The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-10-12
Battle For
Governorship
Warns Up
Erickson Opens With
Heavy Artillery on
Ford Record.
GOVERNOR ANSWERS
WITH EQUAL VIGOR
BY Harry L. Carlson

BY Harry L. Carlson
United Press Staff Correspondent
HELENA-W.D-While Montana's
two major candidates for Governor,
incumbent Republican Sam G. Ford
and Democrat Left Erickson--con-
tinued their statewide campaign
tours this week, visiting thousands
OF Montana voters, rapping each
others records and offering impress
sive platforms, political performers
in the capital city took on cloak
of dubious color.
No observer could deny that the
latest development in the August
chambers of the state Supreme
Court did not have political impli-
cations. A motion placed before the
court last Saturday, significant in
its intimations and unprecedented
in court history, could be inter-
preted as little more than an at
tempt to weaken one Of the guber-
material nominees chances at the
polls next Nov. Z
The motion asked that the min
utes Of the Supreme Court be cor
rected to show that Associate JUS
tice Erickson was absent from the
court for total of lat days during
the period from June z, 194l, to
Sept. II, 1943
It was presented by George Me
woehner, youthful White Sulphur
Springs attorney and frequent
litigant before the Supreme Court
in recent years.
Acting as an officer Of the court,
Newcomer asserted that the min
utes Of the court 'are misleading
and are not a true representation
of the conduct of Erickson, max
ing it impossible for the people of
Montana to ascertain the true fash
ion in which the business Of the
court has been conducted"
Clerk of the Court Frank Murray
advised Niewoehner that court
would let him know at later date
of its disposition of the motion.
Newcomer asserted that Erick-
son abandoned his duties and pre-
negatives as justice of the Supreme
Court and accepted employment as
referee for the National Railroad
Adjustment Board, all in violation
Of the Montana constitution, his
oath Of office and in breach Of his
trust to the people.
The periods Erickson was absent
from his duties, Newcomer said,
were from July 7 to Sept 8, 1911
a period of Sd consecutive days,
from May IL to June 6, l943-a Pc
riod of rs consecutive days, and
from July Is to Sept H. l943, or
SO consecutive days.
Erickson was paid S7,375 at the
rate Of $50 per day and Sl,267 pei
diem expenses, making a total OF
$3.50 for his LAT days of unlaW-
full and unconstitutional employ
ment outside his duties as justice
of the court the petition set forth
Despite the aforesaid facts the
petition continued, "the minutes Of
this court have continued to indi-
cate Left Erickson as present Wher
he was in fact absent
Why Niewoehner-if he was act
ing purely in the interests of Mon
tana citizens and with no politica
designs-waited until Is months at
ter Erickson's last return from nj:
asserted court absences and unit
less than month before Montana.
crucial general election, was not ex-
planned
Neither was there any explana-
ton Of why Newcomer failed t.
ask the court for clariflcation II
regard to a series of absences tax
en- for similar purposes by Chic
Justice Howard A. Johnson, who i
not running for office this year.
At any rate, Erickson's opposition
gained its observation-disclosures
publicity Of his extra-curricular &C
tivities during his first term on tn
Supreme Court. Whether Erick
sons extra work in Chicago Will
serving a Montana office was mer
tied is now one decision for Mon
tana's con the-fense" voters to de
eide next month.
Meanwhile, Erickson moved int
central Montana and Ford was com
pleting a trek across the politically
crucial hi-line in their equally-am
bilious campaign tours, which Wi
bring both Of them into every coun
ty in the state before election eve
Although both nominees were ex
ercising their respective preroga
tives as opposing candidates for tn
Montana governorship-questionin
one another's ability, citing asserte
shortcomings in the past, and al
lacking each others platforms-lh
campaign as carried on by the PAL
Elephants themselves was clean an
devoid of questionable ethics.
Each was outlining ambition
platforms and appealing to consti
uents for support in the Novembe
7th contest. The youthful Democra
ie nominee, however, could find Ii
tie merit in Fords first term, an
severely criticized Ford's admins
tration of the state Liquor Contr,
Board, the Water Conservatic
q