Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-10

Mcdonald of kalispell. he announced
at the same time that he had employed
MIR. Mcdonald to assist him in the case
Mr.. Mcdonald had just drawn from the
state treasury the sun of $500 as
compensation for making that report
In view Of the contents of that report.
the character of his witnesses and the
subsequent retractions of some of them,
we think any candid person will agree
with US that this Mcdonald report
was dear at the price.
Big Rankin Forces
The attorney general has a consider
able legal force under him. In the in
terest of economy and in view of the
state Of the treasury it seems to lis
that he might have gotten along with
out hiring additional legal help. How
ever, that is a layman's opinion. 1t
may be based on ignorance of the
amount of work to be done. We note
that the attorney general as had time
to travel over the state a good deal.
SO has the governor. though we think
both of them are supposed at this time
by the law to be sitting as a board Of
equalization. equal.zing axe How
ever. Attorney General Rankin hired
Attorney Mcdonald to help him prose-
cute the Conley case and he did so.
The Montana Democratic club says that
Attorney Mcdonald has an additional
charge Of $500 for such services.
We do not know whether that is true
or not. It also says the state has
already paid out $4,000 for s%tenogra-
piers fees in the case. We do not
know whether that is true or not.
Bgt we do know that it is telling
the truth when il SAYS that it was of
flclally announced that when Hon. J.
W. Freeman had been employed as a
second assistant attorney for the state
it would cost the state nothing. be-
cause his fee had been subscribed in
advance by friends of Governor Dixon.
and that the state had no funds that
1t could lawfully use to pay for his
services. On March "a. 1922, Attor-
ney. General Wellington -. Rankin
said: AT the request of the governor.
Mr.. j. W. Freeman of Great Falls. for
mer United States district attorney.
has been entered by me- as counsel for
the state. My understanding with the
governor is that there will be no adj
ditional cost 10 the state by reason of
his appearance
Record for More Forces
On March "a. 1922, the Montana
Record-Herald said:
If it will contribute to the pro-
lection of the states interests to en-
gage Mr.. Freeman to assist in the
prosecution of the tConIey) case. p,b- |
lie spirited citizens will be found in
every part of the state who will gladly |
to a fund to pay for his
services, since there is no public fund, /!
as we understand. that can be used
for that purpose. That there is any,
thing wrong in public spirited people
to a fund to protect the
interests Of the state. it will be diff
cult to make the public believe. In
fact. this is such a fundamental de-
p~arture from the immemorial custom |
invariably followed for years of load
.ng down the taxpayers with political
Jobs and sinecures for politicians, and
consequent %looting of the state
-reasury to the destruction of the
states interests. that we confidentially
the public will hail it with de-
On April 6. 1922. the New Era club.
which is the Dixon campaign propa-
.anda organization. through it's presi-
lent. Jerome Locke, sent out a cir
.ular letter to as many Dixonians as
be reached. which said: The
public in Montana is entitled to the
ruth about matters political. This is
he truth. A group of Montana citi-
'ens. all of whom are taxpayers. and
ONE Of them are in public office, !