Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-10-19
.PREVAR|CAT0R,
CRIES DIXON At
RANKIN THRUST
Attorney General Says
Governor Is Playing
Politics to Own End.
Hot Words Fill Capitol
When Examiners Talk /.
of Buying 90 Cows.
Special to The Tribune

Special to The Tribune.
Helena. Oct. IS fharges cf play
ing politics, prevaricating and the
making of misstatements were hurled
at one another Tuesday hy Governor
Joseph NJ. Dixon and Attorney Gen
eral Wellington d. Rankin during a
meeting of the state board of exam
iners. which is composed Of the gov
erner, attorney general and secretary
of state. The meeting was called to
consider the proposal of Governor
Dixon that the state buy the dairy
herd Of William Wolfe of Deer
Lodge, to supply the penitentiary with
milk. and either lease or buy the
Wolfe ranch of 80 acres. 31a miles
from the prison.
The meeting developed into bit
ter battle of words between the two
after the session was opened. For
some time Governor Dixon has been
urging Sae board of examiners to pur-
chase the Wolfe herd of 60 Hol-
stems and the ranch owned by
Governor Outnumhered
The attorney general had previ-
ously consented to the purchase of
the dairy herd but opposed the pur-
chase of the ranch. and the secretary
the purchase of the herd or the
ranch. Mondays meeting was one Of
several at which the governor urged
the purchase Of the property. Wolfe
was present at the meeting Tuesday
for the purpose of answering ques-
tons of the members relative to his
proposal for the sale.
When the meeting opened woman
was present and began
taking down the proceedings. This
was the first time stenographer had
been called to take any of the proceed
ngs of the board of examiners and the
attorney general inquired of the COVER
aor the purpose of having a steno-
graphic report. >,
II propose to have what is said
takenu down. replied the governor
There has been some misrepresenta-
ion as to what is said here. You can
have copy of what is transcribed
Governor Dictates Statement.
The governor then began to dictate
% the stenographer a formal state
nent giving figures as to the cost Of
milk at the state prison in the past
md going into detail as to other ex-
,enditures.
To this the attorney general object
ID. There is no reason for all this
'omment. said he. 'sThe only question
s whether we want to get this ranch.
rou are trying to make politics OF the
whole thing to your own advantage.
iou are not interested in getting hold
# the ranch, you have another mo-
i've"
You are prevaricator," shouted
he governor" You should be the
asst person in the state to make a
barge of politics"
Governor declared the attorney
.eneral, "you have made so many mis-
tatements that one or two more do
ot make any difference to me. When |
ou saw that l am prevaricator. that |
$ simply another of your misstate
aents. but they do not disturb me. /
m only interested in whether we shall |
AXE the Wolfe ranch.'
Storm Clouds Gather
At this juncture the governor be-
an to question Mr.. Wolfe regarding
be property he is offering the state.
Wolfe, Attorney General Rankin be-
an to ask Wolfe number of ques-
ons but was interrupted by the gov
rnor who said that he (the governor)
'ould do the questioning. The attor
ey general objected to this and insist
i that as he was just as much MEM
er of the board as the governor he
ad a right to inquire into the matter
,lly from Mr.. Wolfe. This led to
mother colloquy that lasted several
linutnes and was extremely warm.
The attorney general then said that
> would consent to the purchase Of
e cattle but he did not feel like spend
e the peoples money for the Wolfe
inch. He declared that the state al
lady has 1000 acres in the vicinity of
eer Lodge to take care of herd of
title. "It is up to us as officers of
is state to save all the money we can.
understand 10 people have prior
ater rights to the one Wolfe has to
s ranch" the attorney general said.
Sharp Words Passed
"Who told you?' asked the COVER
)r.
wolfe told me-" was the reply.
did anybody else tell you?" shouted |,
e governor. |:
Yes, Senator Paul told, me-" was
e further reply of Mfr. Rankin.
did Frank sConley tell your" the
vernon asked
ut is none Of your business. whether
rank Conley told me or not, but as
Continued q Raoe 1Woj !