Evening star., 1922-10-05

tt ont1nueu from First PaEe.)
though he had a background of radi-
calism to overcome, he sat down with
the regular democratic organization,
and a platform was formulated which
Is eminently satisfactory not only to
conservative democrats. but con-
| servative republicans. This is be-
cause the democrats have aimed their
platform at Gov. DIxon's radical
taxation policies. which, 80 far as
conservatives are concerned. stamp
Mr.. Dixon as more of a radical than
they thought Mr.. Wheeler ever could
be.
The fight here Is really pro-DiAon
or anti-Dixon., The governor has
made up his mind to levy heavy taxes
on the mining industry. and Is at
tempting to justify his action on the
ground of increased expense in run
ming the state. Tho democrats are
shouting economy of expenditure and
relief from burdensome taxation: In
order to hit at Dixon, who is cam
paigning energetically to get a state
Legislature elected friendly to his
policies. many republicans will vote
for democratic candidates right down
the line, with one or two exceptions.
,
crat. is one of the exceptions. He has
indorsed the tax program Of repubG-
can Gov. Dixon.
To add to the confusion. j. W.
Anderson. who polled about 10000
votes out of 10000 in the republican
primaries for United States senator
purely on the platform of dissatis-
faction with tin, Harding administra-
tion. has carried his antipathy to
President Harding 80 far as to an
nounce that he will support Il. X.
Wheeler the democratic nominee for
the Senate.
Carl Riddick. the republican nomi
nee for the Senate. was Il minority
choice in the primaries. While he
came from the ultra radical group
and was member Of the Non Parti
san League. he poses as a conserva-
tive and the friend Of President Hard
ing. Gov. Dixon is quietly keeping
out OF the senatorial fight. hut the
expectation is that he and Riddick
will sooner or later get together.
Dixon Hns Machine.
Mr. Wheeler's chances OF victory
lie entirely in a coalition Of demo-
Gratis Of both progressive and con-
servative inc!inat!ons. regular repub-
iicans and all those who will vote for
state candidates who are opposed to
the Dixon tax program. In the
primaries Mr.. Dixon's men won the
republican nomination in half the
number of Legislative districts.
Here. as in North Dakota. the voter
will have to do a good deal of scratch
ing to accomplish his purposes. In
stead of voting for or against the
Non Partisan League. as was the case
two years ago. the effort is to support
or destroy DiXonism. Gov. Dixon has
built up quite p powerful machine.
! rot unlike those of La Toilette in Wis
consin and Hiram Johnson in Cali
fornia. 1t is supposed he wants to
go back to the United States Senate
two years hence. when Senator Walsh.
democrat will be up for reelection.
Although the republicans poiled 10000
that number in the recent primaries.
there is divided opinion as to the
meaning Of the result. Some hold the
view that the overwhelmingly repub-
| lican administration will mean the
election of Riddick. republican, as
United States senator by a comfort
able margin. Others insist that. ow-
ing to the splendid harvest. thousands
of voters did not have time to go to
! the polls in the rural districts. and
that many who voted in the republi-
can primaries did so out of personal
4
entered in that race.
Democrats Stronger.
One thing is clear in Montana. The
wave of dissatisfaction with the
Harding administration, which is
| noticeable farther east. has hardly
produced a ripple in Montana. 1t is
true many democrats who deserted
| their party in 1920 because OF their
opposition to the league of nations
have gone back to democracy's ranks.
but it is very good strategy for a re-
! publican here to point with pride to
the Harding administration and
solicit votes on a tand-by the -ad-
| ministration platform.
This state was carried by Woodrow
Wilson in 1916 by about $4,000 votes.
1t went for Warren G. Harding in
1920 by the same majority. The
pendulum swung evenly from one
| party to the other.
State issues will diminish the re-
publican majority and may even send
Wheeler. a democrat. into the Senate.
! though the chances are rather against
such an outcome.
1000