The producers news., 1927-04-01

TIE edSleSL way ne became
mOOnshiner. He went to jail several
times. His faith in humanity is
gone and he has no respect for
Society or sOciety's laws. Another
instance was another worker who
had loaned more than $1,000 to the
League during the Wheeler cam
paign. His wife was in Europe and
was sick. He wanted to bring her
back to the United States and had
no money to do so. He called fire.
quently at the League Office and
asked for some Of his loan back.
One day the League stenOgrapher
told tho pitiable case of this man
to Wheeler. The crafty yankee
lawyer was then on his way back
from PlentywOOd to Butte with a
$4,000 legal fee he received in
Sheridan County, in his pocket.
Wheeler refused to loosen up and
the man who gave nearly his last
penny to help elect him went away
with a wild look in his eye and his
faith in political refOrmers gone
for ever.
Saved Him From MObstors.
On June %, 1920 a meeting was
held at Dillon, Montana, at which
Wheeler was the chief speaker. This
was in the days of the Red terror of
the 100 per cent mobsters. An Am
erican Legion mob broke up the meet
ing. Wheeler was in danger of per-
sonal violence. He was taken by
Frank Mauritz, a radical ex-service
man, to nearby ranch house, thence
to railway station, hoping to escape
on 800 p. M. train. A part Of the
mob, securing the country, besieged
him in the remote depot. Frank
Mauritz had Savage rifle and ten
shells and with this armament he
stood off the furious mob until day
light. Wheeler in a burst of momen-
atary gratitude urged his courageous
dellverer to quit his ranch job and
organize the Non-Partizan League in
that county, and promised to guaran-
tee him 5000 per month. Mauritz,
quit his job, bought a Ford on time
and started to organize. The country
was reactionary and the sheepmen and
old timers would not join like the
wheat growers, but Mauritz stayed
with the job until late in October
making barely enough to eat and
carrying a gun for his protection
from the Tar and Feather patriots.
He had to turn in his car for default
of payments. He got one check for
$500 from Wheeler but not a dime
more. Wheeler wouldn't even take
over the second payment on his car.
He went away with the loss of his
summers wages and broke Wheeler
owes his life to this man. The mob
was armed and had a rope.
Another Case.
Wheeler had another meeting in
Dillon on August %, 1920. He was
accompanied from Butte by
miner who packed a As and was
looking for tough American Le-
giOnaires. None appeared but if
they did he was ready for them.
The meeting was in daylight and
the farmers came equipped with
modern guns and there was no
trouble. But the Wheeler car trav-
elled 20 miles unprotected save by
the arms Of -Four men who accom-
panied the Butte lawyer. Four
years later this man got indicted
for cOnsDiring to unhinge the Vol
stead Law. The defendants were
not convicted. But shortly before
the term at which the case was to
be tried, Wheeler wrote from Wash
mgtOn to some dry constituent and
the letter was quoted in full in
Butte Miner editorial. It stated
that the Senator had requested his
law partner not to connect the
firm, Of which Wheeler was a mem
Der, with this case because
of its bad OdOr, or words to
that effect. Such was the graft
tude shown to the second man who
carried gun to protect Wheeder's
person against mObbists insane with
post war histeria. A PenrOse, a
Hanna or a Daugherty would have
heaped rewards on such men as
Mauritz and the other. Mauritz
was faithful to his ideals and as
brave as a lion. He was short on
ideals and education but feared
nothing on two legs. When the
ven that screens Wheeler's Mr..
Hyde personality from view, is lift
ed such men as these and the two
unfortunate men who contributed
to his campaign will be hOnOred in
direct proportion to tho way the
stlngy Junior Senator will be de-
spised by the big hearted people of
Montana.
Submarines Butte Bulletin
The Butte Bulletin and its editor.
w. F. Dunno, did more than any 9TH
er agency or Individual in the state
to create the Wheeler popular cham
piOn myth. The Bulletin was not
only one of the most powerful daily
newspapers in Montana but won ma
tional fame because of the way it
stood for the rights of the common
man when the warsmad bourgeoise
wanted to trample down the liberties
CT those they would enslave. When
Judge Bourquin refused to be stam-
peded off his feet by the jingoes of
Montana, and the Big Interests who
wanted to pile up profits at the ex-
pense of the workers, the Bulletin
modified the public opinion of the
worth while citizens of western Mon
tana back of him. Wheeler went with
the tide and catered to the Judge of
the Court of which he was District
Attorney. The Bulletin supported
him and gave him a reputation, all
over Montana, as a fearless battler
for the peoples rights. AS every is
sue of the Bulletin rolled off the
press his fame spread. Ali this time
the underground workers were put
L.. I