The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-06-27
WEDNESDAY, JUNE ~, 1906.
BRIBING THE VOTERS.

80 -" ," ROsASANOA 10
tiers %inaugurated by citizens of Chou.
teau county, by which it is proposed
TO secure interest upon public funds
for the benetitCof the owners OF such
funds, has been the subject Of news.
paper comment in various parts of
Montana. The discussion of this m at.
ter has provoked a controversy be-
tween the Red Lodge Picket and the
Livingston Enterprise, the latter
claiming that the Chouteau county
plan is open to the objection that it is
equivalent to Offering a bride to the
voters.
The Livingston paper recalls an in.
cident in the political history of Park
county which it assumes to have a d.
rect bearing upon the stu alton in
Chouteau county, but a little reflec.
tion should convince the Livingston
critic that the two cases are of an en-.
tirely different character. II gives
this account of the Park county matter:
"When the republican county con-
vention met in September. 1894, and
nominate q full ticket from represen-
tative down TO coroner, the classifica-
ton OF counties had advanced the
salaries OF many Of Park county's
Offices to $1,000 per annum. a dele.
gate to the convention moved that all
candidates pledge themselves to re-
turn, in case of their election, any
excess between a second and third
class salary. The motion was car
ried, and a plank embodying this
provision was inserted in the plat.
form.
"On the day following the adjourn
ment Of the convention it was discov.
cred that an error had been committed.
The central committee retained Hon.
G. S. Hartman, then congressman,
and after a thorough investig alton of
the matter 1t vas suggested that the
candidates %repudiate the plank, in a
published communication. This was
Immediately done.
1.-THE opinion of Mr.. Hartman vas q
lengthy one, the principal authority
cited being an Iowa case entitled
Carrothers vs.. Russell. In that in
stance the successful candid ate
pledged himself not to accept more
than $500 per annum of the salary
In case he was elected, and to pay a
deputy out of that sum- He was
elected and the defeated candidate
contested his election. In passing
upon the case the supreme court,
among other things, said:
IAN offer, made by a candid ate for
public Office for the purpose of gain
ing votes, that II elected he will pay
into the public treasury all fees of the
Office abovela certain sum, invalid ates
his election and disqualities him for
Office"
"Unless there has been u switch
somewhere In this state, the pledges
of the candidates for county treasurer
In Chouteau county are apt to act az
. boomerang
The legal advice given to the Park
county republicans in this instance
was probably good law. The candi,
dates promised to donate to the publ,
treasury part Of the salary to which
they were legally entitled: they sough'
to obtain votes by promising t % pa,
into the public treasury what wa.
legallyland morally their own money
The Chouteau county proposition be
longs tolanOther class.
II the Livingston Enterprise care,
to investigate the subject further, with
q view to arriving at a fair and JUS
conclusion, it is invited to CAREFUL,
digest these questions:
Is it bribery 20 promise to give tn,
taxpayers what r~ightfully belongs I,
them?
II the taxpayer is not entitled I,
profits on his money, who is?
~An aa