Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-04-30
$23,0O0,000 Available by Referendum
Who Pays For
Opposing Ref. b?

w
of federal money to Montana which otherwise would be lost;
it will bring to rapid completion the 5000 mile system Of fed
eral highways which will save many millions through reduced
automobile operating costs; the additional labor that will be
employed, the additional money that will be placed in cmcula-
ton will help to stimulate and revive all enterprises in the
state. These are the facts which are not and cannot be denied
and yet from somewhere there comes the finances to supper.
a frantic attempt to inject fear, doubt, and suspicion into the
minds of the people.
The newspapers of the state are practically unanimous
in their absolute free support of Referendum 35 just as the
legislature was almost unanimous in the passage of the meas
ure. Only two small weekly newspapers are champloning the
opposition to the measure and are sending out tens of thous-
ands of extra copies all over the state to the voters. The local
organ, which is so thoroughly 6scredted that it cannot obtain
any supplies except for cash on delivery, and whose reputa-
ton for truth and veracity is absolutely nil here at home is one
of these champions of the opposition. Who pays for these ex-
ira copies? Last week they devoted 10 columns of that paper
to faying this measure and attempting to mislead the voters.
The other newspaper over in the southwestern part of the
state did likewise. Thousands upon thousands of copies were
sent to voters all over the state. Who pays for these extra
copies? People here at home know very well that the local
sheet is so financially embarrassed they are not doing this as
a free will ACT. Everyone here know they are prone to want to
charge for everything in the political line at extortionate rates.
These malconhnts who have always made a living by
their opposition to everything suddenly are able to travel
about the state to do what they can to sow the seeds of dis
trust and fear by methods which they know so we'll. Who's
paying the bill?
The statements made by them both verbally and in prin,
are so patiently false and misleading that anyone who will stop
to anajyze the situation in its entirety will know that it is be-
ing done for the benefit of someone who does not dare come
out and expose their own hand as they know very we'll in do
ing so it would bring an overwhelming vote in favor of the
measure. Someone has hired these two discredited newspap-
ers and a few disgruntled politicians to use every possible
means to mislead the public into voting against the measure.
But who is it? Who foots the bill?
The Montana Automobile Association supported by out
standing Montana citizens, has been trying with its limited
means to bring the facts about the measure before the people.
lit is confronted at every hand by whispering, undercover
work of the opposition. Those who believe Referendum IS is
to the best interest Of state, must go to the people with
facts and figures backed by the best possible authorities.
There can be no guess work. The opposition, on the other
hand, counters with any fancy or fiction that may present
itself in the effort to play upon fears, emotions and ~prejudces.
Who pays them?
tana are not to be stampeded. They look with suspicion and
dstrust upon those who are accusing more than 80 percent
of the members of the legislature of bad faith, and who by
their inference would cast suspicion of dishonesty or ignor-
ance upon the Governor, the Attorney General, the State
Board of Equalization, the State Highway Commission and
other individuals and groups who have placed their seal of
approval upon the measure.
Can any sane man believe that Referendum IS proposes
to increase the tax on gasoline when the referred authorities
say that it does not? Can any sane man believe that any leg
islature would pass a measure to increase the gasoline tax?
The legislature could have increased the tax by its own &C.
ton without the need of going to the people.
Who pays for sending out the misleading facts to the
voters?
Certainly the only reason the measure is being submitted
is because the legislature and state authorities wished to avoid
increasing the gasoline tax or repeating the refund law, actions
which are impossible and unthinkable. And yet the sole argu-
ment of the opposition is the whispering, baseless inference
that referendum IS means an increase in the gasoline tax; a
deliberate attempt to play upon the fears of the people.
Who pays for this propaganda?
There may be room for honest differences of opinion re-
garding Referendum IS, but there is no excuse for injection of
deliberate lies, trickery, insinuations and Misrepresentation in
an important matter of this kind.
But who pays tohave these lies broadcasted to Montana
voters?
1t is we'll known there are interests opposed to the gaso-
line tax, who believe that the entire cost of constructing high
ways should come out of general taxes. Are these same inter
ests financing the campaign of Misrepresentation against Ref
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