The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1927-02-04


which their fathers and many of
themselves fled. They were used
to betrayaIs and maybe they were
a bit suspicious but they waited
for the man, who plighted them
his word that he would fight for
their interests. to say something
about the horrible condition under
which they lived; to raise his voice
against the mAmGrican rustling
card system which made poems of
them all. But none came. Instead
they heard a lot about Daugherty
and the Little Green House on X
street. But although this sounded
radical as it was put out by the
capitalist press they were doubt
full and wondered why all this Hal
IiballOO about people far away and
not a word about the giant cOmpa-
ny which had its heel upon their
necks. And out in the wide open
spaces the farmers felt the same
way.
Wheeler Sentiment Low
Wheeler is a very clever politician
but he overlooked the innate intelli-
gence of the people of Montana. The
result is that his stock has gone
down. He was brought slap bang up
against this proposition last fall
when he did his best to defeat Scott
Leavitt with Harry Mitchell, the
strongest democrat in sight. The
friends of Harry Mitchell now at
tribute the defeat of the Great Falls
mayor to the unpopularity of Wheel
er. They say the people distrust the
Junior Senator. To overcome this
situation the crafty Mr.. Wheeler had
soon before appointed Senator An
derson, a farmer-laborite, as his
private secretary. He did this to
help bring the Northeastern farm
ers, without whose votes he could not
be elected, into camp. While Ander-
son is still highly regarded in North
eastern Montana, the tricky device
of the junior Senator only served to
lose him support in that region. He
cannot count on the powerful secret
organization of farmers which is
spreading from that section out over
the state. Neither can he count on
the great Independent farmers week
/ iy newspaper which did so much to
elect him in the past. His arrogance
and his desire to become the pro-
gressive dictator of the politics of
the state has estranged from him the
support of men who went out and
fought for him in their shirt sleeves
in the past.
Judge BOurquin Is Strong
AS Wheeler's stock is going down
the stock of Judge Geo. Bourquin, Jr.
Is going up. Elected twice County
Attorney and once Judge on an anti
Corporation ticket, the young Butte
Judge is easily the best-liked pro
gressive now in the Democrat,
ranks. Besides, he carries the weigh
oil the respect of the people of al
political beliefs for his illustriou
father. If Judge Bourquin runs TO
the Democratic nomination agains
Wheeler-and his friends saw he vii
he viii sweep that Gibraltar of De
mocracy, Silver Bow county. Tn,
Democrats of Silver Bow will civ
him a majority and throughout tn
state the progressives who still vot,
within the democratic party will o,
Tor him. If J. Bruce Kremer. tn
Wlsonlan Democrat, runs for this of
flee he will only split the vote of tn
reactiOnary Anaconda democrats Of
, Wheeler and assure the nomination
! OF Bourquln, the best observers say
VIII Rankin Run?
, People who have their ear to tn
ground say that the coming year i
a republican one and that anywa-
l the state is republican by over 2O.OO
majority. With Clark out of the race
I the next question is to find a repub
hcan candidate. Three are mention
! ed at the present time, viz: Chas
Leonard of Butte, Congressman Scot
Leavltt and U. S. District Attorne
wellington Rankin. Leonard, Will
he is republican of outstandin
ability is not expected to secure tn
l. nomination by reason of the fact tina
he is a Butte man. Scott Leavitt ha
proven himself a wonderful vote pet
i ter IN the eastern district on NOR
than one occasion and his friend
say that he has built himself up
, great political machine among tn
I postmasters and other Federal offic
holders throughout the state. Scot
: Leavltt will have the edge on an
! candidate for the nomination to til
I Y. 5. Senate on the republican tic
ket, with the possible exception O
y Wellington Rankin. And Rankin ha
{ shown no inclination to run for tina
important office. He is intent on hi
! duties as U. S. District Attorne,
Il He has a big private law practic,
he seems to be satisfied to make tn
best U. S. District Attorney Mon
tana has ever had and apparently ha
o no desire to run for the United State
e Senatorship at the coming election
: Il am going to let one election pas
e without running" he said to th
d writer a short time ago. There is n
S doubt but that he has a powerful fo
e lowing of personal friends with
: the republican party in the state .
:. well as amongst the Farmer an
q Labor progressives and that he woul
e win the nomination and electio
r hands down should he decide to thro,
y ms hat IN the ring. But evidentl
: Rankin has not decided to run an
S at present seems intent on the pra,
T tice Of his profession.
e The GOvernOrship
I Gov. Erickson is a quiet, easy %
d ing, decent old man who was adve-
s used INTO his present position partl
y against his will He lived in Kali,
q pen and was respected by all the pc,
/ pie with whom he came in contac
{, But "Iinplate" Bill Brennan, the cle7
e crest outside Anaconda politician