The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1925-01-08
JOHN E. ERICKSON
BECOMES GOVERNOR
NEW EXECUTIVE PRESENTED
TO CHIEF JUSTICE CAL
LOWAY BY DIXON
House and Senate Elect Their Off
cers-Bricker of Judith
Basin Speaker

Helena. Jan. 5.-John E. Erickson
of Kalispell was inaugurated Monday
morning as the seventh governor OF
Montana and at noon the nineteenth
session of Montana legislative assem-
bly, came into being with election OF
its officers after it's members had
subscribed to the official oath.
Governor Erickson, a democrat,
succeeds Jos. M. Dixon, republican,
whom he defeated at the November
election. Other elective members OF
his administration, however, are re-
publicans, and both houses of the leg
islature have large republican ma
jorities.
Other New Officials
John A. Matthews, who Monday be-
came a member of the supreme court,
succeeding Justice Wellington D.
Rankin, is the only other democratic
officer to come in with the new ad-
ministration. w. E. Harmon succeeds
O. H. Junod as state treasurer and
Leonard C. Young replaces Lee Den
mis-. former chairman, as member
of the railroad commission. Attorney
General L. A. Foote begins his first
elective term Monday, as does j. M.
Crosby, clerk of the supreme court.
Both were appointed by Governor
Dixon during the past administration
and were elected in November.
Secretary of State Stewart, State
Auditor Porter and State Superin-
tendent Trumper are starting their
third terms.
Organization of the house placed
R. c. Bricker, republican, Judith
Basin county, in the chair as speaker,
with G. f. Holt, Cascade county,
sneaker pro TEN, and w. M. Ruff
corn, Valley county, floor leader.
Lester Lobel, Lewis and Clark county
democrat. defeated candidate for
sneaker. becomes floor leader for the |
minority party. The complete repub-
lican slate for attaches, agreed upon
at a four-hour session Of the repub-
lican members of the house Sunday
night, was approved by the house.
President Pro Tenn
Convening with Lieutenant Cover
nor Mccormick as presiding officer,
the senate elected FLA. Hazelbaker,
republican, Beaverhead county, as
president pro tenn and w. M. Dun
can. democrat, Madison county,
became the floor leader of that party.
Frank Cone, Ravalli county, was
elected secretary; John Allen, secre-
tarv to former Governor Dixon, SER
oeant at arms and the Rev. John
Hosking of Anaconda, chaplain.
'T congratulate you, Governor,
and wish you happiness, success and
prosperity and I trust that your
friends will not crowd you too hard"
was the farewell message og Governor
Dixon to Governor Erickson as the
latter signed his oath Of office. The
ceremony which was witnessed by
a large number of friends Of the in
coming and retiring executives, took
place in the governors reception !
room where the oath was admins, !
tered by Chief Justice Galloway Of :
The supreme court.
Presented by Dixon
Mr.. Erickson, who was accom-
panied by Mrs. Erickson, was pre-
sented to the chief justice by Gov =
srnor Dixon, who escorted his daugh-
Ter, Virginia.
Miss Eileen Erickson, daughter of
,he new governor, was also member
If the official party. )
The contest between James H.
lyle and Ralph Tower for the senate 7
seat from Lake county, after some
Monday was referred to
he committee on privilege and cleo
ion which has not yet been named.
Towner was sworn in, however, as
laving been certified by the election
BOARD of his home county. Lyle tt
.laims the seat by reason of his elec- W
ion two years ago when the county W
vas formed and contends that he was a
elected for four years. II