Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-10-26


critics who are circulating such ad-
verse reports would be unable to pre-
sent SO creditable showing under any
circumstances where they had exclu
sive control. Various statements are
made, and different expedients are re.
sorted to to create the impression that
the present board has been derelict in
its duty to the county, and wasteful
of county funds. Such, however, is
not the case.
One OF the principal INSCRIPTIONS
stories given wide circulation is to the
effect that under the present contract,
the Argus is receiving from $4,000 to
100000 more per year for printing
and supplies than would have been
paid under the bid of the Democrat
for the same items. This story is en-
tirely false. A careful examination of
the items enumerated in the bills of
the Argus for the present year, and u
comparison of charges made with those
which would have been charged by the
Democrat to October first, shows that
the Argus bills amount to a few cents
over $4,000 more than would have been
paid the Democrat for the same SER
vice, but it also shows that a slight
change in the character of the sup
plies called for by the county for the
months of October and November
would throW the balance the other
way laeving the Democrat bid the
highest. In other words, accepting
the statement Of the proprietor Of the
Democrat as to the character of the
bid or bids he submitted (and it might
be well to say that there Is no other
authority accessible to the general
public for the reason that the bid or
bids submitted by him at the meeting
of the board of county commissioners
for some reason are not to be found
among the county records), the bid of
the Democrat was higher on some
items than that of the Argus, and ON
others was lower, but the editor of the
Democrat, at the time the contract
was let, knew that the Argus bid was
probably the lowest.
"Other stories are being circulated,
some attacking the nominees on the
Republican ticket and particularly the
record of w. T. Neill. In regard to
these reports it may be truthfully said
that they are without foundation OF
any kind. The sole object of their
circulation is to induce Republicans
to support some nominees on the Dem
ocratic ticket, and thus assist the or
iginators Of, these reports in the graf
iflcation Of personal spite against
the Argus. This is the openly avow-
ed object of these gentlemen. And
think that when the matter is present
ed to the intelligence of the voters
of Fergus county in the proper light,
they will receive very little encour-
agement."
Just a Few Facts.-The Democrat
ic party, reduced to desperation, Is
circulating q leaflet with the heading
quoted for the purpose of turning
votes from the Republican candidates
for county commissioners, and partic-
ularly from Mr.. Neill. The author of
the leafiet bases maliciously false gen.
eral assertions upon two or three
cases which do not bear out his state
ments. Let US see what there is to
them.
It is true that something has been
done during the past year toward i'm
proving the roads in the vicinity of
Lewistown. especially the main trav-
eled roads. It is noticeable fact that
the author Of the leaflet does not men
tion the Kendall road out of Lewis
| lOWu, dlIuOuSu IL Is Lu0 ulUSI OXp6u
sive piece Of road work done in the
vicinity. 1t was a much needed i'm
provement, and is worth all the money
it cost; but it was needed scarcely
more than "the county road leading VI
to the home ranch of Samuel Phillips
chairman of the board of county com
. missioners," as the DR.. dubbs it, Why
does he not tell the truth and say thai
|. 1t is the road known as the Spring
Creek road?" Since the advent of the
railroad it is only second in impor
tance to the Kendall road, for over II
come all of the Spring creek and Nc
Donald creek and Flatwillow travel
all of the travel from south of the
Snowy mountains, from the southeast
ern portion of the county, from Ala ;
ka bench, and much other travel, to
say nothing of the coal, sand and roc 4
: teams that come over it, There is
undoubtedly more travel over it than
there is over any other road in the
vicinity of Lewistown. To be sure. il
leads to the home ranch of Mr.. Phil
lips but Mr.. Phillips has been a mem
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