The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-01

100000 SLUSH FUND
Word has reached the Producers
News office that the road contrac-
tors, frightened by the growing OPP
position to the referendum, have
raised a bag of 100000 to put the
measure over. Loads of circulars
are in the mail. Thousands of col
umns of advertising space has
been purchased in the daily and
weekly papers. all of the broad
casting stations have been purchas-
ed, paid ballyhooers are in every
county in the state mailing cards to
every telephone pole and billing
every window and "whooping her
up" all claiming a 2 to 1 victory
for the referendum but each day
the boosters turn loose more and
more money and hire more and
more ballyhooers. Supporters from
the Governor down, officers on the
public payroll are rushing to and
fro in a frantic effort to save the
measure, which a month ago they
thought they had over without OPP
position.
MAKE LOT OF MONEY
These bond promoters are going
to make a lot of money, and the
state is going to furnish the CAPT
tai. The promoters have huge
campaign fund. This election will
be carried with fewer than $4,000
votes or at an average cost of 81
vote, the slush fund being over
100000.
Those who intend to vote for the
measure should see to it that they
get their share in advance, to the
end that Sheridan county may at
least participate that much in the
spoils of May 9th.
NOBODY SIGNS
Attention also is called to the
lack of names and signatures to
the campaign advertising put out
by the supporters of the measure
bill board, card board and news
paper propaganda. No one seems
to be willing to lend his name.
Most of the propaganda is signed
, Montana Automobile Associa-
!; ton" an organization with mem
; bers or directors or officers, who
; are unable or unwilling to write
. their names.
DONOVAN SAYS ELECTION is
ILLEGAL
{ Senator Louis P. Donovan in Z
: letter to The Producers News says
: the special election May 9Th is il
5 legal, and could be enioined. Sen
Donovan says that he can not pre-
dict what the supreme court o.
Montana might do but plainly In
fers that the measure provide
2 for a second tax, and says there
I. are other Objectionable features IL
the bill.
D Shelby, Montana,
:. April IS, 1881.
Hon. Charles E. Taylor,
Plentywood, Montana
D Dear Charles
f Thanks for your letter of tn
22nd inst. and previous letter CIV
ing me an opportunity to break IN
to print if I so desired.
: AS to whether the bill would ad
6 an additional tax of five cents
l gallon on gasoline, depends entire
q " upon the construction Wh1c
the Supreme Court may see fit {
! give the bill. In view of the IN
clination of the court to declar
S that a legislative act says what
e ever the court thinks it ought t
have said, would not venture an
opinion as to the construction like
L 1y to be given to this act.
e There are some other features
, the act that I commented on in
:. letter recently addressed to M
4 Gordon, a member of the 1eg1sla
It ure from Choteau county. "A cor
l. of that letter is herewith inclose
- Personally am of the optnic
y that the expenditures being incu
le red by the Secretary OF State an
le the various county clerks in col
4 nection with the special. e1ectiC
= are illegal and unauthorized, b
10 cause the act under which the e:
penditures are being made Is n
~ vet in force and effect. Any ia:
payer could, in my opinion, bril-
IL a suit to enjoin the holding of q
he special election.
C With personal regards, I rer1a
Sincerely yours,
~ LOUIS p. DONOVAN.