Celebrating History: Political sparring and war pricing

By Emily Mayer

The barbs continued back and forth between the Havre and Hill County newspapers 100 years ago, particularly between The Havre Plaindealer and the Havre Daily Promoter. “Daily except Mondays” as the Plaindealer snidely reminded its readers. The two issues between the rival newspapers were the same as had been for weeks — the Border Saloon raid and the split of the county Republican party.

Of the latter, in the Plaindealer’s Oct. 26, 1918, edition, it contends strife within the Republican party but the other two Havre papers, the Promoter and the Hill County Democrat, carried columns titled “Mr. Farmer and Common People” advising their readers “not to take the revelations too seriously” and supported the Non-Partisan League causes, namely the election of Dr. Lanstrum for the U.S. Senate and C. R. Stranahan for Hill County attorney, as well as all other Republican candidates, which is hardly non-partisan.

Lanstrum was up against Jeannette Rankin, who decided to run for U.S. Senate after being elected the first woman to the U.S. House of Representatives two years earlier. The newspapers had sharp eyes on each other, with the Plaindealer printing:

This week, a member of the Havre Daily Promoter staff was seen lugging large quantities of Jeannette literature from the same office, where now republicanism seems to burn brightly. Apparently the literature had been taken to this office under the impression that its distribution would be handled from there and whether the incident represents misapprehension in sending it there originally or a change in policy is not announced. In any case it is hard on Jeannette…The Havre Daily Promoter now comes out again in advocacy of the N. P. L. although admitting the presence therein of some weak sisters. This is doubtless true, though ungallant, but as Jeannette’s is the only feminine name appearing the reason for the plural is not apparent.

Of the former, Assistant State Attorney General A. A. Grorud couldn’t catch a break in Hill County. The Plaindealer ran a long story about the recent trial of Grorud and the botched Border Saloon raid. In part, it read:

GRORUD IS CONVICTED AND FINED HUNDRED

Is Case Embarrassing the Stranahan Campaign

By a unanimous verdict of the jury in Judge Pyper’s court, A. A. Frorud, assistant state attorney general, was convicted, Thursday, of unlawful seizure and detention of property and on Friday, Judge Pyper imposed a fine of $100.00. Mr. Grorud, at the time of the Border Saloon raid, it was claimed by the state, overstepped his authority by breaking into a storehouse near the Border Saloon and taking charge of a stock of liquor there, belonging to C. W. Young. The state also contended that in appointing and arming men as deputy sheriffs, Mr. Grorud acted without any authority.

The article went on to state that then-Attorney General Sam Ford directed then-Hill County Attorney Victor Griggs to dismiss the case, which he did not. Grorud then tried to dismiss his very own case, acting as special counsel. This, too, failed. Of course, the Plaindealer took another swipe at the Promoter, stating:

A distorted, and apparently inspired, account of the case, appeared in the Havre Daily Promoter, Friday, with serious statements, absolutely contrary to the facts and records in the case. In a statement attributed to Mr. Stranahan, it is said that, the case had been framed by the county attorney…The suggestion of personal irritation with a situation so annoying from a political viewpoint is rejected as inadequate.

While all of this was being slugged out, there was a candidate, I think, of interest. Mrs. R. X. Lewis, wife of the former owner of the Plaindealer and Promoter who had died in September of 1916, decided to throw her hat in the ring and run for Hill County Clerk and Recorder. Her ad asked “Why Not a Woman for County Clerk and Recorder.” She was running as a Republican, had three years of experience as City Clerk, and declared “The Government is calling upon Women to fill responsible positions.”

Of course, all this intrigue will be followed up in coming weeks.

Regarding war news, the local price regulating committee met to set prices on everything from flour to beans, vegetables, meats and corn syrup. A long list of young men called to the draft was published, notifying Hill County it would be sending more boys “over there” to fight The Great War. A large ad containing 12 General Orders from Montana State Food Administrator Alfred Atkinson for “Public Eating Houses” was published, ranging from how much bread they could serve patrons, how much butter could be offered, and how much sugar could be used in their foods.