davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01

July II, 1919.
Editor Producers News,
Plentywood, Montana.
Dear Brother:
l am enclosing you circular and
letter sent out by the press agent OF
the Anaconda Copper Company, Mr.
Will A. Campbell, editor of the Hell
ena Independent, whose insane venom
and spew has made him joke in
newspaperdom in Montana. 1t is
claimed that the Anaconda crowd is
awakening to the fact that no one
thing has contributed so much to the
universal disrepute of copper in this
state, than the juvenile, ridiculous
and absurd campaign that has been
carried on by the freak editor of the
Helena Independent and it is under
stood that his rations will soon be cut
off.
l mparticularly impressed by the
parallel to which you call attention,
existing between the persecution and
crucifction of Jesus, by the high
priests and money changers; lawyers
and politicians, and their trumped up
case againts him. and the identical
procedure against Debs and Kate
O'Hare by the identical sources of
corruption in high places.
AS I write these lines, I can see
the politicians, money changers, law
yers and priests, splitting in His
face, crying blasphemer, agitator,
seditionist and what not that would
serve the purpose of discrediting
him with the people, they had no
press in those days, while they ridi-
culed and abused him by scourging
him with whips and pressing down
upon his brow the cruel crown of
thorns. | can see him bearing his
cross towards the chill of skulls"
while the fat boys and the profteers
gnashed their teeth for joy in much
the same manner as the food pro-
fiteers and the "kept press" and other
money mongers are now doing in
reference to Debbs and O'Hare, these
latest martyrs of humanity.
The villainous work of such men as
but helps place Liberty
and Justice back on the throne from
which thye have been dispossessed.
May your arm be strengthened.
Yours fraternally,
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01
MORE LAME DUCKS
IN MOVEMENT

A new county division movement
has been brewing for some time, and
the hop now is ready for use.
Of course times are hard and there
will be but a fraction of the taxes
of the county paid this fall, but vet
that does not seem to dampen the
ardor of the county divisionist.
You see it means another printing
contract. And a printing contract
for new county is fat, very fat.
The Scobey Sentinel has its mouth
all puckered in anticipation of the
plum.
1t creates a lot of new offices and
there are a lot of lame ducks hang
ing around waiting for the duck call.
There will be bond issues and clas-
sifcation contracts, and contracts for
the transcrioiig of records. There
will be something dong all the rirne
to keep the taxpayers entertained
and the Scobey Sentinel promises to
give the unsuspecting taxpaS els
their moneys worth.
Things are all cut and dried and
the officers are already picked, vul-
lures are gathering and now all that
is needed is carcass to pick and
Daniels county will be the carcass.
Mr.. Timmons of course will be a
candidate for county commissioner
and will furnish the experience IN
that county.
Following are a few enlightening
lines taken from the Scobey Sentinel:
MOVEMENT FAVORS
COUNTY DIVISION
A meeting attended by about forty
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01
HURRAH, PRIM-
ARIES
The September Primary Referendum
Election Will Not Take Place
Nonpartisan League Saves Demo-
cracy in Montana-Boxing Bill De-
layed Automatically.
ANACONDA CROWD ROUTED

According to reports received from
Nonpartisan League headquarters at
Great Falls and the Attorney Gen
erals office at Helena, the special
election Of September End, has been
vacated and will not, according to
Attorney General Ford take place.
To vacate the September special
election and to refer the law provid-
ing for it required the signatures Of
Is per cent of the voter in 26 coun-
ties. 1t is reported that the required
number of signatures in 35 counties
have been filed and that the number
of names on the petitions totals over
81, ,000..
The boxing bill which was referred
by the legislature to be voted upon
at the next special or general cleo
ton, will now be delayed automatic
ally until the next general electio,
unless there is special election pro-
vided for before that time.
The vacation of the September
election means signal victory for
the Nonpartisan League in Montana,
for it was that organization that
made the fight on the attempt to
abolish the primaries and the vaca-
ton of the election means that de-
mocracy has been saved in Montana,
in spite of the efforts of the Anacon-
da Mining Company, aided and abet-
ted by "Wild Bill" Campbell of the
Helena Independent and the Montana
Loyalty League to Prussianize Mon
tana.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01

Representatives of the two relief
associations met last week ~ NJ
tille t and combined their organiza-
TONS, believing this to be the s'',,,na n,~ae
eHectlve method of securing the Do
sired end. Besides the vainabie oe
slstance IN circulating the. net;tions @
OF the Redstone Commercial fI,'b thS
Secretary last week was in -, no,o,uDs Sne
OF a communication from GLASGOW, W
Gnamber of Commerce to the etfect
!nat that organization would assist
In the relief work in every wo,,
within their power. Varions bonI
ers and business men througboa+
the three counties are sendin@ ~
word to the effect that petitions are
oelng rapidly signed up, however y
ie" nave been little lax in calling
tne attention of the petitions to the.
necessity of signing up early.
This work is of great intaros. t.s
every person interested in the woI
e tare Oh 1nls section and by united sf
Tort aid can be secured and ON "a q,
people kept in this country unt;i eOOu O
other harvest is secured. LET No an an
discount the necessity for this 81 one aS
sistance, conditions on the resar1a 1e
tlon IN many places are absoIntai,,
pltltul; Prompt and efficient rel;ef y
needed and this can only be atta;naS
py the united action of every nerson
tributary to the Fort Peck Rese,To
tion. NN A'eSerVa-
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01
SPECIAL SESSION
CONVENES TUESDAY
Legislature at Helena Introduces
Many Drought Relief Bills-Gov-
ernor Delivers Message.

The special session of the Legis.
lature of the state of Montana, pur.
suant to the call recently issued by
Governor Stewart, convened accord
ing to call at the capitol at Helena
Tuesday.
The session was called to consider
drought relief legislation, but the
Governor in his message Tuesday
somewhat enlarged the scope of the
activities of the legislature.
Numerous relief bills have been in
troduced and the mill has commenced
to grind.
The first bill passed was an appro-
priation of thirty thousand dollars to
defray the expenses of the special
session.
The Anaconda Mining Company is
in complete control and any legisla-
tion detrimental to their interests
and in the interest of the general
public will be quietly put to sleep.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01

to read it and is molt than interest
ing because it show that you hit the
nail ON the head and it took affect.
s.o to it and by next election we will
DC able to show them whore TO head
In at. People like Campbell will new
er become men VINO will look 10 the
greatest good of the greatest num-
Der, but their spew aud venom will
help the masses to think as he states
in mis- letter, and after jue delibera-
ton, join the Nonpartisan League.
Wishing you an unlimited amount of
success, am
Yours cordially,
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01
WOULD ALSO NAIL
KATE O'HARE TO CROSS

wild Bill' Campbell, editor of
the Helena Independent, the slimv
champion of the Anaconda REPTILE.
who like the snake of which Ana
conda is the Spanish name, lays in
wait to spring out upon the people,
crushing their bones, covering with
slime and swallowing them, attacked
the editor of the Producers News in
the following editorial and letter
winch the above assassinator of lib
erty and with her blood on his muir
dererous hands, sent out to the press
OF the state under the cover of the
name of the Montana Loyalty Lea
que, which is the patriotic banner
sides.
We reproduce herewith, the letter
which the above liberty hating zeal
OF and arch-enemy of free speech:
the murderer OF the traditions O,
Lexington and Bunker Hill and the
hireling destroyer of the institutions
consecrated by the blood of cur an
cestors, together with his frantic and
valid editorial, containing its covert
appeal to mob violence and lynch
law, which is the only law which
that political degenerate knows any
thing about.
"Wild Bill' Campbell didn't know
that some of the editors to whom he
sent his propaganda article and let
ter were friends of the Producers
News and the farmers, whom he
would like to destroy. We reproduce
the editorial taken from the "Helens
Snake" together with the accompa-
nying Loyalty League letter and the
letters sent to the Producers News.
Altogether, they show the motives
OF this Anaconda head hunter and
what great number of the editors
OF the state think of him.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01

business men and farmers was held
at the city hall Monday evening. for
the purpose of arranging plans for
the calling of special election, for
the voters, of this section of Sheridan
county and the northeastern portion
OF valley to determine whether or not
the proposed county of Daniels should
be created. Data was submitted tn
the meeting, showing sufficient valu-
alton and territory to create a coun-
ty under the new McCone act as
passed by the last session of the
state legislature. The valuation will
be approximately $4,000, 10000 and
the county if created, will consist of
between forty and fifty townships.
An organization was perfected to
prepare the necessary data and re-
port to the new large organization
August 10th. The working commit
tee to handle the original work will
be appointed within the present week
under the chairmanship of Roger
Burke.
The people residing in the proposed
Daniels county are unanimous in
favor OF local government IN county
affairs for several reasons, the most
of which is the heavy
amount of taxes paid under the pres
ent system and the small amount of
money expended on roads and bridges
in return for the large amount of
taxes paid for that very purpose. The
farmers and business men seem to be
of one mind as to the proposition and
are willing to assist in taking the
only possible way open to them to
secure more and better roads during
the coming year.
The special election will undoubt-
edly be called about the first of the
year and the new county organized
and operated by the first of March.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01
SYDNEY STOPS
LEAGUE SPEAKERS

Last Sunday there was another
demonstration of Kaiserism and
Autocracy in the State of Mon
tana occurring at Sydney, the
county seat of Richland county.
Major Leo Horst and ]. A.
McGlynn were billed to speak at
the ball park.
Arrangements had been made
with the management for its use
by the farmers week prior.
When it was learned that there
was to be a League meeting at
the park a ball game was ar
ranged for by the opposition.
When Major Horst arrived it
was decided by the committee that
he should speak after the ball
game, but when the Major
reached the park he was waited
upon by three or four Kaiserites,
very closely related to several OF
the Sydney bankers and closely
associated with the banking busi-
ness at that place, who had also
been in the service as minor
commissioned officers, and
was told by these patriots that
he would not be allowed to
speak.
The Major inquired whom
they represented and by what au-
thority they forbid the meeting,
wnereupon the committee replied
that they represented the Ameri-
can Legions, which in this state
seems to be an Anaconda Sol
dierS organization.
The Major pressed the COM
mittee, asking if there was
chapter of the Legion at Sydney
and when il had been organized,
when the patriots threw discre-
ton to the wind and forbid the
meeting and threatened to lnclte
mob and riot.
The Major desisted and went
outside of town to Senator Mead
er's farm where the farmers met
and heard the Major deliver his
speech on Democracy VS.. Auto
cracy," which was decidedly ap-
propriate for the occasion.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01
SOME DAM

The concrete dam in course of con.
strnction by the U. S. Reclamation
Service south of Homestead, and
across the Muddy is quite an elabor-
ated structure. The dam is being
built for the purpose of providing a
water supply for the irrigation sys-
tenn under which the Muddy Flats
win be watered. 1t is said that with
sufficient moisture these low lands
viii grow most anything. The out
come will be watched with much in
Tribune.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
IN SESSION MONDAY

The Board of County Commission
ers were in session as the County
Board of Equalization last Monday.
The entire board was present. How
ever, there were but one or two who
appeared and made any complaint in
reference to their assessment. The
most of those with objections had
seen the equalization board at prior
meetings.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01

boys now have under way.
The Stove League will meet as
usual this winter in the White Front
Barber Shop, and it is already con-
ceded that many game will be
played and many money making
idea be brought out, so that by the
time spring again rolls around, the
exchquer will be full to overfiowing,
and Plentywood will have ball team
which has never been equalled in the
history of the city.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01
PLENTYWOOD WINS
FROM POPLAR

In Game Filled With Thrills and
Spectacular Moments, Plentywood
Took the Pop Out of Poplar IN the
Last Game of the Season.
Poplar, once more, suffered defeat
at the hands of the Plentywood ball
team. This time by, a score of to ..
The game was by far the most ex-
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01
FIRE! WHO RANG THE
FIRE ALARM

The fire alarm was turned in last
Tuesday night by some excitabIe
person when they saw the smoke
from bonfire built by two ladies
who were Burning weeds near the
Donaldson garage. The truck was a
little late in arriving at the scene of
the blaze on account of trouble in
getting the engine started. Well a
little fire practice is a good thing
anyway.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01
Editorial from Helena Independent
July 9, 1919
SO THE PEOPLE MAY KNOW

IN
Here's the Proof
Since the first Nonpartisan league
organizer set foot in Montana, The
Independent has charged that the
organization of the league was moth
ing more or less than a political plan
of the socialist party to capture the
farmer vote and amalgamate it with
the socialists and radical labor ele-
ment in the hope of controlling our
government.
The Producers News, published at
Plentywood by company of social
ist farmers, and edited by socialist
named Taylor, is probably the third
most important of the Townley pub
locations in Montana.
Here's an editorial from The Pro-
ducers News of June 20, which shows
what kind Of men are back of the
Nonpartisan league movement:
eff Christ will delay His COM
ing the liberals here may be able
f., to democratize our laws to such
an extent that He, will not be
sent to Leavenworth for differ
ing "1sl oPCCidi IlteIOSG opinion
yet He would find lot of con-
genial company there in the per-
sons of ''Gene" Debs, Kate Rich
ards O'Hare and two or three
thousand conscientious directors
and others opposed to murder
and graft, who are now suffering
for telling the truth. and uphold
ing the ideals of the bills of
rights and the essence of the De-
claration of Independence, con-
trary to the spirit of the Espion-
age Act-suffering much the
same and for the same reason
that Jesus suffered on the cross.
Times haven't changed much.
However, if Christ hestitates to
take a chance in this Gland of the
free and home of the brave" He
may find congenial surroundings
in Russia, so there is no necessity
for delay"
Here's the proof right from a
Townley publication, that the league
leaders and editors are a set of dis
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01
ARE BEING
SIGNED EVERYWHERE
commercial Clubs of Glasgow, Woll
Point, Scobey, and Other Towns
are Aiding and the Newspap. rs
are Assisting-Look for Petition
and Sign 1t.

The work of getting signers to be-
titions to Congress 10 amend The
Fort Peck IN ian Res: :-xa+ien Hon.--
stead law Is going on apace. md
following in he .ead Of tie s'tyt
Peck settlers and homusteaders Who
met at Re'istone couple of weeks
ago and formed on organization for
the purpose Of securing relief in the
way of national legislation, looking
towards the adjustment of the pro-
vision of that part of the Homestead
law that provides for the payment OF
cretain sums on the lands and the
return to the settlers of the amounts
that have already been paid, thus
making these lands free, che com,
mercial clubs of Scopey, Glasgow and
Wolf Point, and other towns and or
ganizations, have taken steps to
boost the move along, for the pur-
pose of saving the day for the set
tiers on the reservation who have
been brought to the verge of desti-
tuition by three successive crop fail
ures, which together with wartime
prlces have brought about a condition
where many of the settlers are about
to lose all that they have invested
in the lands and the improvements
which they have been putting on the
lands.
The move is a good and necessary
effort; something has got to be done !,
IN order to make it possible for these
settlers to stay in the country. If
q 10 L
calamity to the country which it will
require years to recover from-for if |
these settlers are allowed to leave be-
cause of starvation it will be impos- |
sible to get other settlers to come in,
and all know that Montana will
come back, but settlers are needed !
to crop the land against fat year.
The Scobey Sentinel has been lead
ing in this effort towards relief for
the Fort Peck homesteaders and the
history of the progress of the efforts
towards this relief is reproduced
from that paper:
The campaign for petitions to con-
gress to aid the settlers of the Fort
Peck Indian Reservation has gone
forward rapidly the past week. Very
good reports are being received at
Relief Headquarters as the interest
shown in the proposition by residents
on the reservation and by the people
generally in northeastern Montana
who are anxious to see such con-
gressional action at an early date
as it will make possible continu-
ance of residence by the settlers af-
fected.
Petitions are now being circulated
in each township on the reservation,
the Commercial Club of Redstone
have formed a relief organization at
that town and are playing a leading
part of the work.
Headquarters at Scobey continues
to send out petition blanks in re-
sponse to demands from all parts OF
this sections and reports from the
various towns are to the effect that
all people; both farmers and business
men are entering into the relief
work with a zest that is sure to pro-
duce results
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01
FORT PECK HOMESTEADERS PETT-
TION CONCRESSFOR CHANGE OFIAW

Formed Organization at Redstone to
Secure Relief-Many Will Be
Forced Off From Homesteads I'm
less Congress Acts-Drought Con-
dltions Have Made 1t Impossible to
Meet Payments.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01
July 16, 1919.

49, July 16, 1919.
Dear Taylor:
| am enclosing some dope from Will
A. Campbell of Helena, who seems to
pat you on the back in nice shape.
have no use for it and thought per-
haps you would Like to know what
BILL is doing to help you and the
Producers News throughout the
state.
Sincerely,
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01
LEGISLATURE PASSES
SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT

On Wednesday of this week
the legislature of Montana ra-
titled the amendment to the ma
t}onal constitution providing
for woman suffrage. There was
but one dissenting vote.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01

Confidence is expressed in everv
quarter that the petitions to he for.
Warded to congress praying for ra-
lief for the settlers on the Fort pacL
indian Reservation will be of sncb
volume that congress cannot undnI,
pFetense fail to take action request
ed. Out of the two hundred and ff..
ty petition forms sent out from the
Secretary's office, less than fftv have
oeen Q returned containing more than
1000 signatures of reservation sot-
TIERS and business men and farmers
from all over northeastern Montana
The Redstone Commercial Club
and the Glasgow Chamber of Com
merce have taken to the campaign
IN way that will prod1ce great re-
suits. Secretary Jones of Glasgow
Chamber of Commerce is in constant
communication with Relief head
quarters at Scobey and his strong
organization is doing everything in
their power to help put the PROPOSE
tlon over. The Redstone CONNER
cial Club this week sent out car at
their own expense to make the en-
tire territory in the interests of the
work.
Glasgow, Wolf Point, Poplar, Red
stone and Scobey will each send one
or two Representatives to Helena to
present the Fort Peck Relief propo-
sltion to the state legislature and to
Governor Sam V. Stewart with ur-
gent request that while in special
session, the Legislature memorable
congress to assist the drouth suffers
on the reservation. There is no
question but what Governor Stewart
and the legislature will do everything
in their power to help this PROPOSE
ton.
At a we'll attended meeting of the
Executive Committee the Relief AS
sociation held in Scobey Tuesday, 1t
was the general opinion that the
work was progressing in fine shape,
but there should be no let up. Sat
isfaction was expressed because OF
the interest taken in the matter BY
the people who live away from the
reservation, but the committee re-
GREETED very much that the newspa-
pers generally over the northeastern
part of Montana had not gone 1urtn-
er in giving the matter the puohclty
to which it was entitled.-Scobey
Sentinel.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01

Brother Taylor,
Editor, Producers News,
Plentywood, Mont.
Dear Brother:
| am enclosing herewith editorial
sent me by special delivery letter
from the Independent, Helena, Mont
or rather from Will A. Campbell
It's hot stuff, and will DO you god
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-08-01
LETTER TO PRESS

Dear Mr.-....................-...
During the last year or two | have
sent you quite a number of editorials
and news items, but I have never
been able to send you one which
should have the attention which the
enclosed deserves.
Read over. carefully the quotation
from the editorial columns CT The
Producers News.
What do you think of it?
l get a good panning every week
from the Townley newspapers which
accuse me of being a propaganda
ist, hireling of the A. c. NJ, mem
Der of the "kept press" and CRATER.
But that don't make any difference
to me. | started in almost alone two
years ago to show up the Townley
outfit, and with the help of the loyal
and decent newspaper publishers Of
the state, We have succeeded in at
least making the farmers of Mon
tana think before they join an outfit
which breaches such stuff as | am
quoting from the Townley paper in
Plentywood.
| don't want you to reproduce my
editorial unless you are too busy to
write one of your own, but I do want
you to take the quotations from the
Producers News and write an editor
ial telling the people who read your
paper, what kind of an outfit is seek
ing to get control of your govern
ment.
Did you ever read anything so un-
American, blasphemous and down.
right rotten in your life as the edi-
torial from The Producers News?
| never did.
With personal best wishes,
Cordially yours,
WILL A. CAMPBELL. Editor