Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-10
A DEMOCRATIC YEAR

l. not fade away into a gloom
more dense than that which has
enveloped the republican party of
the United States since the fourth
day of March, 1921. President
Harding and his administration
were swept into power upon the
crest of a great rolling wave of vic
tory. Since that time, it has SO
far failed to satisfy the ideals and
the aspirations of the American
people that it is now lowering be-
meath a dark shadow of fear and
apprehension. A San Francisco
fog has never more thoroughly en-
comprised the glory of the Golden
Gate than does the eclipse that is
now d%arkening republican hopes as
the primary and other elections of
1922 are recorded. This Is not
merely a word representation. The
old guard politicians who are in alb
solute control of the republican
party realize that the progressive
element within its ranks is split
ting off everywhere. There are
factions from Maine to California.
There are factions in Montana
plenty of them. The old line repub-
licans are falling down. Our state
administration is within dire straits
Of unpopularity.
The situation in this state is not
different from what it is at Wash
ington, D. c. The political pendu-
lum appears to be swinging back to
democracy. 1t therefore is entire
ly in keeping with the trend of
events for the democrats of this
state to hope with confidence for
success in the coming elections.
We do not think that all of the
democrats who have been nominal
ed in this state will be elected. We
think only a few republicans will
be successful. The people do not
vote entirely straight party tickets
any more. Both newspapers and
the people refuse to be bound
strictly within the confines of what
may come out of modern primary
choices. The Tribune stands
~squarely upon the democracy that
is advocated by Woodrow Wilson.
It chooses to advocate these prin-
ciples because we think that they
come quite close to the hearts OF
the American people. We believe
in being honest about these things
In this republic, it is correct al.
ways to keep principles before men
Candidates should be analysed con
tinually within the hope for good
government.
The democrats of Montana ir
the primary have named B. K
Wheeler as their candidate fol
United States senator. The repub'
Iicans have chosen Carl Riddick
The. Tribune has quite definite
opinions about these two candi-
dates. We believe it is correct tc
saw that MI. Wheeler, during hi:
political career, has been a reason
able and consistent democrat, ex
cept for the circumstances that il
the last campaign led him to come
into apparent and evident friendli
ness with the Nonpartisan league
and with those radical elements II
Butte and elsewhere who were pro
posing a governmental program fol
Montana which this newspapei
could not stand for. That wa:
where The Tribune cut loose. W.
do not mind saying that we woult
cut loose again in a similar situa
ton. So we were decidedly a
variance with Mr.. Wheeler at tina
time. Perhaps u views are no
entirely in keeping with those tina
are within his mind at the presen
moment. 1t remains to be said
however, that our opinions and be
liefs and convictions along politi
cal lines are much more at varianc'
with those that have been and ar
advocated by Carl Riddick. All il
all, we believe that Mr.. Riddicl
has at heart been a firmer frien'
to the Nonpartisan league since h
entered Montana politics than ha
the present democratic candidat
for senator. We recall that MI
'Riddick was popularity charge,
with holding. a membership car
in the Nonpartisan league. He de
MED this but an alleged copy o
that card was made public. Flo
that matter, Mr.. Riddick as well a
the other prominent ,republica'
bvho was running for senator, MI