The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1922-04-21

Another Effort Being Made to Dirk the Primary Law Rv Enc
mics Of Popular Government: u sse2 -
ATTACK IS MADE BY AN TNIATED MEASURE

Mlssoula, Mont, April 20-(Special
TO the Producers News)-The repeal
Of the direct primary law Of Montana,
according to an interview issued BY
Judge Joseph C. Smith, prominent
Myers democrat" of Beaverhead
county, is about to be undertaken by
the good citizens of Dillon, as set
forth in the Butte Miners columns of
April 18th. This is to be "non-po-
litical" movement, according to the
judge, designed to take the destinies
of Montana out of the hands of the
professional politicians and return
them to the people.
MOVE BORN AT DILLON
The city Of Dillon is the best pos
sible reason anyone could give for
having a. primary law. Dillon has
never had city primary election.
Being rated, until the 1920 census, as
under 1000 population, it was not
within the operation of the statute,
and always nominated it's municipal
officers by a "city caucus" after
which the names were printed on the
ballot and the people went through
the motions of an election. Only one
caucus was held each year, at which
any opposition was invariably stif1ed.
When the 1920 caucus gave Dillon
slightly over 1000 the state primary
law was Immediately amended to ex-
empt cities under 5000 piece of
special legislation for Dillon's benefit
not generally appreciated at the time
and the Getty caucus" continued to
reign supreme.
DILLON COPPER COLLARED CITY
The city of Dillon is peculiarly val
liable as an asset of the Anaconda
Copper company. Its business, So
cial and mental operations are direct
ed by the First National Bank, owned
by the A. c. NJ. company, having for
it's president, E. J. Bowman of Ana
conda and for one of it's stockholders
John D. Ryan of AZ Broadway.
In June 1920, B. K. Wheeler, while
addressing a meeting of farmers at
Dillon, was mobbed by a gang led by
clerks in the employ of the First Ma
tional Bank, and in the presence of
the cashier of the bank. No one was
arrested except a man who befriended
Wheeler. Owing to this favorable at
Dillon was selected by
Dixon from which to launch his cam
paign that year. and the largest ma
lority for the A. C. M. candidates
was received in that county.
INTELLECTUAL LIFE EXAMPLE
The intellectual life of Dillon is fit
ly represented by j. E. Monroe, late
president of the State Normal Col
lege, who in 1920, while mayor Of
Dillon, closed the city hall against
the Wheeler meeting and ordered the
chief of police to arrest Wheeler If
he spoke with the city limits. It's
political high-water market is occu-
pied by Frank Eliel who, while di-
rector Of the FHst National Bank, was
joint author Of the workmen's COM
pensation law now in force. under
which the Butte miners are being
killed and niutilated at the rate of |
a few dollars head. It's last legis-
Iative representatives were Frank
Hazelbaker, a stockholder in the A.
c. M. bank and a brother of Attorney |
Rodgers Of the A C. M. legal staff.
COMMITTEE RE-
~ .PUDIATES PLOT
The democratic ; state committee, |
having in mind the disastrous attempt
70 repeal the direct primary law by
popular vote IN 1920, recently took
healthy kick at resolution aimed at
another effort to repeal. Dillon, how
ever, is unconvinced and irreconcili-
abla. Il Is still against the primary
aw and professional politicians, and
d favor ef the convention system and
he people