The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-12-03
Governor Ford
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in the district judges, not in the gov
ernor.
I am unalterably opposed to the
Hitler Bill' and urged the last legis.
lature to repeal it. While it was not
repealed, you are hardly fair when you
say that l have taken full advantage
of this law The fact is, as you
know, l have not used the Hitler
law in a single instance, and what
is more, | do not intend to.
The charge that l am controlled
from the sixth floor of the Hennessy
block and that some insurance men
also had hand in making suggestions
out any foundation whatever, and in
your heart you know it is not true.
Ed, in your anger you have merely
adopted the practice so long INDUCED
in in Montana: when one disagrees
with public officer, that officer is
called company tool" or "stooge,"
or "stool-pigeon." l am really sur
prised and terribly disappointed that
you should stoop to that practice.
For your information l want to say
most emphatically that neither the
company nor it's officers, or agents,
or employees, or 'stooges," or stool
pigeons" have attempted either direct
ly or indirectly to name any of the
officers appointed by me and no sug-
gestions of policy or any matter af-
fecting state affairs have come from
that source. The same can be said of
the insurance men.
You will recall that in every speech
made during the campaign l prom
ised the people of the state that if
elected, no man, group of men, COM
pany or corporation would dictate to-
or control me. l have kept that
promise. l am sorry you did not be-
lieve me or felt that you were not
included in the category mentioned
You say that you know full we'll
that great deal of pressure was be-
ing brought on you to keep you from
making or conceding to my appoint
ment." You are in error in this state
ment You should be interested to
know that no pressure, directly or in
vent your appointment.
l am glad you approve the appoint
ment Of Mr.. Bert Kathan as member
of the commission. AS expressed in
your letter of November %, he will
prove valuable member Of that body
Again l want to impress on you that
no pressure has been put on me with
reference to the highway department
except by you. You stand alone in
that respect.
Further, responsibility for the prop
err conduct of the affairs of that de-
partment has been placed in the
hands of the commission. All ap-
pointments have been made by Mr..
Holmes, with the approval of the com
This information could
easily have been obtained by you, had
you conferred with Mr. Holmes or
any member of the commission.
If you wanted to be fair, it seems |
to me that rather than condemning
me on rumor and gossip, you would |
have made some effort to determine |
the facts.
am truly sorry that you have seen
tit to take the position you have.
have enjoyed your friendship for
many years and it grieves me to lose
hat friendship.
| appointed you to the commission
because | know you are honest, ener-
setic, and deeply interested in our
highways but your statements to me
md many others left no doubt that Il
you would not serve unless you could
control the commission and dictate it's
policies. This, in my opinion, would
,e wrong and in view of these facts
am grateful that you did not accept
he appointment
My sole desire is to give to the
tate and all of its people an honest, II
and economical government.
shall at all times welcome your adj
ice and counsel but l cannot permit /
'ou or anyone else to dictate ap-
ointments or control my official ac-
ions.
I do not claim to be perfect. iii
ave made mistakes and will, during L
ny term of office, make many more,
ut it is my sincere hope that my
cal friends will be generous enough
D believe those are mistakes of the
na6 apd NOT of tho baort
With kindest regards and every
God wish, | am
Sincerely yours,
SAM G. FORD.