The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1943-08-05

. HELENA-Gov. Sam c. For
/, waded into the heated controvers
between the Montana Fur Dealer
q association and DR.. j. S. McFarlant
: state fish and game warden, tn
{ week following a radio address
which he defended McFarland'S in
, tegrity and questioned the legitl
, macy Of the fur dealers organiza
: ton.
Lashing out at the a~sSociatio
"as an organization which pro
!, claims to the world its high aim
and purposes" and then "rusheS t
the rescue and aid OF those admit
tedly in the possession and sale o
illegal skins" Ford warned Montani
sportsmen and citizens against it
well financed" campaign to DIES
troy the fish and game commission
and force DR.. Mcfarland out OF Of
flee.
I'VE are fighting a powerful anc
well organized enemy on the home
lfrcnt." Ford said, IAN enemy pro-
vided with plenty of money and
willing to spend it in order tina,
they may continue to reap a harvest
in dealing in illegal furs.'
His First Statement
1t was the chief executives first
public utterance concerning a dis
pute involving the game warden and
certain fur dealers, which came to
public attention last January, when
the fur dealers group, headed by
Joseph Thiebes of Great Falls,
petitioned state officials for Nc
Farland's removal. The game ward
en- was charged with m~alfeaSance
in office and accused of miShand-
ling state funds in selling confiS-
Gated furs in Seattle rather than
Montana.
The petition, although dismissed
by the state fish and game conf
mission after a lengthy hearing in
volving the testimony of more than
so witnesses. brought to light the
association was sponsoring and de-
those who have been con-
of illegal possession and sale
of skins" Ford declared.
Since the dismissal of the petit
ton, five suits have been filed
Mcfarland, n by the fur
rierS' association and four by in
iividuals. asking damages in ex-
.ent of $4,000. Others will be
lied, probably a number of them,
Ford said.
Aimed at Mcfarland
Unfortunately. under the laws
If this state, when a public Of
icial is sued as an individual, he
must defend the action at his own
Expense. 1t is manifestly expected
hat by this method, by forcing Nc
'arland to defend numerous law
uits out of his WI funds, they
ill compel him to resign
The fur dealers" Ford said, will
ell you a racket does not exist;
bat due to federal regulations, il
,gal furs cannot find their way in
} legitimate trade channels. This
definitely not tr,e.
THE fact that the fish and game I
apartment confiscated more than
900 skins from June. 1941 to Oc-
)ber, 1912, certainly refutes their t
{
He explained the actions of James t
-erow, a central figure in the &C
brought by the furriers' as /
and in some of the suits {
ow pending against Mcfarland, ,
5 an investigator sent to Montana I
Y the United States fish and Wild !
fe service to investigate and Sc
IRE evidence against violators OF {
tate fish and game laws.
Disclosed Racket" =
Gerow's Investigations disclosed I
nj =. .lnn oh h1n nVrTdnnnnh that n I
ell organized and large beaver 1
lcket exists in Montana and proved
lat there has been great econ I
mic loss to the state. Ford said. s
Gercw made a number of "hot
II" purchases and from the evil
ence he secured, II persons were I
,nv.cted Of illegal possession and t
lie of skins and fined a total of {
$50. Ford said. .
Skins c~onfiscated could not be \
Id at true value at Montana auc- S
ons, and Mcfarland. upon the adj I
ce of the attorney general, mar
tied them in Seattle for a total \
1t gain of 500 over the best bid I
fered in Montana. he said. =
LAS was expected, a great cry |
ent up from the fur dealers of a
.ontana, and especially those pro- S
ting from the fur racket" the
overnor said. "A well financed c
lmpaign was undertaken, and =
has been left undone to /
'complish their purpose" !
DR.. Mcfarland is not going to -.
forced out of office if the gov l
nor of this state can prevent it," a
: declared. I'VE recognize the fact
the fur dealers have a substan- |
al sum of money to be used for the 9
lrposes indicated, but we are con- :
need the people Of Montana are
1t going to support them in their
.mpaign."
Appeals to Sportsmen .
IF DR.. Mcfarland and the fish /
Id game commission are destroyed f
zen we can look to the racketeers n
run the department as they see v