The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1922-12-29
FRIENDS GATHER TO
SHAKE HAND OF
FORMER WARDEN
Conley Center of Interest in Ceiebra-
ton at Deer Observation-Disclosures
Are Served.

Deer Lodge-Nearly 1,500 people
gathered here last Saturday night to
pay their respects to Frank Conley
former warden of the state peniten-
tiary who was recently exonerated in
court after the state had brought civ
il action against him for the recovery
of monies alleged to have been mis-
appropriated while he was warden.
About 800 people came from Butte
on special train, and nearly 100 of
Conley friends from other parts of
the state were present. The balance
of the crowd was made up of Deer
Lodge people.
Prominent in the Butte delegation
were J. Bruce Kremer, Democratic
national committeeman from Mon
tana; W. c. Rae, tax commissioner of
the Anaconda company; Frank M.
Kerr, general manager of the Mon
tana Power company; j. V. Dryer,
member of the Anaconda company's
legal staff; A. ]. Davis, president of
the First National bank; J. K. Heslet,
cashier of the Clark bank. The Butte
delegation was accompanied by the
Anaconda company's band.
Editors There
The Missoula delegation was head
ed by M. J. Hutchens, editor Of The
Daily Muscular and Ronald Higgins,
former speaker of the house of rep
resentatives. Will A. Campbell, edi-
tor of the Helena Independent and J.
Burke Clements, reporter on the
same newspaper, were among the Hell
| ena representatives.
While the festival was primarily a
celebration in honor Of Mr.. Conley,
Governor Dixon's name was men
toned quite as often as that of Mr..
Conley. Speakers who spent one
minute in lauding Conley devoted five
to damning the governor.
The literary gem of the evening was
contributed by E. G. Toomey, young
attorney from Helena, formerly of
Deer Lodge. In referring to the gov
ernor, he said: ..
'rThe shriveled man whom we call
the governor of Montana, the lone
some, the miserable, the unadmired
individual who is governor for day,
never can and never has had such
friends and such representative peo-
pie of Montana back of him as those
who have gathere dhere tonight.
have wat .Ied this case from the be-
ginning and as a Deer Lodge citizen
I give you my word that never in the
whole ordeal has the faith of the peo-
pie beyond the range been shaken il
Frank Conley."
| The outour-t was greeted with fren-
zier applause by Conley's friends.
"ConIey for GOVERNOR
AS the spirit of the occasion grew
upon those present, the slogan, econ
lev for Goernor" was shouted moi
infrequentIy. Harry Wilson, attorney
of Great Falls and Billings, who was
defeated by Dixon for the Republican
nomination for governor two years
ago, recited an original poem il
which he reviewed the Conley case
and concluded with strong boost fol
Conley for governor in 1924.
The demand that Conley be can.
didate for governor was echoed by NJ
J Hutchins of Missoula. who sait
that ne admired Conley for the enc
mics he had made.
Refreshments Served
The evenings entertainment began
Immediately after the arrival of thu
Butte and Missoula delegations. The!
were taken to the Conley home, wher
refreshments were served. Later ;
parade was formed, which marched
to the auditorium for the speaking.
/ After about dozen of the visiting
notables mad made their speeches, MI
Conley was allotted 10 minutes il
which to speak his appreciation. FL
said briefly that "the cards wer
stacked against me-" and that if hi
friends had not stood by him loyal.
he could not have been victorious.
| Following the meeting here Satur
day night, many of those present wen
to Helena to attend the meeting o
the board of directors of the Montan
Development association.