bad.
That is for the legislatnre, which was
expressly created for this purpose."
Bond Issue Coining
Up at Washington
Washington, December 20.—Tentative approval having been given by
President Wilson to plans for a bond
issue to meet a part of the prospective
deficit at the end of the next fiscal year,
administration leaders in congress are
preparing to bring in their revenue bill
as soon as possible after the holiday recess. It become known today that they
have urged that the president deliver a
special message or adopt some other
means to spur both houses to prompt
action, so that the necessary legislation
may be passed before the end of the
present session.
It has been agreed that any bond issue shall be charged to the account of
extraordinary army and navy expenditures. Representative Hull of Tennessee, author of the income tax. law,
outlined today a plan he has drafted for
consideration ot the ways and means
committee for separating preparedness
accounts from the ordinary expenses
and the receipts of the government.
He figures that ordinary expenses this
year and next will be less than the estimated ordinary receipts, and that
special taxation and bond issues will be
needed only to cover excess disbursements for various purposes, including
army, navy and fortifications extensions.
Mr. Hull's plan contemplates" the issuance of $125,000,000 of Panama bonds
for army and navy expenses; $70,000,-
000 under the shipping act, and., for the
proposed nitrate plant, and $25,000,000
to pay for the Danish West Indias, or a
total of $220,000,000.
Treasury officials today figured that
the plan of Representative Garner of
Texas, to be passed by him in committee, for a 10 per cent, ad valorem duty
on all imports now free and 5 per cent,
increase on all articles now dutiable
would add $268,639,895 to the revenues
for the period between March 1 next
and July 1, 1918, provided imports continued at the present rate. Strong opposition to this plan already is appare nt
The annual masquerade ball of the
Modern Woodmen of the World was
held at the Auditorium Friday night,
delightful music being furnished by
Keppler's six-piece orchestra, and supper by th* Royal Neighbors at their
lodge room.
Like all masquerades given by this
order, and this was the thirteenth one,,
standing and seating room, as well as
dancing room was at a premium. There
was a big'crowd of spectators long before the hour for the grand march,
special seats having been arranged on
the stage, and when the time for the
opening arrived the house was packed.
Dancing continued until a late hour,
until everyone had had all he or she
wanted of the annual New Year's
event.
The judges for the awarding of prizes
were: Ladies — Mesdames Whitfield
and Holmes of Livingston, Miss Donna
McCall of this city. Gentlemen—James
Whjtfield and M. D. Holmes of Livings-
ten, Tom Busha of this city.
The following are the winners:
Best sustained character, Miss Inga
Granley; best lady waltzer, Miss Katherine Adam; best costume, Ruth Elliott;
best Royal Neighbor, Mrs. G. A. Williams.
Best sustained character, Ed Bait-
lett, best costume, Mark Elliott; best
waltzer, Pat Bryan; best Woodmen,
Will Webb.
Imptrtaice of die West
Dawns Upon Easfcfrners
Nothing Doing
A report was current the latter part
Waahington,  Jan.   L\ —   When   the j of  last week  tbat an aged lady Hying
American  members   of   the  Mexican-' east of  the city had  been  burned to
American joint commission had finished  death.   There is nothing to it, the lady
Helana^^gner^ifi: Tnegrea-'wesT
with Montana as a component' part, ii
looked upon" in a new light in eastern
states, according to Governor S. V.
Stewart, who returned to Helena yesterday morning from the session of the
governors, governors-elect and ex-governors, which met in Washington last
week.
The importance of the section west of
the Mississippi and inclusive of the inter-mountain states was very forcibly
brought to mind bv tbe recent election,
Governor Stewart said, and people of
the seaboard commonwealths are beginning to' recognize the economic as
well as the political influence of a section that can sway a national  election.
Although Governor Stewart was slat-'
ed in press dispatches out of Washington to speak on the subject of the high
cost of living, his subject before the
governor's congress concerned executive problems. He explained how in
many states the chief duty of the governor to.enforce the law was hampered
because of inadequate machinery to put
the laws into effect.
Governor Harrington of Maryland
dealt with the subject of "Budgets,"
and Governor Dunne.of Illinois, with*.
"Inland Waterways," two of the most
important topics discussed at the-gathering.^
The presence of. numerous governors-
elect as well as ex-governors, made the
session particularly interesting. Governor Stewart met many state executives with whom he had previously been
acquainted' and tnany.others with whom
he had had I official -'business but had
never met personally.' •'■
One of the most interesting features
of the: meeting was a, trip to Mount
VernonK on Secretary of the Navy
Josephus * Daniels'* official yacht. "The
Dolphin."
Market Report
Big Timber—Turkey Red, 164; Marquis, 1.70; flax, 2.57; potatoes, 1.75:
eggs, 45; butter, 35. Minneapolis, No.
2 Northern, 1.881 at 1 951; No. 2 hard
Montana, 1.881 at 1,921; flax, 2.841 at
2.881;. barley, 86,at 1.17. Chicago-*-
Hogs, 9.90 at 10.35;* western steers.
7.25 at 10; cows and heifers, 4.25 at 10;
calves,. 9 at 13; wethers, 9.15 at 10.25;,
ewes, 6.50 at 9.85; iambs, 11.25 at 13.60.
consideration today of General Carranza's reply failing to comply with   their
having  fainted,    falling   against    the
stove and escaping with a slight  burn.
Council Meeting
The city council met}in regular session Tuesday evening, Mayor Claiborn
and all aldermen, being present. The
regular monthly, bills were allowed and
a special ordinance. No. 113, relating to
the sewer warrants, was passed and
ordered published in this issue of The
Pioneer.