The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1921-05-13

60 Per Centers Will Lose Al Election June 18Th Electon
Returns Give, Much Encop1asement n to Progressives
Throughout the Whole Nation. #4E1 ~

NA1An4Cd3Ol1S, 4A4M1&C6O~1s~---SAIy FL
mary election returns showing that ex-
mayor Thomas Van Lear has larg-
er~ vote than his two reactionary OPP
ponents combined, is an important
victory for the Working Peoples Non
partisan League sf59,s.~,
With only precincts missing the
total vote stands: rs.
Thomas Van Lear Tabor can,
George E. Leach utility candi-
date) Recommendations
T. j. Colwell (Ind. conserve
Edward Maurier (Socialist):.--..- 575
D. B. Rested independently --.- 1868
In order to beat, the labor candidate
the utility and other special interest
crowd, imported Colonel George E.
Leach from Hopkins, Mimi, and
nominated him by party convention
contrary to state law.
It was expected that since Leach
had never had any connection with
the city, the people might be fooled
into thinking he was not representing
the politicians who put the recent no
torious utility bill through the state
legislature. Also his military career
was counted on in influencing those
moved by fake loyalty issues, but h
was not popular with the returned
soldiers themselves. .
This removal from the contest OF
anyone directly responsible for taking
away home rule in the, matter OF
utility services and this desperate at
tempt to use the uniform, makes. the
Van Lear victory the stronger.
HOME RULE THE ISSUE
Van Lear's campaign centered
chiefly on the issue that the city gov
ernment should represent the people
of the city rather than the utility
companies as it>has since he lost the
last election on the alleged loyalty is.
sue. He pledged himself to see that
the street car companies returned t<
the cents fare basis or to license jit'
ney busses to compete with it.
Another issue was impatiality OF
the city government in scontroversie:
between capitalists and labor.
Still another was the well known
alliance between the special interest:
and the underworld as q means o.
keeping political power over the plai1
people. The underworld was flourish
ing with police unable to find it unit
the Daily Star exposed conditions.
WOMEN GET ''WISE"
One of the noticeable features Q.
thelectioh was the change jim the senti
iment of the women voters since theil
first experiences last fall. At tha
time large numbers Of working WON
len and wives Of working men follow
ed the kept press and the soclet!
women's advice. In this primary
women in the working peoples ward
voted as strongly for Van Lear as dit
the men. And the percentage OF pro
pressiye vote in the silk stocking
wards was much higher than las
fall. I'm
,Workinefnen's wards gave Val
Lear votes as high as 6. to l owe
Leach: the best Leach ward wa
about 3 to, l.
By working hard between now am
the election on June is, the progres
sive people Of Minneapolis win b
able to duplicate the victory in Dul
nth two months 4go.
The Van Lear vote. is great en-
lcouragement to progressives through
out the country. It will be taken q
indicating the reaetioH from the art'
fetal war sentiment which has pu
special privilege II ecntFo} as neve
|before in our history. ~