The Sidney herald., 1963-05-08
County Committeeman
Question Funds for Meetings

State Asses Committee and
State Executive Director
Montana State Asses
Montana
Dear Gentlemen and
Mrs. Herak:
This letter is being written
in our official capacities as
Government Employees con-
nected with the administration
of Federal Farm Programs at
the County Office level. 1t is
realized that action of this ma
ture has broad legal signifi-
canoe. This aspect of the prob
lem is beyond our comprehen-
sion and ability to cope with,
therefore we feel that it is our
official duty to inform people
in responsible positions of the
following situation in the hope
that these persons will be able
to bring about the correct Solu-
ton to the problem.
On Tuesday, April 16, 1868,
during a Regular Meeting of
he County Committee with
the following persons present:
Chairman, E. R. Meriman;
Vice-Chairman, Harold Meiss-
ner; Regular Member, Milo
Hilstad; State office Emplo-
zee, Harry Pipal and Office
Manager, Francis Kelly; in
structions were given by the
Farmer Fieldman to the County
Office Officials to carry out
certain activities that would
tend to influence a Eyes" vote
in the forthcoming Referen-
dunn.
These instructions were, in
breif:
1. The County Committee
was to select and contact four
local farmers who favor a yes
vote to serve as promotional
men between now and the Ref
erendum day. 1t was our I'M
d~erstanding that these people
would work with the newly
formed Wheat Commission in
disseminating material on the
Wheat Referendum.
2. The County Officials were
informed that a fund slightly
in excess of 100000 had been
made available and was ear
marked for use in McCone
County to promote a Eyes"
vote. 1t was suggested that this
money be used in the follow
ing manner-Hold three meet
ingS with the Community Com
mittee to discuss and encourage
a "yeS" vote. 1t was suggested
that one of these meetings be
held in the evening with a spot
luck" dinner where the wives
would be present and County
Office Officials could "socialize'
with Community Committee
men and their wives for the
purpose of encouraging con-
versation on ways to get out a
yes vote.
3. 1t was suggested that the
County Committee provide a
Poll Watcher at each Com
munity Polling Place. The func-
ton of this Individual would
be to appraise the people who
are voting and should it come
to his attention that certain
farmers who are known to IA
vor a eyes" vote have neglected
to appear. he is to contact the
farmer and encourage him to
come to the poll and cast his
ballot. This so called "poll
watcher could be one of the
! Referendum Committeeman or
it could be another individual
should it happen that, in the
discrimination of the County
Committee, the three Referen-
dunn Committeeman would not
take favorably to a suggestion
of this nature.
1t is needless to say that the
County Office Personnel are
strictly prohibited from carry
ing out activities Of this nature.
In addition to being instructed
to carry out restricted activities
there is also the question Of
misuse of Public funds. We re-
fer not only to the approxima-
tely 100000, but also to the
apparent misuse of administra-
tive funds by the use of federal
ly employed persons to dissemin
ate information that influence
the outcome of the Referendum
and the preparation of printed
material of a biased nature.
There are two other recent
J developments which affect