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REGISTRATION LIST RENOVATION HAS BEEN STARTED
Destruction of voter registration lists under terms of an act of the 1937 legislative assembly was started Tuesday by County Clerk E. H. Carr and reregistration of voters in Cascade County was commenced simultaneously. Under the law, the county clerks and recorders have until June 5 in which to destroy the old records except the so called “great register” The registration lists and cards are being destroyed …
Great Falls Tribune June 2, 1937 p. 2, col. 4
COUNTY REGISTRATIONLIST DESTRUCTION IS COMPLETED
Only Obsolete ‘Great Register’ Is Retained:
Clerks and Recorders in Other Counties
Have Until June 5 to Finish Task
Destruction of the Cascade county registration records was completed Wednesday, thereby nullifying signatures obtained on referendum petitions now in circulation but not checked, it was learned Wednesday from county officials and attorneys. Re-registration of the voters is now proceeding.
The destruction of the records was authorized by an act of the last legislative assembly, but the destruction work was more complete than was initially indicated. Some county clerks and recorders in Montana have not commenced the destruction work as the law provides that this may be done between June 1 and 5 and a few clerks and recorders have been restrained from carrying out the destruction work due to the institution of legal proceedings.
In Cascade County, however, the destruction work has for all intents and purposes been completed. Under opinions clerks were advised that they might keep the so-called “great register” of voters.
Retention of this register here has no significance, it was learned, as the “great register” has not been kept since 1911. In July of that year the policy of having registration cards was placed in effect and no further attempt was made to keep up the “great register”. This fact, it was further explained, means that all registration records since 1911 have been destroyed. This includes the registration cards, poll and voting books including those used at the last general election and other materials.
At the time of the destruction of the records here and in a few other counties, petitions were being circulated to submit two measures passed by the 1937 legislature before the voters at the next election. The measures were so-called SB 65, which gave the governor wider powers and permitted removal of employees of state and SB 71 which relates to the Montana liquor control board.
Signatures on the petitions, which have not been checked, cannot be checked now as the registration records have been destroyed, it was stated. This in effect nullifies the circulation of the unchecked petitions and will also render the movements to submit the measures to the voters ineffective as little probability exists of sufficient signatures being obtained and verified before the time of filing of referendum measures expires.
The latter fact is indicated by the present registration in Cascade County, whereas on the morning of June 1 there were more than 18,000 voters.
Great Falls Tribune, June 3, 1937. p. 7
I had been told that a judge was responsible for the destruction of the missing records.
Here is the rest of that story
GRAND JURY CHARGED BY BUTTE JUDGE
Gambling, Election Practices, Narcotics to be Probed; May Last 30 Days
BUTTE, March 2—(AP)—A far reaching probe into conditions in Silver Bow county was ordered by District Judge J. J. Lynch in his charge to a county grand jury Tuesday morning.
Included in the matters which the jurors are directed to investigate are election irregularities, gambling and sales of narcotics and liquor to minors. The court particularly directed the jurors’ attention to the section of the gambling statute which relates to collection by officers of “protection money.”
As an indication of the extent of the investigation, County Attorney John K. Claxton reported to the court that the grand jury session would continue for not less than 30 days.
The grand jury session was called by Judge Lynch last Thursday. The investigation into election irregularities arises out of the contest for the district judgeship between Judge Lynch and Frank Riley, in which Judge Lynch was declared the winner after a recount had been ordered in a hearing before District Frank P. Leiper, presiding judge.
Great Falls Tribune – March 3, 1937 p. 5, col. 6.
BUTTE GRAND JURY DISMISSED ON 74th DAY; NONE INDICTED
Butte , May 15—(UP)—Silver Bow’s first Grand Jury in 20 years was discharged today by District Court Judge J. J. Lynch without returning a single indictment. The jury, impaneled on March 4 to investigate alleged election frauds, gambling, liquor and other vices was dismissed on the ground “that sufficient amount of time had been expended to gather evidence,” Judge Lynch’s order said. The jury had been in session 74 days.
Great Falls Tribune-May 16, 1937 p. 6, col. 5
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