1905-06 Volume 30 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

THE SCROLL. 391where, and his efforts made him proficient in the ways ofpractical mining and of the opening, development and operationof mines as they are, rather than mines as spoken of intext books and magazines. At the same time he observedthe political and financial conditions of his adopted homeand learned of the old defective mining laws of Montana andthe web of entanglements they had caused and were apt tocause. Young Heinze enrolled himself with the westerndemocracy and before many years he was destined to becomea leading power in its councils and in many ways to directits course in Montana.It is said that his financial operations on a large scale werefirst made possible by the death of a relative and his receiptof a legacy of some 850,000. His brother Arthur received asimilar sum and together they bound their funds in the formationof the Montana Ore Purchasing Company. This enterpriseoriginally owned a single-stack smelter in Butte. Itsoon acquired other properties and valuable ones. Its foundersunearthed forgotten or undeveloped mining claims, enlargedits facilities by leasing and purchasing other plantsand by shrewd and far-seeing business methods built up alarge and profitable commercial institution. The famous"Glengarry" claim was thought to be practically worthlessuntil Bro. Heinze looked into it. He soon saw its possibilitiesand before many moons through his efforts it was yieldingrich paying ore and lots of it. So too, the equally ormore famous "Minnie Healy" mine owes its name and itsdevelopment to this eastern Phi.Less than a decade ago Bro. Heinze seriously enteredMontana politics. As in everything else which he has takenup his power was soon felt. His mining ventures havebrought him into many conflicts and struggles. His opponentshad been of the strength of the colossal Standard Oiland Amalgamated Copper corporations. William A. Clark,the millionaire senator, Henry H. Rogers and Thomas W.Lawson of Boston, among others, were uplined against himat various times. He had to meet his enemies with their ownweapons and the political arena seemed to offer the opportunityfor the fairest fight. At the same time the aid of thecourts was invoked by all factions and injunctions, contempts,judgments and orders came in quick succession formany months. Heinze's political influence grew to such anextent that it has been authoritatively said that he was responsiblefor the election of two United States senators, a