The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1922-08-23
TRICKERY.

A statement sent broadcast over the state last
week by the Democratic club purporting to show
the great extravaganza existing in the various
state offices at Helena, will without doubt prove
to be a boomerang rather disquieting to the
authors. The comparison of figures given, which
can be credited as accurate, do not prove the con-
tention made by its sponsors. There is such a
thing as telling a truth in such a way as to have
a lying effect, and it can be observed from the
manner in which these figures are arranged, that
the real truth is not told.
In the first place there are no comparisons
shown for the years between 1916-1917, and 1921.
What reason, do the readers of the circular be-
lieve was back of the neglect upon the part of
the Democratic club in leaving these figures out,
especially those covering the years of 1919 and
1920? Can it be that the comparison would be
so much more in favor of the administration
given by Gov. Joseph M. Dixon, than to his
predecessor, that the men behind the circular
dared not show them? That certainly is the case,
for the fact remains that the savings in the vari-
Gus departments reaches into many thousands of
dollars, over that of the previous administration
One item may be taken as showing the method
of giving a false impression to the reader, con-
tanned in the circular; the increased cost of main
tenance claimed or represented to exist in the
governors office expense. Here is shown an in
crease of about three thousand dollars for 1921
over that of 1916. The statement does not, how
ever, show that the three thousand dollars added
tc the office expense of the governor, is for
expense of issuing reports which were transferred
from another department to that of the govern
Or's office. No indeed, no such a showing is made
in the circular, because that would knock the
props clear out from under the impression which
the ~C:~--lc- cttempts to create.
Thu is the weakness cf the entire statement
cOnta. ed = The circular; / has taken q lot OF
work ID some rel expense &c compile the figures
contained therein, which VII be wasted because
the statement does not tell the whole truth. Rea.
sOnable people, who think for themselves do not
rush to conclusions merely upon being presented
with a statement which in itself is incomplete
The vide spread between the years used for tn
comp rison, is one &C the outstanding indication:
OF the alse impression which it was hoped to pro
duce. Ii viii only bring to the governor an addec
support and belief in his sincerity.
E2ck CT Tie report is the object of those VIII,
are responsible for it, to so attract the attention
of the voters OF the state as to cause them t
forget the real issue of the election. Those news
par over the state who are using so muc
printers ink IN their unfair attacks upon I'll
governor do not care SO much about Joseph n
III II. They are frightened by the growing az
C~IsTandlrg among the whole people of the stat,
CT the need for the legislation which Governc
Dixon CT .mpions. 1t is the desire of those OF
posed to ouch legislation, to attract the ~attentio
G. voters away from the real issue by hurIin
untruths. ed siurs at the governor.
knowing that the constitutional ameadmen
p~-ovldlng Ter the creation Of a real tax conlmi
son whereby the taxes of the state may be pro
ely e%qualized, those opponents of this measu
&c trying to besmirch the situation with attacl
upon the governor. They have not dared to q
tack the necessity CT the creation of the tax cor
mission for they would have no ground up,
which 70 stand. The inheritance tax is anoth
low which those same opponents are fightin
~ tn same reason. The income tax is ind
re ban also with these same men, not BEGAN