The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1928-10-19
THE McCONE co. BOARD AND THE PRINTER

Ben Larson then thought of a very ingenious
scheme. He decided that in the next printing con-
tract he made with McCone County he would embody
a stipulation that he be paid approximately $4,000
over and above the amount allowed by the laws of
the State OF Montana for printing the primary bal
lots, and when the county commissioners opened the
printing bids at the December 1924 session, they
found that Ben LarSon'S bid contained such a de-
mand. A person endowed with common ordinary
sense would have known better than to have submit
ted such a bid and necessarily the board of county
commissioners rejected the bid and called for new
bids on printing to be opened at the January session.
At the January session there was only two members
present Lindhs term having expired, while the new
member Rufus Morris having having failed to quail
fly within, the time set by law was not allowed to take
his seat. At this session Ben Larson submitted an
other bid for county printing identical with the bid
he submitted at the December session and contain
ing the same illegal demand for printing the primary
ballots.
Once more his bid was rejected and bids called
for to be opened at the February session. This was
too much for Ben Larson and the decided to punish
the commissioners for daring to cut his graft.
Had Ben Larson submitted a legal bid and had
the county commissioners Of McCone county rejected
a legal bid there would have been some justification
for Ben Larson getting sore, but Ben Larson submitted
bids at both the December and January sessions
which were absolutely illegal. Had the county com
missioners accepted his bid and entered into a print
ing contract with him on such terms, all the members
of the board could have been ousted.
Two actions were started in the District Court
during January 1925. One was an action started by
Ben Larson requesting the District Judge to make an
order compelling the county commissioners to accept
the Banners bid as submitted at the December and
January sessions.
This case came before the District Judge on
April LIST, 1925. The Judge refused to make such an
order.
rected against Tom Horsford. This action was
brought by Ed Bjorge, but the case was supervised by
Ben Larson, and the prosecuting attorneys looked to
Ben Larson for their fees. Whether Ben Larson &C
tually thought that Horsford could be ousted or not
is immaterial, but he did know that it would be neces-
sary for Tom Horsford to hire an attorney to fight the
case. and he knew that the expenses of such a case
would be heavy and deal a hard blow to a man in
Horsford's financial condition. Ben Larson had
of dollars of money which he had received
from McCone county, a great deal of it illegally, to
make his dirty fight with. He decided to venture
some of it in order to perpetuate his graft.
Had the members of the McCone county board
of county commissioners been less courageous they
would have soon been cOwed into submission, but
Rhoads and Tom Horsford couldn't be intim-
idated and as a result of their determined stand Nc
Cone county has saved thousands OF dollars on Its
printing.
Ben Larson swore vengeance against these men.
Two years ago he fought Delbert Rhoads to the last
ditch but the voters of McCone county showed their
appreciation of what Delbert Rhoads had done by
giving him a majority of 383 votes over the man who
was supported by Ben Larson at the General election
held November End, 1926.
The "Horsford for Commissioner Club antici-
pate a similar expression of their appreciation from
the voters at the election to be held on November
9Th, 1928. Do not forget that the present fight on
Tom Horsford is directed by Ben Larson and his
gang in order to punish Tom Horsford for his stand
county printing. 90,
If YOU believe in Ben Larson and the graft ne
stands for, then vote for the man he supports, but l
YOU want a fair, honest, and efficient board TO ao-
the affairs of McCone county, then on cleo
ion dav look for Tom Horsford's name in the indie
pendent Column on the ballot and mark an * IN
The square before it.
HORSFORD FOR COMMISSIONER CLUB,
By Robert Lindh, Secretary.
calculated and paid for by Horsford for Commissioner Club