The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1919-09-19

During the past month there has
been much comment over the criti-
clsm contained in the recent grand
jury report against Peter Peterson,
member of the Valley County Council
of Defense, and who has had in charge
the work of making the seed grain
collections for the state.
A peek into the inside of the story
concerning the selling of the grain on
the Adams farm, over which the grand
jury SO bitterly censures Mr.. Peter
son, seems to disclose the fact that
Mr.. Peterson was acting solely as he
! had sworn to act when he accepted
the position on the Council of De-
fense and did not, at any time, permit
of any injustice to Harry Adams or
any of his kin.
Mr. Peterson is a man highly re-
spected in Valley county by all who
know him and is all of 100 per cent
American. He has donated hundreds
of dollars worth of his time to the
Council of Defense without one cent
of remuneration and the Courier feels
that the attack against his American
ism is unjust and wholly uncalled for.
As his version of the case in point,
Otto M. Christinson, also a member
of the local Council of Defense has
handed US the following statement:
"A few words of explanation of this
transaction, as this deal was reported
on by the recent grand jury in man.
ner that would discredit and censure
action taken by Mr.. Peterson of the
County Council of Defense on maxi
ing this collection for the state.
GAS there were five liens and a
mortgage of approximately $1,000 on
this crop, the gross returns after it
was disposed of, amounting to $780,
81, would, Of course, prove to anyone
that immediate action was necessary
by the state or those representing the
state in looking after the states seed
loan claims.
1t is Misrepresentation to claim
that any part of this grain could
have been legally sold or held for the
personal use of this H. J. Adams or
any of his relatives. Mrs. Adams,
mother of this party, could not have
sold legally bushel of this grain
without a permit from those holding
the mortgage. The permit to sell or
make use of this grain would not have
been granted. This was gone into by
Mr.. Peterson before taking action.
AS these parties live within a few
miles of Glentana they could have
gone to the Pioneer State bank at any
time when there and got complete
statement of proceeds and disburse-
ments of this crop.
Knowing the facts in this case and
looking at it from common sense
point of view, it becomes impossible
to understand the report of discredit
and censure by the attorney generals
office and grand jury.
Instructions from the attorney gen.
erals office have been to proceed in
this manner or more drastic if neces-
sary, to protect the states interest.
1t would appear that there must be
other reasons than the one stated by
the assistant attorney general for
discreditable censure like this against
a man who has spent so much of his
time in an attempt to relieve economic
conditions. l know personally that he
has played a small part at least in
getting over 100000 into Valley
county from state and federal sources.
Statement of proceeds and disburse-
ments of the H. j. Adams crop, 1918:
Proceeds
24S bushels wheat, 8 bushels
dockage-239 bu. at S1.80 S430.22
100 bushels oats, lbs, at soc 5Ol5
Total .... 4 $490.37
1873 bushels wheat sold December
II, 1918; 60 bushels wheat sold De-
cember 81, 1918; Oats sold May II,
1919.
Disbursements
F. Pehan, hauling to Scobey$ 1850
j. A. Mead threshing bill ~ 1000
H. H. Beebe, expenses, deputy
sheriff 24.5O
A. Schmidt, expenses hauling to
farm 1900
Pioneer State bank, seed lien
and mortgage .......-................ 12S.99
Valley County Council of De-
fense .......................... 1866
Valley County Council of De-