The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-06-06

piesluentlal contest has narrowed
down to Thomas E. Dewey and Sen.
Robert A. Taft, so far as the pre-
convention battling is concerned. OF
course anything may happen at Phil
adelphia. There could be a dead
lock, for example, with neither Taft
nor Dewey able TO muster ma
lority, at the end of which the lead
ers would suddenly decide on the
head of the ticket, or the conven-
ton might be Historically stamped
ed to almost any conceivable can
didate.
incidentally that is one of the adj
vantages of not taking part in the
preconvention battle. To be elimi-
mated in advance, as for example in
primaries, puts a handicap on a
mans being selected after a dead
lock. Not always. however. There
was Warren G. Harding, who did
miserably in the primaries but was
named after the three leaders had
worn themselves out.
John W. Bricker, governor of
Ohio, seems to be in the prettiest
position at the moment if there
should be deadlock. He is on the
bench, at the moment, and must
stay there until Taft wins or blows,
by which time it may be too late.
But if there is a deadlock be-
tween Taft and Dewey, with just a
few scattering votes which neither
can corral to make majority, the
convention might turn to Bricker.
That would be all right with most OF
the Republican leaders. 1t would be
all right with most Of the big con-
tributors to G.. O. P. war chests,
especially those in downtown New
York.
LITTLE BITTERNESS
Up to now there has been little if
any bitterness in the Republican
fight, however, and bitterness is al
most an essential in creating dead
lock. Taft has said nothing about
Dewey, SO far as has come to light,
calculated to make Dewey or his
friends eager to prevent Taft's nom-
ination at all costs. The same is
true about Dewey's utterances.
On the whole the picture does not
look too bright for Mr.. Bricker.
Something may be said or done,
before the convention assemblies, to
mar the harmony prevailing between
the contestants. But there is no sign
of it yet. In fact there is no pros
pect of it even If there should be a
knock down and drag out primary
between Taft and Dewey in West
Virginia, which looks more likely
now than it did before Dewey scored
SO heavily in Wisconsin.
SHROUDED IN MYSTERY
Mystery continues TO shroud the
latest proposal for a huge electric
grid system for the entire North
east--from Boston to Chicago and
Milwaukee, south to St. Louis and
east to Baltimore-Whicn the federal
power commission group laid be-
fore private utility executives. But
since there has been a leak, and
obviously a leak from federal
sources, practical engineers and
utility men not in the original secret
have studied what they have learned
about it, and are far from enthusi-
astic.
This is revision of the plan pro-
pc sed last summer, which was to
have cost $400, 600, 900 and included
four government built and operated
steam plants, the whole avowed pur-
pose being to bolster the power sup
ply OF industrial America against
the possibility OF it being called on
for war production.
Two things happened to that origi-
nal proposal. One was that con-
Rress was Mortified at the notion OF
appropriating $400, GOO, 900. The econ
omy wave, which has been slipping
q bit since, was in the process OF
birth then, and the White House
was giving no encouragement to any
government branches figuring on a
big boost in the budget.
ISSUE SIDETRACKED
The other was that war fever so
obvious in some Of the governments
departments, notably the war de-
was just about the most
interesting thing in Washington at
that time. So the national defense
motive, while still present, scarcely
seemed to justify an appropriation
Of $4OO, Zoo, 900.
So the group inside the govern
ment SO strongly interested in the
grid system has whitfield down and
revised the plan. 1t now calls for
an expenditure OF only $189, sos, 200,
and this does not require an appro-
priation. 1t merely requires that
he RFC loan the money to The util-
ties.
Now the curious phase of the
whole business is that the private
Utilities do not want the grid system.
Particularly they do not want any
grid system to be imposed by the
So if it is to come II
will have to be forced on them, and
orced under the guise Of national