The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-11-16
OPPONENTS OF
MVA EXPOSED
I'm YOUNG CASE

With the disclosure of attempts to
induce the ST. Louis chamber of COM
MERGE to repeal its referendum vote ia
voring MVA and to pressure North Da-
kota Sen. Milton r. Young into taking
a stand opposed to MVA, further light
was thrown last week on the activi-
ties of John B. Quinn, anti-MVA I'M
dercover agent.
Quinn, in letter to members of the
Missouri Valley Development associa-
ton, which he organized last February
to oppose MVA, wrote that he spent a
week in St Louis but did not work
through the usual channels" He sug-
gested to Walter Head, a director of
the st. Louis G. of G. that the bust
ness group reconsider the action by
which it voted for MVA, 776 to 700,
and vote again on the proposal of
whether or not it would favor an
MVA Quinn said that Head told him
he would examine the possibility of
having the directors present the issue
again to the members for reconsidera-
ton"
Quinn summarized his activities. "In
six days the groundwork for a change
in the chamber of commerce resolution
on the MVA was established; the leg
islative comittee will investigate and
compare the Pick-Sloan plan with the
proposed MVA; numerous civic and
business leaders are willing to assist
financially and give personal efforts to
the end that an educational campaign
would be carried on in St Louis prop
err"
Quinn contended that the favorable
vote resulted from the facts that
"MVA forces were active while forces
representing our side of the issue
were inactive; many of the members
who would have voted on our side of
the issue failed to vote; there is gen.
eral lack of information on the over
all subject"
Actually, at the time of the vote,
forces representing both sides were ac-
tive both in speaking throughout the
community and distributing literature.
General information has been present |
ed in St. Louis throughout the year,
with all three metropolitan newspa- |
pers devoting considerable space to
the subject of regional development in
their news and editorial columns.
In the wage of Quinn's activities,
President George c. Smith of the
chamber of commerce told reporters
that he regarded the results of the
poll as "inconclusive" and that the or
ganization would take no part in pro-
MVA activity despite the affirmative
vote of the membership.
The st. Louis Post-Dispatch conclud-
ed editorially: "The facts are plain
enough-that the rank and file favors
MVA and handful of officers doesn't;
and that the fe wwho have the reins
in their hands are frustrating the will
of those they purport to represent, on
the dubious grounds that majority
vote only works sometimes, when the
vote goes your way"
Left Erickson of Helena, Mont,
chairman of the regional committee
for MVA, exposed Quinn's role in eff
forts to get Senator Young of North
CohOteb " tame d oldlu dSdlUSI VIVA. III
Erickson showed newspaper correspon-
dents letter written to Quinn by r. II
Fl. Barry of Fargo, N. D., former Sec II
'etary of the local chamber of COM II
nerce, in which Barry told of badger II
ng Young and other senators for II
commitments on a recent
hunting trip. II
Barry wrote of Senator Young, who III
las since come out for MVA, that III
Milt Young thinks straight enough II
N the authority issue, but it is a pref II
y awkward matter for him to take a HI
tand on for certain reasons which I III
will explain at some later date" He III
dded, when the chips are down, I III
m reasonably confident that he can III
Q depended upon to vote straight"
Senator Young told a reporter for III
le Post-Dispatch, when this fellow II
AIRY came around and wanted to poll HI
lie members of the party, it made me II
ad. l didn't want him to spoil the III
hitting trip" Young said Barry was I'LL