The producers news., 1927-03-25

Wheeler's secretary died, the remark
was common in Montana that "Wheel-
er had lost his brains" That was
not true, but it was true that he had
temporarily lost his ability to write
a letter denouncing Edwards, Wal
lace, Taylor, Tim Nolan, and other
Farmer-Labor l leaders, free of
grammatical blemish He loves
money and holds on to every
dollar with such an iron grip that
the Eagle is choked before it can at
tempt to scream. He is lacking in
idealism. He has much personal am
bition, some adrOitness in political
intrigue and a good knowledge of
the usual methods for posing as
popular champion. He is an accom-
plished politician but has not even
reached the kindergarten stage in
craftsmanship. With such equipment
his political rise is marvellous. He
went up like a meteor. Now he is
coming down like a stick.
His Campaigns
In a previous article much of his
political life has been described be-
cause of its close association with
that of Walsh. In 1920 Wheeler be-
came the choice of the Nonpartisan
League Convention at Great Falls as
candidate for Governor after the men
whom he now denounces as radicals
and stoolpigeons" won the delegates
away from the then Attorney General
Ford, for him. This was no easy job
when it is remembered that the edi-
tor of the Nonpartisan Leader, with
its large circulation and most of the
office force at league headquarters
and even TOwnley himself, and the
organizers wanted to go in the re-
publican column and nominate Ford
Wheeler wanted to run on the Demo-
cratic ticket. After his friends in the
Convention worked hard to carry out
this wish of his he made his speech
of thanks in which the most prOmin-
ent phrase was: 81 am ready to run
on the Republican, Democrat or any
old party ticket" told his famous
anna Jones and Hanna Jones" story
and wound up by saying that there
was about as much difference be-
tween both old parties as between
twenty-five cents and a two bit
piece" Four years later he denounc-
ed the organization of a Farmer-La-
Dor party in the state and stayed
with the party of McAdoo, A. Mitch
ell Palmer and j. Bruce Kremer.
Campaign of 1920
But the forces back of Wheeler
challenged the political domination
of the state by the Anaconda Mining
Company. Alarmed, the Copper crowd
trotted out Joe Dixon from his re
treat in Missoula to oppose Wheeler
I A violent campaign was carried on
by the big interest press. Force,
fear, mObs and all kinds of duress
were used by the industrial Pro Con
suls. The bankers, then in power,
threatened calling loans. The Indus
trial Overlords said they would shut
down the plants and mines if the
League ticket was elected. Walsh
was scared away from the support
of Wheeler and his own party ticket
and Henry Myers, who sold his vote
to w. A. Clark for $4,000, squeaIed
about it, and kept the money, was
sent around the State to spout foul
libels about the leaders of the league.
! (Wheeler supported the same Myers
for the Supreme Court last year). In
tyranny and exploitation. He refut-
ed the "free love" and "Red hand of
Russia" TRADES of Myers. These
were the bright days in the life of
| Wheeler when he stood heroically
with the poor against their rich op-
| pressors. That was six years ago. 1t
was the last time he ever uttered a
word in public against either the
Anaconda Company the Montana
Power Company, John D. Ryan or
any official of either great corpora
tlon. He may have whispered against
them but whispers make no records
which he can point to with pride. The
league poured out thousands of dol
lars and used all the energy of tire
less leaders of a great Farmer-Labor
organization but the big interests
won again when Dixon was elected
Governor.
In 1922
But the work of the League was
not altogether in vain. They had
built uD Wheeler as their leader
for future campaign. The crown
OF martyrdOm was on his brow.
He was crushed by the big cOmpa- >
ny but the people were determined
that, like truth. he should rise
again. But Wheeler was not so
sure of his success at the polls with
such resOurceful enemy as the A.
I. M. against him. He wanted to