The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-10-05
Explain Things Governor

States senate you people of Montana
PLANTATION since you are their chief executive
You reported among other things to have said in
effect that Thought had Independent press in
Montana far as certain daily newspapers
concerned this statement has rghuy aroused the ire and
nsulted the intelligence of citizens of the state
In campaign for the office of attorney general and
later for justice of the loud in your
condemnation of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company Mon
tana Power political alliance and the activities of the socaled
company PRESS cannot deny this allegation Governor
Furherhore When you were canoldate Tor governor
again protested that the socaed controlled
fighting liberalism in the state You have
indicated from time to time in the past that the company con-
roed the the successful
of Montana Why have you suddenly decided that
some OF the daily newspapers in Montana not now con-
troed by the Anaconda Copper Mining its affiate
when this company such aiates have publicly acknow
edged such ownership or contro Both attorney general
and justice of the court certainly must have known
that corporations required to file annual
ports with the secretary of state well being required to
publish certificates of ownership at stated periods According
these could help but know that the Anaconda
Copper Mining Co.. It's afate have made these reports Tor
the Msoua Mssouan the Butte Montana Standard and Post
the Helena Independent and RecordHerad the Billings Gaz
cite well other in the state Not to knowledge
has the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. made denial of
this ownership We cannot understand why advised and
mnformed the congressional before which you
recently testified Washington c. that the aforementioned
newspapers not controlled owned when
certainly must have known that such statement was
according public records Did you not know Governor
Ford that of the aforementioned newspapers refused to
accept certain political advertising from major political party
during the last campaign?
Furthermore Governor Ford, since being honored
public official in different high offices and places of trust
must have known that the Montana Power Company
ganzed and advanced largely through the efforts of John d.
Ryan and John G. Moroney while both high officials of
the Anaconda Copper Monng Co. You also must be familiar
with the fact that these have lobbyists each
sion of Monana legislature which is consistent with
reported testimony at Washington Unless clarity these
conflicting statements made Washington the people of
Montana have right to demand explanation from you
their highest public servant of nten and motives in
making such allegations before the congressional committee
Probably it is we'll that the of the people of Montana
aroused the spotlight of inquiry be focused upon
the motives behind the various plans for the Missouri
development and your activity relation to the You
have appeared before this committee in Washington more
less of expert of the Missouri valley development
must have famiarized yourself thoroughly
with the three for such development AS chief
ecuve of the state of Montana certainly know the
Reclamaton Bureaus plan since have tried to sell this
plan to the people of Montana by indirectly attacking other
plans Have you advised the people Montana
the Reclamation plan it proposed approximately
and oneha billion kowa hours of electrical energy at
proposed total price of approximately 900 per year
Practically all of the power developed Montana the
proposed Reclamation plan will be sold in Minnesota North
and South Dakota Iowa. Nebraska and Kansas at rate
times of this figure by the private utility distributing
companies.
Did you governor that initial
ing be increased that portion of the cost of irrigation
would be absorbed from the income the sale of such cleo
ticy? Did explain to the committee Washington that
the proposed price under the Reclamation pan of approx
matey onehaf cent kowa hour to the distributors
increased to cent kowa hours the entire cost of the
Missouri Valley Authority Plan with interest could be paid
within the span of normal lifetime and in addition with
cost for irrigation?
Did you also explain Reclamation plan the
cost of irrigation would be almost prohbtve without
assistance through the sale of electricity? Did you explain
that under the MVA large part the of such
irrigation would be absorbed by the sale of such electricity?
Have explained to Montana citizens the commit
Washington that of the Reclamation foered
has been condemned absolutely impractical by the Army
Engineers? Did recommend to the committee at Washing
the adoption of the Army Engineers plan for dam
Ferry rather than the proposed the Reclamation
thereby preventing the flooding of thousands of
Of rich agricultural land? Did protest the flooding of
thousands of of farm land in Sheridan county?
Did explain that the Montana Power Company is a
link chain of companies controlled by New York
trusts? How did reconcile to the committee, Mon
when have srenuously condemned the MVA
of the state losing certain socaed rghts During
testimony before the committee in Washington oppos
ion to the of the MVA BILL did state whose in
you represented in Montana Is the governor
he state of Montana supposed represent all of the citizens
the state at such hearings? did call the attention
the committee the resolutions adopted by organized
abor and farm organizations in Montana which have been
outlined the support of MVA and the opposition the other
What about the other thousands of citizens
Guiding business and professional and women the state
who MVA should not all these also
heard through when before such