The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-25

THOSE EQUITY RESOLUTIONS.

These Equity people may do whole lot of foolish
movement has its full course but in the mean.
time they are going to do some good. Anyway they
are not afraid to express their opinion and to say
what they want.
The Co-Operators Congress of Montana is now
in session at Great Falls under the auspices of the
American Society of Equity. with 600 farmers pres
ent The farmers of the state have been in dead
earnest about the farm loan law that was passed
two years ago, but which was nullificd by the ac-
ton of the old state land board as it was consti-
,uted before the last election
The only present member of the board is Governor
Stewart, Former Treasurer Rae, Secretary of state
Alderson Attorney General Pondexter and Super
intendent Davee having been retired as the result
of the voting last November In their stead now
sit State Treasurer Hart Secretary of state Charles
$. Stewart, Attorney General Ford and superntend.
cnt Trumper
The whole success of the farm loan law depends
upon the initiative taken by the state board, The
farmers were angry at what they charged was the
deliberate attempt of the old board to nullifv the
law.
BOARD made these
elective state officials, is charged with the super
vision of the state funds the appointment of the
appraisers who have direct charge of the work
During the present session of the legislature the
Democratic house passed bill to take away from
the board the appointment of these administrative
officials and turn all the appointments to the
governor
in he state Of
the Republican state senators joined with the Demo
cratic minority and thus gave the bill ma ioritv in
the state senate.
Just why these Republican state senators should
have seen fit TO take away the appointments from
their own elected Republican state officials who
constituted majority of the state land board has
never yet been satisfactorily explained.
The charge has been repeatedly made that Scna-
tor Edwards and his personal followers in the state
senate voted with the Democrats on account of some
personal differences with the Republican state Off
GERS over the matter of appointments
Anyway under the law just passed. Governor
Stewart is given carte blanche in the administration
of the affairs of the land board for the coming
three years
The Equity people up in arms about the mat
ter and at their convention at Great Falls on Friday
expressed their opinion of the whole transaction in
the following unequivocal language:
kcsolFcd, That We, tho co-Oncrators of
Montana in congress assembled under the
auspices Of the American Society of Equity
condemn with all the vigor VIC ROSES the
action of the legislative assembly Of Mon
ttna now in session, in passing a law de-
lrlVlng the state board OF land commission
ers recently elected, of control of the puhli,
land and public school funds of this state
by taking from thcm the control of the an
pointment and terms of service of the clerks
and appraisers in the office Of the register
OF the state land board and state land agent
and placing the same under the immediate
ana exclusive control Of Governor Stewart:
and IN the same unmcaSurcd terms VIC con.
denim the action of Governor Stewart in
giving said law his official approval and
sgnature.n