Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-10-23

III view Oh The NUMEROUS uIltluG IL
ports and stories that are being cir
culated against me by some who are
opposed to my reelection as county
commissioner, reports that haven't an
iota of truth in them-l consider it no
more than fair that the facts in these
matters be placed before the voters
of Lincoln county.
The 1st Of April, 1929, | bought a
sixty caterpillar tractor for Lincoln
County, from the Petrie Tractor &
Equipment Co. of Missoula, Montana.
This machine was purchased through
Mr.. Charles Henderson. who was at
that time the travelling salesman for
The Petrie Tractor & Equipment Co.
The price that Lincoln County paid
for this machine was $4,630. And this
money was paid direct to the Petrie
Tractor & Equipment Co, which can be
verified by the County Records at the
courthouse And there were no COM
missions or rebates paid to any per-
son in Libby or any other place.
Now, some of those who are oppos
ing me in this campaign are circulat-
ing the report that commission OF
$500 was paid on the sale OF this
machine. These parties who are max
ing this talk have not made them
selves quite clear as to who paid this
commission But they do not hesitate
to inform the public who got the COM
mission. They claim that the Libby
Motors. Inc. and H. E. Brink are the
ones who got the commission. Now it
seems that there is considerable de-
lay in this commission money being
paid out, for / positively have not re-
ceived any money, commission or re-
bate on this or any other purchase ever
made by or for Lincoln county. And
the Libby Motors, Inc. inform me that
they have not received any money as
commission on the sale of this tractor
II is just possible that the persons,
whoever they were, who promised to
pay this commission, have concluded
that they made poor deal in promis-
ing to pay $500 commission on
$500 sale.
The absolute Righteousness and
barefaced falseness of the entire story
is further seen in the fact that
the Libby Motor positively had Moth
ing whatever to do with the transac-
ton. They are not the local represent
atives of the Petrie company, have no
connection with them, and had not the
slightest thing to do with the pur-
chase of this machinery. Yet the men
who are spreading these stories say
Libby Motors got commission on
deal that they had nothing to do with.
There is another report being broad
casted by some of those who are OPP
posing me which is SO absurd and in
consistent that it sounds like childish
prattle. This report states that Mr. j.
w. Swanson. who constructed the Lin
coin County bridge at Gateway Mon
tana, made 100000 clear in the con-
struction of this bridge, which is equiv
alent to saying that the bridge cost
only $2,25O0O, for the Lincoln County
records show that Swanson received
only $6,250O0 of Lincoln Countys
money for the construction of the Gate
way bridge If any person with any
knowledge of the cost of bridge con-
struction will examine the Gateway
bridge and say that it could have been
constructed for $2,25000, then | will
take off my hat to my opposition,
otherwise | will still insist that 1T
sounds absurd
The bridge at Gateway is 16 feet
wide and nearly 600 feet long, span
ming the entire width of the Kootenai
river 1t is of good construction and
we figured at the time and are still
convinced that the county cot good
bargain in getting the bridge built for
what it cost But then, when man
or set of men are spreading falsehoods,
what difference does the truth make to
them?
Another report is to the effect that
am not taxpayer. 1t seems that the
opposition to my being commissioner
think that IL were not taxpayer
that would be disqualification. So
my opposition will be obliged to dig
up something else, for am taxpayer,
both personal and real estate, and have
been ever since l have been commits
sioner and for many years before.
Now what Is the motive back of
these stories that are being spread
4