Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-07-20
A SALARY GARNER

Verv few voters 90 to the trouble to examine the records o
their public servants, mainly depending upon the puDnc press .
of a misleading nature, especially as it appears III the news us
matches of the day. The news writer's of all characters are prone
to make light of salient facts rather than to spoil a good story
and in consequence some of our busiest and most effective puDhc
servants receive injustiSe at the hands OF irresponsible newspaper
CORRESPONDENTS whose accounts, are colored by the pontlcal lean
ings of the newspapers they serve. The record o any puDhc d.
fetal is best obtained by digging out the actual tacts OF MS per
Torrance in the dry statistics of the Official minutes OF II Douy
he happens to be serving in.
The Belt Valley Times, in common with other partisan news
naners has adopted the policy of "handsoff" in primary elections,
not from any lack of interest, but from the TACT tnat M PRIMARY
law itself forces each party candidate practically to campaign all
on "his own" In other words, each candidate has TO STAND o ms
own feet and await the decision of his party, trusting to ms puphc
record for such recognition as the voters accord. Nevertneless'
there is nothing in that policy to prevent us from giving a GER
tain amount of publicity to prominent features of any candidates
public record. When a public official has made an exceptionally
good record>we feel that it is proper to give publicity to 1t at any
time, and when that official becomes a candidate for higher o1fice,
he is certainly entitled to have his record set straight before ms
constituents. Carl w. Riddick, congressman from the second DIS
trict of Montana, is a candidate for nomination as United States
Senator for Montana on the republican ticket, ana IN Ihal con-
nection it is well to consider his public record for a minute or TWO.
During his term as congressman Mr.. Riddick voted for the
emergency tariff which was especially designed TO protect tne
farming interests and for the Fordney bill of 1921. He also voted
for the bill providing for the coordination OF all FEDERAL agencies
dealing with exserviee men which created the Veterans Bus
reau !" for the bill providing federal aid for highways; for the
bill reducing and equalizing public taxes; for the bill provlding
public protection of maternity and infancy; for the so-called
'bonus" bill as equahzing the compensation OF ex-servlce men; Tor
the antiIynching bill; for the reclamation of desert lands; for the
bill authorizing producers of farm products to form associations
for cooperative marketing; for seed loans and for relief OF drouth
stricken areas; for a reduced army and navy IN accordance WIN
the proposals of the armament conference. Mr.. Rlddlck mas In ad-
dition made q record as that of a consistent republican and loyal,
supporter of President Harding's administration, and above all has
been loyal to the interests of Montana and TO the people OF MS
home state, regardless of their political affiliations. He has gained
the reputation of being one of the busiest men in Washington and
his vide knowledge of public affairs and problems fit him eminent
y for the larger responsibilities of the United States senate.