The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1952-08-29
Speaks Out in Defense of
Rep. Dry Armstrong
The Peoples Voice,
Helena Montana


The Peoples Voice,
Helena, Montana
In recent issue of your paper you
had an article in which your Flathead
correspondent rated our Republican
Representative, Dry j.. Armstrong, as
almost one hundred per cent (100%)
antilabor We cannot buy that opin-
ion due to our own personal experience
and the help we have received from
DRY J. Armstrong.
Mr. Armstrong has on two separate
occasions interviewed in our behalf with
results being in favor of the laborer.
The first time he helped us was in
an attachment case we had at Cut
Bank, Montana. One of Cut Banks
loading attorneys deceived us for year
telling Mr.. Hamilton he had attached
some gas wells for wages we had COM
ing. We noticed in the paper that the
gas wells were returned to the land
owner and upon checking at h
courthouse found that there never had
been an attachment filed We then con-
frOnted the attorney with this and he
said he didn't know what he could have
been thinking of to tell us what he had
and that we would just have to find
else to attach (not think
ing we could). We then placed an at
tachment on some tools which in turn
this same attorney allowed to be re-
moved from the properties without the
case being settled. We appealed to our
present Attorney Genral Olson about
this and / have a letter in which he
refused to do a thing about the case
We then wrote Dry j. Armstrong hav-
ing a letter in reply in two days. He
assured us that he was turning the case
over to the House Investigating Com
mittee. In about a week we had a let
ter from the attorney in Cut Bank ask
ing us to settle the case out of court.
Had it not been for Mr.. Dry Arm
strong, 1 doubt if we would have our
wages to this day.
The second instance in which Dry ].
helped us happened not
ong ago.
Mr. Hamilton was injured at Santa
Rita, Montana on February 81, 1850.
There is a long interval in which we
we're involved with another Cut Bank
attorney, who also deceived us and 1
rave a letter to prove what I say, the
Montana Industrial Accident Board, |
md finally one of KalispelPs legal law
firms.
The Kalispell attorney told us upon
,ur visit to their office with our
roubles that it would be necessary |
o sign a power of attorney with their |
irm or the Montana Industrial Acct |
lent BOARD WOulu just IGNORE their let
ers. Mr.. Hamilton signed the same
With the verbal agreement that if no
satisfactory settlement was reached it |
vas to cost him nothing A hearing |
vas held in Kalispell in July 1851, at |
which time there was nothing agreed |
pom. We trudged to Kalispell almost |
weekly until in November we were !
thoroughly Disguised with what prog
ess was being made and asked for a
elease from the attorney. The attorney
allied the Industrial Accidnt Board
hartman and told him that their firm
ras no longer representing Mr.. Hamil-
On and to send any further correspond
nee to Mr.. Hamilton.
on December 6, 1851, Mr.. Hamilton
emit the Board a registered letter adj
Using them that said law firm was
OF authorized to act for us in any ca
acity Then on February 10, 1852,
e asked that all his back compensa-
ion be brought up to date a sum of
g 093.76. During all this time after
skiing for the release our local edi-
Or, Mr.. Ruder, Hungry Horse News,
ras writing the Governor, Attorney
eneral, and Industrial Accident Board
nd we have not the slightest doubt
hat it was through Mr.. Ruders per-
istance that a check was finally is
ued for the back compensation and
emit to Rodger Baldwin, Attorney at {
aw, Kalispell, Montana.
Mr.. Baldwin, asked a fee Of $1,000
hitch we felt was not in accordance !
18th our agreement with him and we
eclined to pay him.
We made an appointment with Dry
Armstrong in Kalispell and after
nowing him proof of what had hap
ened, Mr.. Armstrong told us he would
IKE the matter up with the Montana
ccident Board. Mr.. Dry j. Armstrong
lso advised us to contact the local la
or union.
In short order Rodger Baldwin called
meeting at which Robert Weller,
lumber and Sawmill Workers Union,
arl Rydberg, Hold Carriers Union, Mel
uder, Hungry Horse News, Harold
NTH, our present attorney, and our
elves were present. The fee was cut I
)nsiderable from the amount first
sked.
Had it not been for Dry j. Arm
rongs interest and advice and the {
clip the local union officials and edi- {
,r of our paper extended to us we
|