The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-10-06
No National
Issues Seen
In Montana
BY DAVID LAwEENCE
(CopHr!gh; by The In;ellgencer)

Il
III (Copyr.gh; by The In;eIi!Sencer)
Helena. Mon. Oct 5.-Politics in
Montana, As IN Iowa. Wisconsin and
North Dakota. Is topsy-turvy. Persons
and not parttes-are dom nant There
are no national issues.
Whether man labeled Republican
or another labeled Democrat goes TO
the United States senate turns ont
state issues and here rs IN North Da-
hots. the Democratic candidate is a
conSery acive while the man who won
the Republican primaries is tied up WIKI
ahe radical elements to such an extent
tina, old line Republicans will be found
supporting the Democratic ticket in
large numbers.
Speaking Of persons instead Of par
tiles. Governor Joseph Dixon is respon-
Sihle for the upheaval in Montana. lie
will be remembered as having repre-
scented this state in the United states
senate and as one Of the original in
sursents who managed Colonel RoS"
Nel,'s pvc-convention fight for the pres
two years ago on the regular Republican
ticket. lie won many pcmocrauc N"t'
ers because he was considered CON
,servative a. compared with Il. n.
Wheeler. former United states attor-
pey. who with the help ofthe N"n-Par-
lisan League, became the Democratic
nominee for governor.
Al to 1adicalism.
Today Mr.. Wheeler IS running for
the United States senate and the old
l,ne Democrats are behind him. Al
though ne bad a background Of radical
ism to overcome. he sat down with
the regular DemoNSat!s organization
and q platform was formulated whicn
Is eminently satisfactory not only %
conservative Democrats but conserta'
hive Republicans. This. II because the
democrats have aimed their platform
AT Governor Dixons radical taxation
ipolicies which. so far as conservatives
are CONCERNED. stamp Mr.. DfSSn as more
u bt a radical than they thought MI
wheeler ever could be. =.
The fight here Is really pro-DiSon or
,anti-pIron. The governor has made up
his mind to levy heavy taxes on the
mining industry and ia attempting 10
liustifv II on .hc ground OF increased
,ar.o. IN running The state. The
Nc
democrats arc shouting economy OF en-
pcnditure and relief from burdens"We
taxation. In order 10 hit at Dixon who
Us campaigning encrget!callr 10 get "
ls,atc legislature elected friendly to MS
ipolicics, many Republicans VIII Not,
flor democratic candidates right down
1.-THE line. with one or two EXCEPTIONS
Former Congressman Evans. Democrat.
rs one OF the exceptions. He has en-
horsed the tax program OF Repuohcail
Governor Dixon.
To add 10 the confusion, j. ". An
derson. who polled about lo.0On votes
out OF 10000 In the Republican pri-
Anaries for United States senator pure
~ on the dlatform Of dissatisfaction
with the Harding administration. has
carried his antlpathy to President Haro-
Ing SO far as TO announce that ne VIII
support B. X. Wheeler. the Democratic
nominec for the senate.
The Senate Plight.
Carl Riddick. the Republican nominee
Nor the senate. was 4 minority choice
i'm the primaries While he came from
the ultra radical group ard was MEM
ibrr Of the Non Partisan League. hf
noses as a conservative and the friend
of President Harding. Governor piN"-
IS quietly keeping out OF the senatorial
figh, but the expectation is that he ana
Riddick will soncr or later get to-
gcthcr.
Mr. whecler'S chances 0t victory '~e
entirely in coalition oS Democrats ot
both progressive and conservative IN
Clination.
Regular Republicans and all those
who will vote for state candidates VINO
arc opposed 10 tho Dixon TAX program.
the Republican nomination in half tae
humber OF legislative districts.
Much Scratching.
Here as In North Dakota. the voter
vii have 20 do a good deal Of scratch
ing 10 accomplish his purpose Instead
oF voting for or against the Non-Paru-
san League. as was the case tw" years
ago. the efror; Is TO support or destroy
Dixonism. Governor Divon has built up
ouite a powerful machine. not unlike
that OF I.afollctte in Wisconsin and
hiram Johnson in California. II IS
supposed he wants TO g. back 10 the
United states senate two years hence
when Senator Walsh. Democrat. will
n. up for reelection. Although the Ee-
nuhl!cans pollcd 10000 votes and the
democrats only half that number in the
recent primaries. there is a divided
opinion as 10 the meaning Of the result.
Some hold the view that the overwhclm
!ngly Republican administration will
mean the election Of R!ddiCk. Republt-
can. as United States senator by a COM
Portable margin. Others inSis, that
6wIng 10 the splendid harvest. thousands
of voters did not hav" t!m" to go 10
the polls In the rural districts and that
many who voted In the Republican
primaries did so out "f personal friend.
sMp FOR the many candidates entered
n that race.
Harding suits Them.
One thing is clear In Montana. the
wave Of dissatisfaction with the Hard
ing administration which is noticeable
further east has hardly produced 4
ripple in. Montana. I, is true many
Dernocra's who deserted their par;v in
1870 because Of their opposition 10 the
league of nations have gone back to
psrnocracy'S ranks hut I is very good
strategy rpf Republican here to poin,
with pride I" III" Harding aIm!nstra-
ri"u and solicit votes on a Staud- the
administration platform.
This state VAS carried by Wnodrow
I, went for Warren Harding IN 1920
i.y tho same majority. The pendulum
lung cvcnly from one party to III.
u;Her.
state issues Will diminish the Re-.
publican majority and may even send
NhceIer. a Democrat. into the senate
though the chances are rather against
oulCumA