The Daily Missoulian., 1910-11-06
NO INFLUENCE USED
IN CAMPAIGN
LIQUOR DEALERS OF RAvALLl
COUNTY ADDRESS OPEN
r. LETTER 70 THE VOTERS.

Hamilton. Nov. 5.-(Special. 1.-The
following letter has been submitted to
the people of Ravalli county by the
Ravalli branch of the Montana Pro- |
teetive association:
ITO the citizens of Ravalli county: /
I'm a circular letter recently pub
lished and spread broadcast through
out lRavalli county by the Independ-
ent league; the posthumons offspring |
of the Civic league, active in this
county during several political cam
paigns. the business men engaged inl
the LIQUOR traffic are accused of work |
ing as an organization, subordinate 10
the National Liquor Dealers associa-
tiOn, and as such to have undertaken
To collectively advocate the candidacy
only of those men running for office
who were pledged to certain principles
alleged to be favorable to or desired
by the saloon interests. and inimical
to the public at large: that the saloon
men, as an organization. approached
the legislative candidates with a
pledge to be signed containing condi-
tions which would bind these men to
endeavor to secure the passage of laws
to suppress temperance legislation and
to enlarge the privileges now enjoyed
by them 1t is also insinuated that an
understanding was reached with the
Independent candidate. for county at
torney, c. S. Wagner, as to the enforce
ment OF the laws in this county. and
that he is the saloon candidate for
that office The appeal is then made
to the voter to support only those
men who are opposed by the saloon
, interests.
ut is not surprising that such
statement should be made and pub
lished on the eve OF election and Cir
nulated so that the charges there made
cannot be adequately answered. We
believe that the men engaged in the
liquor traffic in Ravalli county are as
whole as law-abiding and enterpris-
ing citizenship as those who style
themselves the independent league.
They are engaged in lawful pursuit
and their interests are the interests of
the whole community. Because some
of them in the past may have violated
the reform laws on our statute books
is no argument that they are all GRIM
inals. Their sins are known to the
world, while others hide theirs under
a bushel.
I'VE desire to say to the public that
the charges contained in the circular
mentioned, and like charges published
elsewhere, are false and untrue. The
saloon men have exacted no pledges
! from any candidate seeking legisla-
tive honors Nor have they secured
any pledge from nor any understand
ling with c. S. Wagner as to the en-
I forcementf Of the laws in our county.
7 1t is aaid the saloon men are support
ing Mr.. Cooper of Darby and Mr.. Nc
{ Laughlin of Stevensville for the leg
islature. Is this q sin? Both of these
:. gentlemen published that they stand
/: for square deal; they are both hon
i orable men. Could more be asked for?
# Should anyone be satisfied with less?
I'm statement published in the last
!. issue of the, Western News. over the
2 signature Of MIR. ,R. Lee McCullcch.
! that gentleman characterizes C.. s.
Wagner as the candidate of the saloons
I for county attorney, and charges that
the saloon men frequently put forth
B efforts to influence the verdicts of
ajuries. Such foul and sanderous
indictment should be branded as un-
. worthy of consideration by fair think
ing men. Especially will it be resent
led by those staunch citizens who in the
past have served on the juries in our
courts and who know the assertions
to be without foundation. That Mr..
# #McCulloch has made a lamentable fail
sure of the work of his office at an
enormous expense to the taxpayers OF
our county, is no ground for placing
the blame upon juries whom he al
leges are no criterion whereon to base
q judgment as to the soundness of his
work and whom he charges of being
under saloon influence. II the saloon
men support Mr. Wagner for county
attorney it win be because they rec
:ognize his ability as a lawyer and one
who will be a credit to the office.
Neither as an organization, nor In
iilividually, have the saloon men of
this county contributed a dollar to
further the interests of any candidate.
Can this much ,be said of the1nde-
pendent league? We stand for justice.
for equal rights, and for personal lib
erty. Our forefathers stood for these.
Respectfully submitted.
wv. p. O'RRIEN.
.'President Ravalli Branch Montana
Protective Association.
John. j. FITGIBRON.
Secretary.
..TJ0miltOn Nov < 1Q1O
ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION