The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1948-09-17
Stop Dirt Throwing

If the first so-caed campaign material to make its appear
indicates the pattern of political struggle
ing may look for propaganda which
must sicken any decent, thinking voter.
Some of the candidates the Democratic ticket today
Wednesday received through the mall printed propaganda
letter attacking them This letter. without identifying
marks signature marks low in unsubstantiaed efforts
dcred present public by anonymous person
persons, lacking the to fight in the
Apparently this letter mailed by of
the state offices and those received indicated that the party
parties mailing them did not hesitate to violate
by using stamps purchased by the state for official the
Stamps perforated with the letter I'M which required
BY law
The ones attacked the letter were Senator James E.
Murray John Bonner candidate for governor Mitchell
secretary of state and John Holmes, state auditor
Since neither of the candidates for election
and public service commission the candidates for attorney
general superintendent of public
the secretary of auditor
other elective officers that the letter. mailed
postage stamps issued from of the offices
agency appointed by the
Everyone with whom this letter discussed today by
the writer charitable enough include the
governors office in the list of those who might be suspected
of having had something do with sending this
letter using State OF Montana stamps to mail them However
there responsibility that the governors office cannot
evade in this circumstance and that every avail
able facility the respon
sbe Tor sending this letter out at the expense OF the State
Montana The of the moral tone obtaining there
will be determined by how and successful the
investigation launched by the governor will be.
I first inclined think that the letter had been
by the Republican State Central Committee after
talking secretary organizations
whose integrity high regard though frequently
disagree opinions convinced that it did not
nate there Moreover has all the earmarks of typical
smart Aleck who thought he had conceived idea in
propaganda. And he wasn't smart enough know that
would be scrunzed closely enough to disclose that stamps
purchased and paid for by the State Of Montana We're
do certainly consider the duty Of the officials the Repub
can State Central Committee cooperate in exposing the
employee responsible for this breach of the
though the may been help Repub-
lean candidates.
The attack the letter John Holmes, is, possible
vruent than the attacks the other highly reputable
candidates the Democratic ticket and while have not
personally of material reported being used
by E. Mo- Republican candidate against Holiness is said
charges duty by
meetings of the Industrial Accident Board of which
he member In this connection may | relate that
Monday of this week, Mr. Holmes whom interviewing
matters cut the interview short he stated
time for him the regular Monday meeting of the In
dustria Accident Board Mr. Holmes did to the building
which houses the board and told then and then only
that Mr.. Clements of town there would be
meeting
Since pattern of dirty campaign to have been
is likely that there be retaatory taken
attacked. Should this transpre, and hope this
campaigning established have
publicity which Mr. Mo would not
care to have distributed. And it may not be.
that those attacked in this letter have intended to
campaign Not of them has failed in his
service people the the offices held by them
Their records known They have nothing to hide.
hope that the Republican candidates will not demean
themselves by condonng such things this letter and the
which distributed Anyone who does that
worthy confidence of the people of the state
H S. BRUCE