Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-07-12
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This week will close one OF the
cleanest Primary election campaigns
ever conducted by newspapers and
candidates In Sheridan county-at
least of which the writer has any
knowledge. To whom should go he
credit for this pronounced return to
respectable journalism insofar as the
county newspapers are concerned
should be OF least consideration. The
fact that columns of county newspa-
pers were not filled with gulliblo
vilIification and disgusting filth
weeks before the election should
bring to every publisher a sense OF
satisfaction which might well cause
him to raise his head with pride.
Bvery publisher is of course to be
commended, and he will be, II not
openly then silently and sincerely,
bv the rank and file of clean think
ing and clean living people who hold
in respect those who work on the
theory that even the game of politics
can be played fairly. honestly, and
with a definite sense g respectful
ility and pride.
Near the eve of the Primary cleo
ton | am going to state precisely why
believe the Democratic ticket
should receive your consideration
and vote at the polls next Tuesday.
So far as the county offices are con-
cerned 1t seems to me there should
be room for little argument. Whe-
Their a man or woman in the county
court house is a Democrat or RE
publican should be OF little, Ii any.
concern. We all know that political
favors are not handed out by county
officers through any party machine
or with the thought of perpetuafng
either major Party In power. Candi-
dates are chosen Tor at least should
bel on one major premise, In that
alone,-his or her ability to conduct
the affairs of the office to the best
interests OF the taxpayers whom he
is elected to serve.
Communism had become a real
threat In Sheridan county. Ultra
radical leaders. pledged to Russian
ism and the overthrow of American
institutions through bloody revolu-
ton If necessary, sought to build a
county machine through getting men
elected to office who would give
succor to the maintenance OF ar Of
fetal organ to spread Communist
propaganda. Communists seemed to
hold the balance OF power between
the two major parties. Consequently,
with a dire threat of being placed
under the yoke OF q political ma
chine which would owe It's alIeg-
iance-not to the state or national
constitutions under which we are
governed. but to the Soviet of Rus
sia-Repnblicans and Democrats
found the safest insurance against
such a menace was to join forces
and support a set of well qualified
candidates on ONE ticket. They
called 1t a fusion ticket" Because OF
the Joining OF the two parties to ac-
complish a single end.
The immediate and continued sue
cess of the fusion plan need not be
discussed. Suffice 1t to say that its
popularity grew with each succeed
ing election until two years ago not
a single candidate from the radical
group gained recognition in the
county. The manner Of choosing the
ticket on which candidates would
run seemed to be governed largely
by the popularity OF tickets through
the county and state. For three
successive elections the Republicans
contended theirs was the popular
ticket and should be the one desig-
mated. Democrats In each instance
fell in line. The Democratic col
m was never used. Naturally, this
year. 1t seemed reasonable to assume
that the Democratic ticket was the
more popular. Voters In the county
had given President Roosevelt a big
majority In the last election, along