The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-10-27
DENIES
BASE ISLANDER
STATEMENT THAT He is in "a.
LOON BUSINESS is NOT 90.
STORIES ARE REfUTlEO
Republican County Contra, Commit.
tee, the Man Who Nominated Him,
and Mr.. orrlck Himself Makes State.
ments Branding the stories a. False.

E% NVsA WI
ments Branding the Stories a. False.
Stories branded as false by the Re-
publican county central committee are
being circulated by enemies Of John
Orrick candidate for sheriff Of this
county, to the effect that he Is inter
ested In the saloon business. The
statement the committee declares Is
made out OF whole cloth, adding that
Mr. Orrick is not now and has never
BEEN interested in any saloon, or has
he been in any way connected with
the liquor business or the traffic in
intoxicants.
In view Of these facts, the Republi-
cam county central committee has
made an investigation, at the conclu-
sion Of which the following statement
has been prepared for publication:
Statement From the County Central
Committee.
Billings, Mont, Oct. "a, 1908.
To the Voters Of Yellowstone County:
The executive committee of the Re
publican county central committee has
investigated the seevral rumous set
af1oat by the opponents Of Mr.. Or
rick, the Republican candidate for
sheriff. We find that Mr.. Orrick was
never in the saloon business, was new
er interested in such business, either
directly or Indirectly; that he is a
man Of excellent moral habits and is
q splendid citizen Of this county.
Mr.. Orrick has lived in this county
since he was about five years of age,
and the committee unites without res
ervation in testifying to his high char
acter for industry, sobriety, honesty
and fidelity to any trust committed to
him. Among his neighbors at Custer
and on the Musselshell particularly
the stories are secuted at by Demo.
Gratis as we'll as Republicans. It is q
significant fact that in these commune
ties where Mr.. Orrick and his worthy
opponent are equally we'll known both
having ridden the cattle ranges Of that
section for years, Mr.. Orrick is almost
certain to receive q unanimous vote.
Beside the splendid standing OF Mr..
Orrick in private life, we refer with
pride to his fidelity to every public
trust reposed in him. Twice he has
served as deputy assessor once under
Warren Evans and nee under A. p,
Smith. No blemish has been found on
his record in these positions. But
more than all we ask the attention OF
the voters Of Yellowstone county to
this fact.
The late James T. Webb, our mar
tyred sheriff called John c. orrick "a
be his deputy for that portion Of thia
county, and he was serving in this ca
pacity at the date Of Webb's death
This simple fact should be ! complete
refutation Of any charges against Mr.
orrick at this time to the disparaee
ment OF the most splendid officer the
truest and bravest man who sve,
served this county in ! public capacity
and who; gave his life for his countr,
as brayely and a. certainly a. any col
der met his death on any, battlefield
in all our history.
Mr.. Webb was q Democrat, ant
every good citizen Of this count.
unites with the Democracy In reverini
his memory. But when Mr.. Webb want
ed a man to help him In the prope1
and faithful execution Of the laws pc
litical lines meant little to him. Few
were as well acquainted with tn,
stockmen OF this region, and when h
looked about for "a deputy for the east
ern portion Of this county his choic'
fell at once on John C. Orrick. MI
orrick at first declined the place, hay
!, ing his own little family, his own Iii
tie ranch and some live stock inter
ests to which he desired to give al
his time, and only upon the earnest re
!, quest of Mr.. Webb did Mr.. Orrick cor
sent to assume this official position.
In that position he served to tn
date OF Mr.. Webb's death. Is 1t cor
ceivable we ask, that Mr.. Webb woul
either have appointed, or, having al
pointed, would have retained in of1c
a man who for any reason under hea,
en- would fail or abate one jot of hi
duty in the enforcement Of the law?
That Mr.. Orrick did not only in
n routine way, but actively assist M
J. Webb in the enforcement of the law
n is proven by the fact that immediatel
e after Mr.. Orrick's appointment as del
d uty sheriff he personally called on tn
proprietors Of every place in his juri.
d diction where gambling was conducte
g and served notice that gambling wa
to be stopped, and If it did not sto
he would proceed to go after the me
L for its continuance. For the proof {
this we will refer the voter 10 ever