The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1944-06-09
Red Herring Tactics


rather common piece of strategy employed in defeating
social other form of legislation of benefit to the
public but holding threat to the privilege of special in
terests to find fault not with the principle which is IN
voved but by damnng the particular legislative bill at issue
proposing amendments that would nuy the intent and
poses of the
We earnestly recommend to all the readers of The
Voice. the editorial letter carried by the St Louis
PostDispatch on the Missouri River water question
opinion brings out all of the real questions involved dis
the issue in broad terms of the national interests well
as the interests of the various states Immediately concerned
Ever since the proposal for the raising of the Flathead
Lake level brought into the here last there has
been storm of imprisoned political oratory about Estate
rights which has become and sckenng in view OF
the behind the scenes prompting apparent to anyone anal
wing the situation
approve of the proposal to raise the water level of Fhead
Lake and the destruction of homes and farms which would
have enaed We questioned the necessity of the action and
suggested that the potential water power for the generation
of electric already available the Fort Peck DAM be
developed and carried existing transmission lines to the
coast wherever else needed for the effort
1t obvious that the Montana Power Com
the exceenty organized militant drive against the
proposal to raise the level of Fathead Lake It's monopoly
the production and distribution of electric in the state
threatened by the governments plan connection with
raising the lake water level threatened by the proposal
by the also to increase the storage capacity of the
companys Poison dam and It's probable taking over by the
We charitable enough to believe that the
actvaed by for public interests
It's primary sole interest the protection of its monopoly
in the development of power.
There followed psurge of interest in Montana waters
and their utilization The development of the Missouri
became of the subjects for discussion
Again find supporters of the Montana Power Company
the forefront of all activities Following out the old time
but effective strategy eff you can't beat EN- we'll then
ne EN- all of the publicity and indeed apparently all of the
actions bv these organized bodies has been directed toward
delaying action by the federal and stress
laid their belatd recognition of the need for irrigation and
their for Estate rights in connection with the
Missouri River waters to which the the courts had
already claimed all rights and ontending that the state had
all its rights to the river water to the company
Except for the decision of the circuit court of appeals in the
of the Montana Power Company against the Broadwate
farmers and the State Water Conservation Board rendered
later the out the husngs laundering about Estate
rights should have been open enough used
Montana Power Company rights instead their fighting
slogan
We noted that in recent meeting of Montanans Inc. the
state chamber of the according reports
VA in Montana We do not know if the governors
speech correctly reported If it indicates quite
clearly that his pronouncement must have been inspired by
support OF the Montana Power Company monopoly 1t IS true
that in prior speeches. the has stated his position
being that the Missouri should be utilized first
for irrigation but is equally true in so far reports of his
speeches have been made that he has mentioned the
possibility of development of for the benefit of the
people of the state in conjunction with development of the
water for irrigation.
State rights to the waters of the Missouri other
the state should not be overlooked It is equally true that
the state will certainly not be in position to develop these
without federal assistance This finding
any and all government proposals and decaiming about
down to its essential elements leaves large residue of red
herring propaganda which can have no other purposes
attacks efthanded the national administration
and directly intended to confuse the people of the state
We believe that the people of the state want to the
Missouri river waters used for irrigation for public power
Development that provision be made for flood control
heir eventual available for navigation 1t is real
and should be the hope of forwardookng Mon
anan, that have the future "T.V.A with pro-
son for irrigation Let those who talk against that try
the justice of their stand by comparing the rural and
ban conditions in Tennessee with what they were before
he iva.
Let's stop this red herring propaganda Let's get de-
eopment of water for the benefit of all of the
eople of the state Let
public officials find out what they stand for well
hat they "agin'.
Political Enigmas tt