Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-03

court in relation to the facts in the,
case, which should not have been easily
aseertained by the governor and his
agents. And the facts themselves
| make impossible any charge Of misap-
preparation, for Mr.. Conley has proved
| fully and conclusively, that every step
he took as warden, whether in the
growing of hay or grain on shares
with the state, the sale of beef or
pork to the state, the sale of milk,
butter and other produce to the state,
| the making of brick, the use of convict
labor--no single solitary thing. but
that was done with the full approval
| of and agreement with, the state board
Of prison commissioners"
From the beginning. The Muscular
| did not believe that the proceedings
against Cohley were initiated in good
faith" says The Misseulian, trep.l.
This conviction was sustained by the
character Of the state,s witnesses and
the flimsy character of the states tes-
timeny. AS the trial progressed, the
absurdity of the charges became daily
more apparent. We venture the as
sertion that not one reader in one hun
dred would have voted Conley guilty
Of any one of the allegations. Fin
ally the case fell TO pieces like a house
of cards. The responsibility for this
fiasco. which included an expense to
the state OF many thousands of dollars
and the untimely death of a valuable
and greatly beloved citizen, Colonel &.
Il. Nolan. must be placed squarety at
the door of Governor Dixon, who FRAN
ed the charges and personally conduct
ed an ex parte investigation that was
Il sheer farce from the beginning. The
money of the taxpayer was wantoniy
wasted in a war to ruin the good name
Of Frank Conley and bring shame to
his family and friends. The decision
of the court will stand as a lesson and
q warning TO all high public officials
who may be tempted 10 use the power
OF office to wreak vengeance upon those
who fail or refuse to follow them. The
Conley case is a black chapter in the
shady administration of Governor Jo-
seph NJ. Dixon
The case was uncalled for in the be
ginning. as vas proved by the sane
decision Of the Judge says the Town
send Star (Ind.). Taxpayers as a
whole are in sympathy with the defend
ant and are glad to have the case set
tied AS it was from point of honesty
and justice. but from q financial stand
point, every taxpayer in the state will
have to help bear the enormous cost
OF the case. This should be a lesson to
the administration, for not only has
it put the state in ar embarrassing posi-
ton among other states but 1t has also
been proven that the charges against
Mr.. Conley were ungrounded and the
whole affair is a disgrace and uncalled
for"
The LeWistown Demacrat-News
(dem.)' after pointing out how ably the
states side Of the case was presented,
SAYS: And SO, after a hearing extend
ing over about three months and the
Expenditure of q large sum for expenses,
this celebrated case winds up In a find
ing for Conley for $J58.06. Long be
fore the hearing was over the public
realized that there was more politics
than anything else involved in this mat
ter and the courts decision confirms
this conclusion"
The Red Lodge Pieket-Journal
(dem. sees the closing of n grand
political battle as q result Of the Hor-
sky decision, pointing ont that the
whole affair against Conley was
launched by the governor, because he
lacked courage to admit that he re-
moved Conley SO that he might have
another appointment to give out to a
friend. The Picket-Journal continues;
with the announcement of the
courts decision In the Conley case the
battle may be fairly said to have end
ed. But at the same time it is the
signal for a greater battle which viii
follow closely upon the other. Gov
ernor Dixon staked his entire politica.
reputation and career upon the Conley
case, and lost it. The expense to Mon.
taua Of this suit. the entire Reputation
of assertions and charges against the
deposed warden, the complete vindi.
cation of state officers prior TO the
administration of Governor Dixon, al
these will furnish fertile material 70,
the campaign two years hence. In The
face of such al overwhelming turn
down it is to be wondered if Mr.
Dixon will be able to face a legisla.
tnre. If he ever did have any influ.
ence OF consequence with that legisla
, ture il would seem that the outcome
Of the Conley case would destroy sucf
, influence. In fact it appears that thu
) next move is up to Mr.. Dixon and tina
his cue directs him to crawl into {
! hole. il he can find one small enough
t and hibernate for an extended period.
, But the ease, in its finish, has on,
| feature which would make the gov
) %ernor's course supremely ridiculous,
r says the Butte Post {rep.). "but for
4 the fact that the taxpayer is hit one,
again. The governors proposition
! was to compel Conley to pungle al
! immense sum of money alleged /,
: have been stolen from the state-tha
was the size Of it. Behold, Conley i
completely indicated, but, on top 0
$ that and in addition to the enormou
1 cost of the lawsuit, the court decree
L that the state actually owes Conley
net balance Of $55S.08! What do yoI
: think of that? What is that Bibl
i quotation that speaks about heapinI
Goals of fire on your enemys head
IF the shoe were on the other foot
E Governor Dixon's newspaper organ il
:. Helena might be tempted to say thu
it Is to horse laugh"
! "The Gonley decision and event
which will follow quickly in its wax,
spell the end Of Joseph NJ. Dixor
:, arch enemy of honesty, decency an
q good government" says the Helen
Independent (dem.) He betrays hi
! friends, his promises are scraps (
d paper, he is selfishness incarnate an
The Independent stands ready I
f prove him false. unfair and faith
e less at any time it is called upo
: to do SO. For two years this news
paper has published qpries backed b
5 ! documentary evidence. to show tht