The producers news., 1927-07-08
BOO!

BOO!
Ancient Rome, according to the myth,
was once saved by geese, which gave the
alarm of night attack Other states have
had their geese who quaczed of coming dis
aster, most of it imaginary Hitherto ex-
cept for brief campaign periods Montana
has been quite free from such alarmists,
but at last can boast its own Nervous Mel
lie to shout of fancier perils.
''While most calamity howlers aim only
to keep themselves in the public eve. 9TH
ers' apparent purpose is to distract atten-
ton from their own activities, like the pur-
sued pickpocket who joins in the cry, "stop
Chlet. Still others there are, employed in
puDnc Office to restrain corporate activity
IN the public interest, who find it necessary
to direct attention elsewhere by shouts of
dangers from without. And while these
like to shout of Bolshevism, they are the
real Bolshevists, for they are breaking down
the peoples confidence in their own officers
and Institutions
"WhO is this new prophet of woe. this
messenger Of death and destruction? Why,
1t IS none other than our old friend Too
mey Secretary of the Montana Railroad
Commission. And why is he arising in this
role? The explanation is not difficult.
"Mr. TOomey says that the order recon-
ending removal of the Elkhorn branch
was unanimous Of course it was unanin1-
Gus; didn't he sign it for all three commits
slOners? At least he says he might have;
and Commissioner Young never even heard
the matter discussed, while the other two
commissioners and the official records of
the commission are entirely blank on the
subject
Mr. ToOmey's order, very obligingly
signed for the Northern Pacific, was not
IN the public interest. The fact that he de-
MED its existence until after the adjourn
ment of the legislature showed that he had
his own doubts on the subject And the
L; =. u, even without the bias in favor of
montana S special interests that is expect
ed OF MOntanas officials, promptly decided
that Mr.. TOOmey was wrong. The fact was
that the Montana Commission made a mis-
take; Mr.. Young did not begin early enough
IN the hearing to interfere with the evi
dence OF the prOtestants. AS a result the
evidence In the transcript showed the T q
u, as 1t must have shown any unpreiudiced
persons that Mr.. Toomey, who saws he
mlght nave made the unanimous order OF
Lne Montana Commission, which says it
didn't, was wrong. Which, as George AIDE
would say was quite kick in the rear
for the Montana Railroad Commission
which might very properly have relaved
the shock to Mr.. ToOmey In fact had tbe
commission been free to do so, it would no
doubt have discharged Mr. Toomey for
three reasons First, for having lied to
state officials about an order which should
nave been open to the Public: second for
lying about the commission and blanoing #
for an order which he made himself if
that is the fact; third, for signing without
authority the name of one or more commits
sloners to an order never heard of bv them
II that is the fact. Since he is still on the
job 1t follows that the commission autbor-
lied or ratified the lies, the order and the
signatures; or on the other hand that thew
cannot fire Mr. Toomey Obviously some
thing had to be done to save someone's
face.
Accordingly it will surprise none that
Mr.. Toomey rises in the joint role of Paul
Revere, Patrick Henry and Nervous Nellie
70 rouse the countryside. "To arms the
Bolshev1ks are coming The attempt of
the Northern Pacific to destroy propertv
values and ruin the owners of mining nro.
perty by the removal of the Elkhorn branch
aid not alarm Mr.. Toomey. And the fact
thaT the public officials paid to protect the
puOno li rom rom JUST these dangers, might aid
IN the destruction left Mr.. Toomey cold
But the very thought of Soviet activity
terrltles him into gibbering denunciation
30 much so that he even jumps the track
(which is not usually expected of good
rallroader) and exclaims, Tibelous accnsa.
tons are being thrown about in a babel Of
eexpletive and imprecation.' Then. accord
ing to the daily press, strong men broke
down and wept. Which would indicate that
both the Railroad Commission and the Nor
thern Pacific were well represented in the
audience. However, it does not appear
that the former soldiers at whose conven
uon this speech was made, were visiblv af-
1ected. 1t is hard to scare real soldier
with hokum; he has seen smoke screens
AS for the libelous accusations. appar-
ently only the Bolsheviks have been libel
led, and unfortunately they have not ac-
cess TO our courts for redress. Still, they
are not entirely without remedy. Having
oeen used as a smoke screen thev miobf
retaliate by employing Mr.. Toomey to de-
nounce the railroads, whose activities he
mas seen at so much shorter range. Then
amid the general tears and LAMENTATIONS at
me Wlckedness of the corporations. +he
areaa RUSSIAN Reds will be free to ravage
the land 11Yy,oo1ae ~ ~oafo5S