The producers news., 1927-04-08

ty seat on the same ballot. The law
however provided that no town can
didate could be declared the county
seat unless it had a majority of all
the votes cast for the same. This
makes it difficult for any town to be
selected where more than two towns
are contenders. The law also pro
vided that in the event that no town
secured a majority then the two
towns having the highest number of
votes would be oblidged to re-submit
the proposition at the next general
election. In the election held on the
11th day of March 1918, Plentywood
and Medicine Lake received the two
highest votes for county seat.
No sooner did the board of County
Commissioners of Valley County set
the date and ordered the election
than the towns of Poplar, Culbert
son, Bainville and Medicine Lake be-
came candidates for county seat.
Three OF these towns were on the
main line of The Great Northern Rail
way and Medicine Lake was located
on the branch line about 25 miles
north of the town of Bainville. But
beyond Medicine Lake on the Balm
vile branch and as far as about 20
miles west of Scobey was distance
OF about 80 miles without any con
tending towns for county seat hon
Ors. The ever elert and vigilant eyes
OF some of the business men of plpn-
tywood saw an opportunity for their
town, and like the hawk which spied
the mouse swooped down upon the
lield Of contenders and captured the
prize. The story of Plentywood's en-
try into the race is an interesting
one even at this late day to those
who recall the facts.
The writer and Mr.. George T.. Boil
ster had very much to do with it.
Mr. Bolster especially interviewed
two "wisenicks" who politely inform
him that he was entertaining a COW
boys dream. The writer when he
suggested the possibilities of Plenty
wood, was also usually met with dis
couraging arguments. The general
and prevailing idea seemed to be TO
support Culbertson now. and then in
alter years when q new division
would be advisable then for Plenty
wood to contend for the county seat.
1t was clearly a case of "Der den
Augenblick ergreift, das is der rechte
Mann. +"
Finally the writer worked out a
plan which had the desired effect
lie tabulated the voting strength of
each precinct as it was disclosed bv
the vote for sheriff i'm the election of
1912 in the portion of the county of
Valley to be cut off. Then he allow
ed that every one would naturally
vote for the town which was most
advantageous to his own interest.
This tabulation disclosed that the
town of Poplar, with the other can
didates in the field, would be entitled
to the Poplar precinct vote with the
addition of the Brockton vote. This
OF course indicated certain number
oil votes to be cast for Poplar. Then.
according to the tabuation. the other
candidates vote could be approxi-
mately arrived at To the writer il
then appeared that with Plentywood
not a candidate Culbertson would be
the county seat; but with Plenty
wood IN the race, she would be elect
ed over Medicine Lake for the sec
ond place by about 80 votes.
The above tabulation was posted
in a few Of the business houses Of
Plentywood and the writer personal
~ directing certain so-called influen-
tial citizens thereto for personal in
spection 1t had the desired effect.
Soon q sufficient number began TO
see the possibilities of Plentywood
and a meeting was called at which
It was decided that Plentywood en-
ter the ace. A committee was ap-
pointed to solicit funds and the com
mittee reported that the first seven
men solicied gave $500 each or a to-
tai Of $4,000. This was the impetus
Tor q continuation of the drive for
further funds and q very liberal sub
scription was realized for the fipht.
Plentywood never did anything by
half.
After Plentywood's entry into the
race the battle lines began to form.
Notary publics were sent out by each
town to register every possible elec-
Tor entitled to a vote. It seemed for
while that Plentywood's task could
not be accomplished The voting
precincts in her territory were large
md cumbersome. Plentywood pre-
,inct at that time included every
thing nearly in what is now Westby.
McElroy, Dooley, Raymond. McNulty