The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1942-09-10
Bourbon Meet
Proves To Be
-
Quiet Affair
Fireworks Fail To
Develop at State
Convention.
EVERYTHING PLEDGED
TO WINNING WAR
BY David Loehwing

T. Lamey, Billings, was reelected
chairman of the Montana demo-
cratic central committee for the sec
ond term as the biennial party plat
form convention drew to close in
an atmosphere of harmony which
contrasted sharply with the pre-
Burton K. Wheeler and James E.
Murray
Senator Murray, as chairman of
the platform and resolutions COM
mittee of which Wheeler is a men,
Der, read to the convention a resolu-
ton extolling the activities of the
senior senator, whom he had previ-
ously accused of trying to purge
him.
Senator Wheeler's presence at the
convention had been expected to
provide some of the fireworks for
which democratic meetings in Mon
tana are notorious, but he took no
active part except in closed sessions
of the platform committee.
The two salons were reported to
have met before the convention
opened yesterday and apparently
agreed to bury the Ratchet, at least
during the conclave, in the interest
of party harmony. They lunched to-
gether during the convention.
Senator Wheeler had been sched
uled to address the convention at a
banquet Saturday, but was suddenly
called out of town.
The convention adopted plat
form urging relief for small bust
nessmen hard hit by wartime re-
strictions and condemning monopo-
listic practises of big business.
1t calls for extension of the Sc
lective service system to cover all
of the armed forces land thus end
the recruiting system now being
carried on over the country"
This would reduce the confusion
and unfair results which have oc-
CURED under present conditions,
the resolution stated.
"A selective service system cover
ing all the armed services will Gre
ate a general pool of manpoWer
from which all branches of the
armed services may draw it added.
Other highlights of the platform
on which party candidates will face
the voters this fall were:
I'VE insist that no corporation, in
dividual or group shall be permitted
to gain an unreasonable profit or
advantage from the war effort.
ITO the end that economic and
personal liberties of our people will
not be unnecessarily curtailed, the
national government must relinquish
its broad war powers when victory
is won.
I'VE will continue our efforts to
aid and perpetuate the small bust
nessman. The democratic admin
istration recognizes the i'll effects of
monopoly and will continue to oppose
its development under whatever
guise it operates
Domestic needs, government ac-
tivities, group demands and our way
of life must be subordinated to win
ming the war. New social reform
legislation must, in the main, await
the wars end
The bourbons called for extension
of the teachers retirement system,
broadening of the social security
program, and more just and equit-
able treatment of our Indian pop
ulation
The Indians must be given an in
creased voice in the administration
of their own affairs, the platform
stated, even to the extent of allow
ing qualified ones to hold public
offices.
The platform pointed with pride
to the administrations farm and la
4a f1
offered pledge that irrigation prof.
ects and the sugar beet production
program will be continued.
It favored parity prices and parity
income for agriculture common
surate with other groups OF the ma
ton"
Principal speaker of the afternoon
was Mike Mansfield, candidate for
congress from the first district, who
was elected permanent chairman OF
the convention, replacing James o.
Conner, who had presided as tenn
porary chairman during the morning
session.
Mansfield, reviewing events OF
the Pacific war, decried the eontfn-
ued occupation of Aleutian island
bases by the Japanese, pointing Out
that Montana lies in the direct path
of conquest from that area.
He dWelt at length on the courage
and determination of free China II
her five year fight against the ris-
ing sun For five years" he said
I'VE have given to China great
sympathy and very little materia
aid"
He predicted an inevitable" out
break of war between Russia anc
% Japan and urged ever aid to "oul
Soviet allies"
Mansfield called for an end Il
barr;ru over cnri nf the war effort