The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1923-03-23
(By Charles E. TayIOr).

Wea1Cn, long and vide as it is, COM
menced to gather for the Eighteenth
Legislative assembly, which promised
to be the most outstanding and his
tOric of any assembly since the crea-
ton of the treasure state and its adj
mission into the national galaxy.
The members continued to arrive on
each incoming train until Monday
morning, New Years Day, when the
last Senator, Sen. Lowe of Roosevelt
County arrived, just in time to be in
his seat where Lieut.. Gov. Bud Story.
Jr. of Bozeman raped the gavels,
calling the senate Of the 18th Legis-
lative assembly to order at noon
sharp, New Years Day. Immediately
all of the new senators were called
before bar of the senate where Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court, Lew
l.. Galloway, administered the oath,
to the members in a group, whereup-
on all filled by the Secretary's desk
and signed their oaths on a sheet pre-
pared, then passed to their seats
which had been assigned to them bv
the seating committee appointed by
the Chairman of the republican eau
Gus the night before. Thereupon, the
names of the men nominated for the
important offices in the senate, in the
caucus of Sunday evening, We're plac-
led in nomination by the caucus Chair
man Sen. Herren of Custer County,
and also the names of the men. Sc
lected in the democratic caucus at the
same time, were placed in nOmina-
ton by Sen. Clark, the Chairman of
/ the Democratic caucus and upon Roll
Call, the Republicans prevailed and
the republican nominees were there
upon declared elected. Ex-Sen. Frank
Cone was elected secretary of the
/ senate and John Allen was elected
/ sargent-at-arms.
HOUSE ORGANIZATION.
Over in the House, the same thing
as described as occurring in the senate
was duplicated at the same hour
Secretary of State Stewart called the
/ house to order, and Associate Justice
Halliday administered the oath to the
entire body, all members of which
afterwards passing before the speak
ers desk, signed the oath. When the
fOrmalties of qualifying had been
completed the Republican and Demo-
/ cratic House caucus nominees were
placed in nomination by Rep. Swift
Republican caucus Chairman, and
Representative Oker Dem. caucus
Chairman, headed by Rep. Crumback-
er of Chouteau County, Republican
nominee for Speaker, and Rep. Schar-
nikow of Powell county, Democratic
candidate for Speaker. Representative
Crumbacker was upon Roll Call de-
clared Speaker, and was escorted to
the chair, whereupon Secretary of
State Stewart retired, J. Schumacher
member of the 18th assembly was
elected Chief Clerk and Percy DOdd
member of the 18th assembly and
speaker protein in that assembly was
elected Sargent at Arms. The en-
/ ployment of remaining officers were
placed in the hands of employment
committees of both houses; of three
in the senate, selected in caucus, and
seven IN the house, selected by the
! speaker in the house, and these COM
mittees were Immediately besieged by
mob of job seekers and political
hangersOn, which kept them busy for
nearly two weeks sitting the desirable
from the undesirable Hon. Claire
Stoner of Sheridan County and Rep.
Hansen of Daniels County were on
I this committee and both rendered
splendid service to the state in this
capacity.
ORGANIZING THE SENATE
Many Of the members of the senate
and the house arrived Immediately af-
ter Christmas, as did also the power
full and numerous lobby representing
every interest in the state who were
there to prevent laws being passed to
compel them to pay their just share
rof the taxes,-tO COMPEL them to pay
taxes on the same basis as the farm
ers or business men of Sheridan coun-
ty.
The forces representing the inter-
ests of the people were Immediately
designated as Dixonites and those
representing the special interest We're
dubbed Copperite. When the mem
bers of both the house and senate or
ganized, and for a long time after
wards, it was very uncertain which
crowd was in control and what
the final outcome would be. The Dix
on forces were at work early, as were
the copper forces. The writer being
a new senator did not expect nor was
he expected to take any leading part
in the organization of the Senate-it
was given out that the Senate was
safe for the people and its organiza-
ton by the Dixon forces was assured,
so the writer together with Rep.
Stoner, gave his entire attention to
the organization of the House of
Representatives, which was accom-
plished as completely as could be ex-
pected with the material to work with
and when the house republican eau
Gus met Sunday night, the night be-
fore the Assembly convened, the Dix
on slate was endorsed per schedule,
and ratified New Year day by election
as set forth above. The copper crowd
realized early that they could not or
ganize the House through the repub-
lican caucus, so planned to win by
strategy-by having "solid copper"
Republican House members stay cot