Letter: Dennis’ 15 minutes of fame

By Mel Smith - 06/05/2008

Pat Munday’s letter printed in your May 8 edition correctly called to question the pittance donated to Butte’s organizers of the National Folk Festival by the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation. A subsequent letter defended the Washington companies’ donation, praising and thanking Montana Resources for jobs, taxes, etc.

I think putting Washington’s “gift” in perspective sheds some light. It is said Montana Resources brings a million dollars of profit to Dennis Washington every day. It is the largest source of Dennis’ wealth. For it, he has his yacht, his private estate, his new $19 million apartment at the Plaza in New York City (purchased with 19 days of mining in Butte), and much more. The Washington Foundation’s grant of $10,000 to help fund the festival amounts to about 15 minutes of profit taken out of the Butte mine.

There are gifts that are nothing more than an insult, and this is one of them. Dennis and Phyllis Washington are certainly charitable people, except when it comes to Butte. Like the Copper Kings of our past, they take much from Butte and give little back. Though, that’s not true. William Clark gave us the Columbia Gardens as his legacy.

As a community, we need to stop apologizing for the industrialists. It is not enough that Dennis Washington provides jobs. After all, someone has to get his ore out of the ground. And the taxes paid will not repair our devastated landscape. Munday’s question — “What will Dennis Washington’s Butte legacy be?” is appropriate and a good one. Besides jobs and taxes, how is Dennis showing his respect and appreciation for what Butte has provided him? Is he the next Bob Gannon?

Washington could have done better by Butte. He could have owned this event. With one day’s profit, the Washington companies could have been the sole sponsor. Instead, all we got was 15 minutes of Dennis’ time. Well, maybe next year... when the mine’s doing better.

Mel Smith 3454 Wharton St.

Butte