Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-05-10
Is Communism Deadp

If anyone has been laboring under a quandary as
to the status of Communism in Sheridan county, the
events that transpired last Thursday should dispel
all such doubts.
A crowd of some two hundred persons from rural
districts, a few of them women, attempted to interfere
with the regular process of law when they surrounded
the Anderson combine which the sheriff had advertised
he would sell under foreclosure orders. and attempted
to prevent the sale. Leaders of the crowd were avowed
Communists.
These same Communists leaders have made their
boasts that I'VE are not through One of them exhort-
ed the crowd of farmers to "go home and boycott
Plentywood." This because some twenty or thirty men
land many more could have been secured IT necessary
who believed in law enforcement had accepted the
obligation of serving as special deputies to assist the
sheriff in performing his duty. Then, Chris Heiberg,
a protege of Hans Hardeson's and the Producers News,
climbed into a truck to serve notice. on the angry
crowd. that he would be a candidate for sheriff. He
left no doubt that he would be a Communist sheriff
if elected.
Fortunately, there was no bloodshed. What actual
" happened was enough. TO find 1t necessary to arm
officers with loaded guns in order for them to carry
out the mandates OF the law and to turn water streams
from fire hose on an angry mob In order to prevent
open riot. is nothing any law-abiding citizen will care
to point to with pride.
The fact OF greatest consequence in that demon
stration should be that Communism is far from being
a tabled issue in Sheridan county.
Let us face the issue squarely. Republicans and
Democrats have a common task to perform again this
year-that of forming a united front against Comnu-
nism and fighting it out to the finish.
There should be no division in the ranks. This is
no time to bubble or argue about personalities. Ad-
herents to both Parties have a common foe. It should
be recognized NOWt Communism has been defeated
before, it can be again.
Whether or not a man IS a Democrat or Republi-
can, If he is running for county office, matters little,
providing he is qualified to serve the taxpayers effic-
iently. But. whether he is Communi or American
should be of serious concern.
Two years ago the Herald supported a fusion
ticket for the one reason of fighting Communism. We
stand unalterably in the same position this year. Dem
ocrats joined with Republicans two years ago In sup
porting candidates on their ticket. Those same Denor
Gratis who were loyal enough to waive their party
rfEMtF In the last election for the sake Of defeating 4
common enemy, are entitled TO the same spirit or
loyalty from Republicans this year.
Should any Communist be elected to office in
Sheridan county this year, it can be laid directly at
the feet of those who, because of party prejudice or
the selfish desire to advance their own political for
tunes, refuse to join the ranks against a common foe.
Sheridan county came through in 1892 because
enough people believed in upholding the government
set up a line of defense which revolutionists could not
penetrate. We believe the same results will be realized
in 1884.
Communism in Sheridan county is not dead