Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-09-25
WALSH IS FACING
BATTLE To RETAIN
j. s. SENATE SEAT
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Special Leased Wire to The Journal-Cop
right, 1924

right, 1924
BUTTE, Mont, Sept. 23.-Severa]
surprises are in store for the inves
tigator of things political in Mon
tana.
First Senator Thomas Walsh,
Democrat of Teapot Dome fame, has
hard fight FOR reelection.
Second Senator Burton X. Wheel
Ell, vice presidential nominee with La
Toilette, hasn't created much of a
stir in his home state. His selection
on the third party ticket has caused
resentment among the Democrats,
because he deserted the party.
Third, President Coolidge has bet
ter than an even chance to carry
this state by about 5000 to 10000
plurality.
Just why should a man like Sena-
tor Walsh have a hard time win
ming reelection? This question is a
natural one, and even Montana vet
Grams in politics cannot explain 1t.
The ku I<luX Khan, which is active,
is of course fighting Mr.. Walsh.
Among his own followers are some
who think he should have assailed
the khan at the Madison Square Gar
den convention, but the thing that
made Senator Walsh famous this
year-the Teapot Dome disclosure
doesn't seem to be talked about. Sen
ator WheeIer's connection with the
investigation of Attorney General
n
ton at the time.
Farm Situation Improves
Montana finds herself with an inn
proved agricultural situation. which
means votes for Coolidge. After a
drought Of several years, Montana
will produce this year $4,000, 900
bushels of wheat, and the farmers
will have for sale actual farm prod
ucts, exclusive of their own feeding
and seeding operations, which may
net them about 100000 900. The
yield in the Billings sugar beet dis
trict. for instance, is exceptional,
The bean crop is phenomenal, while
in most sections of the state the
yield Of hay, oats and barley is very
good.
SO, after years of depression, Mon
tana has been lifted to an atmos
phere of rope and confidence once
more. Under such circumstances
there is no great desire for a change.
The political situation, of course, is
different
The opposition to the reelection OF
Governor Joseph Dixon, Republican
is so intense that his defeat would
&
are active in their state fight but the
national ticket seems somewhat neg
lected here. This was McAdoo cOun-
try. The Democratic national organ
ization appears hardly to be function.
ing with respect to Montana, nor
does it appear that the Democratic
national organization has even got
ten started as far as the entire
northwest is concerned. This year
of all years it was essential for the
national managers to pay attention
to western Democracy, for most Ct
the delegations from these states
came home disa ppOinted that Nc
AdOo wasn't nominated.
The McAdoo men are not sulllinG
but they cannot understand why the
national organization persists in ig-
noring them and doesn't even ask
their aid.
Looking to McAdOO
There may be a change when vii.
liam Gibbs McAdoo returns from
Europe for the west has a good deal
of faith in him, and if he gives the
signal to his followers they will rise
to help the national ticket 1t would
seem to be poor Democratic strategy
to ignore a faction so strong at the
Madison Square Garden convention
But this is only one of a number OF
things which indicate that the Dem
ocrats not only are poorly organized
this year, but that they do not seem
to have the money to wage an eff
fectiVe campaign.
The Republicans have been busy
for several weeks. Their candidate
for United States senator against Mr..
Walsh, namely Frank Linderman,
never has been much of a factor in
politics, but if the Coolidge tide should
run strong he may be swept in as
Senator Walsh is swept out 1t is
d close race for, senator and a mixed
situation, too Senator Wheeler. of
Montana, who has been one of Sena.
tor Walsh's political supporters for
many years, has been lauded to the
skies by MIR. Walsh. The latter has
not yet hammered away at the La
Toilette and Wheeler ticket, which
some of his friends think he must do
II re Is to recover many Democratic
votes due to be cast for La Toilette.
Senator Wheeler's political life in
Montana may be said to be ended.
lie will never win in a Democratic
party again and the general impress.
sion is that he has permanently cast
his fortunes with the radicals and
third party in America
In Montana the radical vote has
usually been in the Democratic par
ty. The La Toilette ticket would
have gotten the same big vote ire
spective of whether Wheeler had
been named. The third party will
take more from the Democrats than
the Republicans in this state, which
is one of the reasons why the vic
tory of President Coolidge by a pin.
rality seems at this writing almost a
certainty.
Permanent Tomb for