Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-19
STOUT SAYS CROSS
CURRENTS PREVENT
PRIMARY FORECASTS
Senatorial Candidate Ayers 1t
Is Foolish to Believe Elec-
ton Is 'Cinch'.
(Trlbune's Helena Bureau)

Helena. Aug. 1S.-That there are
many .'cross currents" of political
thought running through the state and
hat it is foolish at this time for any
candidate to assert that he has a
..cinch' in the coming primary cleo
ton was the view of the political stu
alton in Montana as expressed Friday
by Tom Stout. Of LewistOwn, who ar
rived here Friday from Great Falls on
his way TO the west side in the in
terest Of his candidacy for the demo
cratic nomination for United States
senator.
II have travelled more than 1000
miles by auto and an equal distance
by train since starting out on my cam
~paign,' said Stout, land am dis
tinctly encouraged over the excellent
prospects. Most of my work has been
done in eastern and central Montana,
hut | shall devote my time and eff
forts to other sections of the state
until the day of election. 1t is rather
foolish for any candidate this year to
assert positively that he has a
'cinch' for the reason that it has never
been so difficult for even the most
astute political observer to size up ac-
curately the situation in Montana as
it ia right now. There are SO man.
cross currents Of political thought
running through this state that one
can only guess what the outcome may
Reports Are Favorable
MY feeling of confidence is based
altogether upon my personal contact
sections which l have visited and re-
ports from friends and supporters in
other sections. / started out in this
campaign with the fixed determine
ton to avoid making any appeal for
votes from any particular class or
group Of voters but to predicate my
claims for support on the ground that.
if elected. l will try to be representa-
tive of the people of Montana as a
whole. Until the last few days. l
found the voters generally apathetic
and ascribed this state of mind to the
engrossment of the great majority of
our people in their own personal af-
fairs.
There is hardly a business man,
banker. professional man, farmer or
wage Garner in Montana who has not
had to endure anxieties of one sort
or another these last two or three
years. and the thoughts of all of them
are centered upon efforts to readjust
their affairs TO a more favorable con-
dition. The spirit Of restlessness
WIISI CUSu IL a iNotN mas
afforded the political opportunist an
incentive to make elaborate promises
of aid and relief and to play upon
any %prejudices which unusual condi-
TOMS have generated. We find.
therefore. not a little screaming
through keyholes' by office hunters
who seek to create still further con
fusion by intensifying any class dis
sentiOn which may now exist.
Sees Better Montana
Thanks to one of the best crops
ever raised in Montana, the resump-
ton of operations by the mining in
dustry and the gradual improvement
in the status of the stock growing
industry, Montana is going to make
progress this year toward a happier
state Of affairs, but what W. most
need in order to maintain that prog
ress is unity of action among our
people. My trip through the state has
profoundly strengthened the belief that
Montana can and will come back to
that condition Of progress and pros
perity which she enjoyed six years
ago.
Il am frank to state that ! would
like to be one of the representatives
in the United States senate while
that process of rehabilitation is taking
place. l feel that there will certainly
be opportunities TO be helpful, and
when the whole story is told, the
distinction which the office bestows is
Of minor Importance when compared to
the opportunities which it affords to
rondor cnrviaa