Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-03-01
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~BRASS TACKS''
JACK BENNETT

postmaster, there Will De no dlSap-
pointment. That is exactly what
we intend to dor rather attempt
to do. 1t Is one of those times
when WI should like to have our
thoughts expressed by someone
more able than ourselves In the
handling OF words.
postmaster of Plen&ywood after
rounding out a period Of almost
IL years OF continuous service In
that position. His term would
have expired next June, and, with
no employment in sight at the ex-
piration OF his term, naturally when
an opportunity came to accept a
remunerative position with the
State Relief Commission, he took
advantage of 1t. He asked to be
relieved Immediately and had hoped
TO be checked out by the first OF
March. That his service as post
master was satisfactory, one need
only to point to the fact that when
political and personal enemies
sought to have him removed some
hoLtA5 d6ot allCi a liS1u lufCStlkA-
ton OF all complaints, he was given
the unqualified endorsement Of two
special inspectors sent here by
the postoffice department. Further
more, when 1t was known his term
was about to end, many of his
friends expressed the desire to
circulate petitions seeking reap
pointment. To this Jack would
never listen, preterring to be gov
erned entirely by the theory, ito
the victor belongs the spells.
But. It Is not OF the service given
as postmaster that we would espe-
cially take notice. That was a Job.
He was paid for the good service.
Nothing less was expected. But for
his work as chairman, first of the
Emergency Relief in this county,
and later OF CWA, work for which
he received no compensation what
ever, but was shoWered with un
told personal abuse, we want to
add our personal tribute.
We happen to know that this
vas an assignment which Mr..
Bennett never sought. 1t came to
him merely by chance. when a De-
mocratic Governor asked III he
would recommend a treasurer to |
receive the first check for emer-
gency relief, see that 1t was depos-
tied. and get distribution started
among the needy and deserving
people Of the county. Later he was
asked to accept the county chair
ma4ship. Never Sinking in a re-
spohsibility for community ser
vice, be accepted, and from thar
day until this has directed the work
In a manner which has earned the
respect OF the community and the
appreciative recognition OF his SUI
periors.
Perhaps In the administration OF
relief or Civil Works, Jack Bennett
has made mistakes. We would not
challenge such a statement. Per
chance some other person might
have occupied the position who
would have made fewer errors. But
no man could have served his tel
lowmen honestly, more cour-
ageously, more sincerely. Nor
could anyone have given more gen
erously OF his time. Mr.. Bennett
expected a lot OF grief when he
agreed to undertake the relief
work. He got 1t. He expected In
gratitude, and was not disappoint-
ed. He expected, too. once the
task was undertaken. to stick to 1T.
Subjected to the most abusive
treatment one could imagine, and
even in the face of threats upon
his life, he refused to listen to ex-
hontations OF his friends to "chuck
the works" Jack Bennett was
never known as a gutter. In
daunted, he remained at his post.
Last week the paper that is seek
ing SIS, 900 OF farmers money to
substitute a radical propaganda
sheet somewhere In the East, at
tempted to make capital OF Mr..
BENEFITS resignation by printing
article under a Helena" date
line which very obviously was writ
ten in the Producers News office.
Although the editor OF the News,
with all the CONSERVATION In his
own bailiworks-a deposed editor
seeking to regain his seat, stove
pokers blandishing over the heads
OF u~nsuspecting henchmen, unpaid
printers resigning, taxes and bills
piIing UP against the tottering
with big Bill expected to
a lifeline to the sinking crew
to save 1t from crashing the
rocks OF financial disaster-undel
such circumstances, we say, no edL-
tor could hardly be blamed fol
making slight mistakes. But, to
think our contemporary would fea-
ture a story around the fact that
Jack Bennett had "been forced to
resign" as the head OF CWA and
seek to glorify itself Tor prompting
such action, is so ludicrous that
such comment a only serve ITO {
bring a most favorable reaction to
Mr.. Bennett personally. The fact 1
of the matter Is that Bennett has /
not resigned as chairman OF CWA {
at the time the story raj printed, {
nor has he resigned at this writing |
stForced to resign?r Yet, after