Great Falls tribune., 1921-12-23
TAbASC0 TALK
GAINS CONLEY
HEARING TODAY
Former Warden sCoun-
sci, Rankin and Stew
art Beard Governor.
Story Committee Likely
to Protest Dixon S
Additions to Body.
Special to The Tribune.

Special to The Tribune.
Helena, Dec. 22.-Counsci for Frank
Conley will appear before the board Of
prison commissioners, Friday, at 10
a. m, to present request for the hear
ing Of the charges brought out by L. ii.
Macdonald in his report of the prison
investigation, which hearing shall be
either before the board or The com
mittee appointed by it and Lieut.. Gov
ernor Nelson Story, Jr,. during the alb
sence from the state of Governor
Dixon The Representatives of Mr..
Conley are expected to protest against
the seating of the four members of the
committee named recently by Governor
Dixon in addition to those named and
appointed by Lieut.. Governor Story
and the prison commission.
Session Will Be Open
This meeting of the prison commits
sion, declares the governor, Will be
open and its discussion will not be be-
hind closed doors as was conference
held in the executive office Thursday
afternoon, at which an exceedingly heat
ed argument took place with Governor
Dixon. Attorney General Rankin and
Col. G. B. Nolan, counsel for Conley,
participating. Secretary of state Y.
T. Stewart was in attendance at the
conference, but took no hand in the DIS
cussioRs~~-~--fs.-r-.s-- r-.s--ss.-s-,--=----E-
What transpired at the conference
was not made known to the newspaper
men who waited outside, but enough
could be heard through the closed doors
to indicate that the argument was one
of considerable bitterness and that the
governor was taking no small part ID
the exhibition Of temper.
-. ,nnnunnod
No ARRANGEMENTS had been made
with the governor for this conference,
Col. Nolan, Mr.. Rankin and Mr.. Stew
art calling upon him without previous
announcement. They were followed
into the governors office by the news
paper men. whereupon Mr.. Rankin sug-
gested that it would be better to go
into executive session. ...
The governor said he could see no
reason for secrecy and wanted to know
il this was to be a meeting of the
board of prison commissioners. Mr..
Rankin replied that it was not meet
ing. but rather conference, where
upon the reporters accepted their dis
missal. ..'- .,-..t
Threshed 1t Out Over Hour and Half
For a full hour and half the con-
ference, which was far from one of a
concilatory nature, continued and then
Col, Nolan and Secretary Of State
Stewart left the room. Mr.. Nolan de-
clined to be interviewed and said the
divulging of the proceedings was up to
the governor.
Attorney General Rankin remained
with the governor for nearly an hour,
and when the two left the room, Gov
ernor Dixon stated that, while he vel
coined the fullest publicity regarding
the conference, he had agreed with the
others that no statement be made other
than that the prison board would meet
Friday at 10 a. m, to hear Col. Nolan.
"All / can say" answered the gov
ernor when asked what had been done
sis that Colonel Nolan asked for for
NAL meeting of the prison commission.
i granted his request and have called
meeting for tomorrow morning at 10
o'clock. At that time the board will
hear anything that Mr.. Conleys attor-
ney has to say. The meeting, however.
will be open. Further than that, ]
cannot discuss what happened at the
conference"
It was said that Colonel Nolan would
ask at the meeting tomorrow that the
new committee, appointed to inquire
into the truth or falsity Of the charges
made in the Macdonald penitentiary
report against the former warden, be
discharged and that the hearing be held
before the prison commission. Acting
Governor Story appointed committee
of three and Governor Dixon, upon his
return from the east, added four more
members. The hearings were scheduled
tn hepin January 9,