Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-05-15
MontanaState
Letter
Writer Tells More
About State Politics
(By the United Press

Republicans are in the ring while
democrats are on the sidelines hop
ing the Wanted nanimity of the G.
O. P. will be shattered by internecine
strife-in other words, that the lone
wolf republican candidate, O. H. P.
Shelley, Red Lodge publisher, can
create enough rumpus through the
press, particularly the democratic
press, to upset Associate Justice Al
bert j. Galen's political apple cart.
That, in effect, is the present
status of the senatorial situation.
Walsh is in Washington busying
himself with investigations-his lat
est blow to the republican administra-
ton was his opposition to Judge j.
Parker, President Hoover's defeated
nominee for the U. S. supreme bench.
If he is particularly interested in the
primary campaign, he has shown lit
tie sign of it, to date.
AS matter of fact, it appears that
curbstone talk Of the possible
candidacy of j. Bruce Kremer, Butte
attorney and democratic national COM
mitteman for years, has dissipated into
thin air. Hoped for opposition to
Walsh failed to materialize. On the
contrary the unanimous republican
state central committee endorsement
of Justice Galen impelled many lead
ing democratic leaders to consider the
ACCESSIBILITY of securing the unanimous
endorsement Of the democratic state
central committee for Walsh, a move
which the senior senator has discour-
aged.
In a word, the democrats are watch
fully waiting, and, Of course tossing
monkey wrenches into republican pol
itical machinery when the opportu-
nifty avails. For example, Bourbons
have raised a hue and cry because
Justice Galen has not resigned from
the state supreme bench. In fact, they
have made it rather embarrassing.
The real fireworks will pop late
this summer and fall when Galen and
Walsh--Shelley's candidacy, despite
its aggressiveness, is not yet being
taken seriously by republican leaders
start down the political track or
the final lap.
In spite of the rebuff received at
the hands of the republican state Gen.
trail committee when that body unani-
mously endorsed Judge Galen, Shelley
is conducting vigorous campaign.
He asserts he is an ardent dry and
challenges the associate justice to re-
veal his stand on prohibition; he de-
mands that his republican primary
opponent resign from the bench and
after unburdeninG himself on other
matters, expresses the hope that his
opponent will take the critical letter
in q friendly light.
Justice Galen has remained silent
under the combined attacks of Shelley
and the democratic press. 1t is re-
ported he is loath to engage in = pri-
mary battle which might split his
support, particularly when his repub-
lican nomination is as guaranteed as
it possibly can be under the primary
law.
In the meantime republican leaders
are industriously organizing "Galen
for Senator Clubs" throughout the
state. In this they have been quite
successful.
With Walsh's nomination seeming
" assured at this writing, the repub-
lican press has largely lapsed into
silence. Stand patation since their
paeans of joy following the initial
announcement of Justice Galen's can
didacy.
From the standpoint of a disinter-
ested observer, it seems the situation
is the same today as six weeks ago
Barring political cataclyms, Justice
Galen and Senator Walsh will oppose
each other for election to the United
States senate. Walsh will probably
hammer the republican administra.
ton with sarcastic references to IRE.
publican prosperity" while Galen vii
attack Walsh's tariff votes and hil
alleged failure to give Montana prop
er representation and service in Wash
ington.
There is a chance, q good chance
that prohibition may be dragged int
the fray. Democrats may force tn.
republican nominee to show his hAnt