The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-16
A Nasty Deal.

Ravalli Republican: An editorial.
under the above heading, and taken
from the Basin Times, so nearly coin
cides with our own feelings that we are
pleased to copy it without change. And
for our part we cannot imagine what
the Fergus commissioners and the
county printer are thinking Of 1t is
fair to presume that the county print
ing spoken of is blank books, etc. The
law of the state plainly says that the
commissioners shall contract with some
newspaper of general circulation, pub
lished within the county, to do all the
printing for which said county may
be chargeable. including all legal adj
vertising required by law to be made.
blanks, blank books" and official pub
LEGATIONS. And it further says that
such newspapers that are unable TO eX-
ecute any part of such contract be re-
quired to sublet such part to some es-
adjustment in the state that can. The
law is very plain on these two points.
The contractor must be given all the
work, and he must handle il all, and
must not send any of il outside the
state that can be done within il. Civ
ing 1t all to one paper to prevent con-
fusion, and keeping the work within
the state is keeping the money at home.
In Ravalli county the law is obeyed.
The Republican handles all of the work
doing most of ii because of being able
to do so with its superior plant. What
work ii cannot do, such as large bound
blank books, is given by this office to
the Anaconda Standard, which is quite
as capable of satisfactory work as
Eastern establishments. The commits
sioners of Fergus county have no right
TO let any of the county printing away
from the county printer, and the latter
cannot sublet any of il outside the state
that can be done within. And even if
they had, they nor he would be true
to Montana if they give ii to such an
enemy TO the best interests of the state
as the goldbug Pioneer Press of St
Paul, owned and controlled by foreign
crs. The Times article on the subject,
which we cordially endorse. reads:
The Fergus county officials have let
contract for county printing to the
Pioneer Press company, Of ST. Paul
This is pretty how-do-you- for
Montana. A goldbug state and a gold
bug printing company receiving aid
and assistance-money TO buy bread.
Who would have thought there
were three commissioners in a county
of Montana that would feed the mouth
of a beast that stands ready to throt-
tie the industry of our fair state? Fer
gus county officials should counter
mand that order, notifying the Pioneer
Press the Indignation of the people Of
Montana is so great that IL would not
permit them to purchase a single ar
ticle, or to even accept a gift from
them, for fear the prejudices the people
of Minnesota have for us would leave
a black and frightening spot on our
reputation. We have too many houses
the equal Of any in St Paul. to permit
sending there for anything. Far better
10 do without. than to encourage our
deadliest and most mortal enemy. Let
the attorney Of that county commence
legal proceedings. 1t is against the es-
tablished law of the state. and more
particularly, il is contrary to the
wishes and desires Of the entire popula-
ton Of the state, with, perhaps. the
possible exception Of the men who con-
tracted the deal"