Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-22

voters there was abundant need of a
change. In less than three years the
county indebtedness had mounted from
about $500 600, inherited from the
mother county, to just about $1,O00,OOO,
bonds and warrants.
In distributing the county funds. the
report showed that the rankest favor
itism had been shown. One Poplar
bank. entitled TO about $4,000, had
over $4,000. A second Poplar bank
had over S34. 900 at the time 1t sus-
pended. Some $4,000 in mortgages
and warrants that this latter bank had
given the county to secure the county
and the bondsmen. had been returned
TO the possession of the bank Just be
fore it closed, and therefore lost. A
third Poplar bank. opened after the
one just mentioned closed, had been
entrusted with $1,000 only q week be
fore it closed it's doors. Still another
~favorite bank, in which a county com
missioner was interested. had $4,000,
while entitled to less than $4,000. An
other commissioner, b is a Poplar
business man, is vice president Of the
bank favored with $4,000.
The examiners report showed how
the county treasurer had carried IN
his safe for three months $4,000, in
ca shier's checks on this Poplar bank,
on which the county got no interest:
Interest earned by county deposits and
collected under compuslon from the ex-
aminer's office had been refunded. IN
part, it was shown, TO a favored bank
in which a county commissions was in
terested. County warrants had in nu
merous cases been cashed out of rots-
ton and ahead of other registered war
1900 Co,-+- ofrtoioIo u-nra nharpfpO
IS cents per mile for automobile travel
and the board was paying the claims.
Taxpayers Incensed
Contracts were being let for print
ing without bids, and there was no at
tempt TO create competition in the pur-
chase of supplies. The law for the
regulation of their acts frequently had
been violated by the officials after a
previous examiners report had warned
them to the contrary. In fact. the re-
port was speckeled with criticisms of
the reckIeSsness and extravaganza and
contained many recommendations and
requirements"
Other transactions Of a damaging
nature were charged against Poplar's
hand picked officials by the Clean
House" campaigners. The support
ers of the county administration did
their best 10 explain and make light
of the whole matter but it did not
go down with the incensed taxpayers
and the result OF the primary cleo
| ton was a land slide of no small pro-
portions. Party lines were forgotten.
The Clean House" candidates were
on the republican ballot and less thar
100 democratic votes were cast in the
| whole county. 1t was a clean sweep
T.. ,,nI-o n clam hopca Gf ponlo 70
| seven or eight candidates. on the two
ballots, not one was nominated. OF
the Clean House aspirants none
failed 10 arrive and the vote in some
cases was almost two 10 one. On
only one office was the vote even
close.
LET'S Finish the Job"
The primary campaign is explained
because it is the foundation of the
county seat campaign now on. TO
put it as briefly as possible the
charge is made against Poplar. and
not alone by Wolf Point, that she has
failed to give an even decently fair
| accounting of her stewardship as self
appointed administrator of county af-
fairs. That she has taken every pos
sible opportunity to bolster her local
institutions, and build up her political
machine at heavy cost to the county.
That she has not been satisfied with
the honor and the legitimate benefits
accruing TO a county seat town. but
has exerted her influence over county
/ officials to her own unfair benefit
and greatly to the detriment of the
| county MS a whole. And further, that
there is plenty of evidence that this
influence would continue to be exert
ed, and in greater degree, If she were
made permanent county seat.
Poplar's one claim TO consideration
is that it is more centrally located.
Wolf Point replies that Poplar has
proven herself to be also the center
os gang rule, fsvoritism and heavy
tax causes. Poplar claims it will cost
$4,000 to move the county seat be-
cause she has spent so much money
in Poplar and Mondak. Wolf Point
replies that it remains to be shown
that it win cost a single dollar TO move
it. and asks. how much, at the pre-
sent rate, will il cost TO leave it
there? The slogan of Wolf Point and