The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-11-16
Montana
Not ALWAYS
Democratic
Voted Republican in
Several Elections-With
F. .. r. For Is Years.
ERICKSON SEEKS
POST IN NAVY
BY Harry L. Carlson

United Press Staff Correspondent
HELENA-tU.H-Gov. Sam C..
Ford, Montana's first Republican
chief executive since 1928, will oc-
cupy the Governors chair for an
other four years beginning next
January |, while his vanquished OPP
ponent, Judge Left Erickson OF Sid
ney, either will return to private
law practice or serve az q commits
stoned officer in the United States
. Navy after serving out htS six-year
term on the state supreme court.
The 62-year-old G. o. P. gov
ernor, who celebrated his birthday
on the day he soundly trounced his
38-year-old Democratic opponent in
Montana's general election, was
back in his office this week catch
ing up on administrative duties,
board meetings and the hundreds OF
other tasks of governor.
Erickson, who watched his am
bilious bid for the governorship
slip farther and farther away as
returns from throughout the state
piled up a mort than $4,000 mar
gin for Ford, was awaiting word
from the Seattle naval officer pro-
curement office whether his APP
plication for a commission in the
Navy would be accepted
While Montana's reelected gov
ernor was clasping hands and re-
ceiving the congratulations Of hum
dreds of Well-wishers the day fol-
lowing the election, Erickson quiet
~ slipped into the Navy induction
center in Helena and made his APP
plication. The tall, husky Norge
gian passed his physical examina-
ton and received a.. very good
rating in his mental aptitude test
II was Montana's first wartime
election and eliminated Dnes OF the
most bitter gubernatorial campaigns
in history. More than 80 per cent
of the states 100000 registered
voters went to the polls to decide
between the two candidates, both
of whom conducted statewide CAM
paign tours for weeks before the
deciding day.
Traditionally independent in its
voting habits, Montana at the same
time cast its four electoral votes
for President Roosevelt by about
the same margin as it returned its
Republican governor. 1t was the
fourth time the Treasure State
showed its preference for Roose-
welt and the eighth election in the
states history that it went Demo-
cratic in the national election.
After being admitted to state
hood in 1889, Montana favored the
1892 Republican presidential can
didate. In 1900, the state changed
to the Democratic side and stayed
there in 1904, after which it re-
turned to the Republican fold for
two consecutive elections. In 1912,
Montana went for Woodrow Wilson
and stayed by him in 1916. In 1920,
however, Republican Warren G..
Harding received Montanas nod,
and through the colorful tWenties,
the Treasure state gave its vote to
G. O. P. candidates Coolidge and
Hoover. Came the Roosevelt land
slide in 1882 and Montana with it.
there to stay for Is years
Still displaying its independence
at the polls, Montana reelected
both its Democratic congressman
Mike Mansfield of the first district,
and James f. O'Connor of the sec
ond, but gave Ford an even larger
Republican majority in both houses
Of the 1915 legislature.
The G. 0. P. gained in the SEN
ate and now holds 38 states to the
Democrats II, compared to 36 Re-
publicans and 20 Democrats two
years ago. There is one vacancy in
the senate now, no one having been
named to succeed the late NJ D.
Rowland of Lincoln county, Re-
publican who died during the last
session.
In the house, The Republicans
elected So members last week, COM
pared with the Democrats 81. Two
years ago, the Republicans held 81
seats and the Democrats 80.
Thus, the Republicans gained four
votes in the house, increasing their
majority to is, and picked up five
votes in the senate, increasing the
margin there to 81. Thirteen of the
Democrats in the senate are hold
overs and two of the others were
unopposed for reelection.
Many prominent members Of both
houses were renamed, including
Senators Kelley of Powell, presi-
dent pro tenn; Simmons of Carbon,
judiciary committee chairman for
two sessions, D'Ewart of Park,
Ross of Blaine, Gilbert Of Beaver
head, Robinson of Phillips, Toman
of Powder River, Liggett of Mus
selshell, all Republicans, and Plank
of Liberty and Manning of Treas
pre-, both Democrats who were I'M
opposed.
In the house, Speaker O'Con-
nor of Carbon, who presided over
the 1943 assembly, was returned, as
were many veterans of the 28th and
previous legislatures.