The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-03-15
Gov. Ford Has
Called Spe(id!
Election
June 5 Set for
Election of Rep.
O'Conner's Successor.
NOMINATION MANNER
is PROBLEM TO SETTLE
BY Harry L. Carlson

BY Harry L. Carlson
United Press Staff Correspondent
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of Mon
tana's two major political parties
this week were trying to reach a
solution to the problem of nominal
ing candidates for the June 5 Sec
ond district congressional election
but were standing pat on their re-
spective views, with Republicans
advocating party conventions and
Democrats favoring a special pri-
mary election.
The problem, which plagued Mon
tana's 18th assembly throughout
most Of its 60-day session but was
never settled by the legislature,
arose again after Gov. Sam G. Ford
proclaimed June as the special
election date when the Eastern dis
trict would select its Congressman
for the next Is months
Ford's proclamation did not des-
lgnate how nominations for the
post should be made, but the Gov
ernor said that he would leave it
up to the political parties to work
out the question The dispute start
ed few days after Rep. James f.
O'Connor, second district Demo-
cratic congressman, died suddenly
in Washington, just two weeks at
ter he had begun his new term.
Although four measures were in
PRODUCED in the l945 legislature
which provided for selecting O'Con-
nor's successor, all were killed and
the assembly adjourned March
without having made any provision
for filling the vacancy. The issue
became a heated partisan debate
topic and received a great deal Of
legislative consideration However,
before proposals for calling a spe-
cial primary election and holding
party conventions were both killed
by the divided membership in both
houses.
Almost Immediately after Ford
proclaimed the special general cleo
ton, Lester H. Lobe of Helena,
chairman Of the Democratic State
Central Committee. went to Atty.
Gen. r. ". Bottomly and asked that
the Attorney General institute court
proceedings to determine by what
method nominations shall be made
In asking for action to bring about
a state supreme court declaratory
judgment clearing up the matter,
Lobe expressed the conviction that
Montana's public policy-stated in
the direct primary law of 1912
requires that the major political
parties use that system to nominate
candidates"
Speaking for the Democratic par
ty, Lobe declared that the party
strongly favors the primary system
and vigorously opposes the conven-
ton method.
Then came a statemFnt from the
Republican party chief, Ashton
Jones of Broadus. Jones said he be-
lieved candidates for the post could
be selected by either primary or
party convention. He expressed the
opinion that although either method
could be used in the emergency
without violating state codes, the
holding Of party conventions would
save the state "the huge unneces-
sary expense Of primary election
Il would prefer that Montana's
parties get together and come 70
an agreement on what method to
use" Jones said. Il am mostly in
terested in agreement between the
parties
Jones, the state chairman for the
Republican party, has been promi-
nently mentioned as his party's,
choice for the Congressional post
but thus far has made no statement
indicating that he was candidate.
From the Democratic ranks came
a long statement from Left Erickson,
former Justice of the state supreme
court and his party's unsuccessful
candidate for the governorship last
November. Erickson attacked Ford's
election proclamation because it did
not also set date for primary
election.
The former justice declared that
he thought it necessary that Mon
tanans be allowed to select ''for
themselves the men they want ).
rather than to choose between cam
didates chosen for them by poll
ticians in the manner condemned
by the people when they enacted
the primary election law"
Erickson, like Lobe, said he
would appear as friend of the
court should Bottomly bring the
matter before the supreme court
Then, early this week, leading
Republican voice was heard from
Cut Bank, home of the COPS ma
tional committeeman, Dan Whets-
tone Again came the suggestion
that the heads of the two major
parties or their chosen representa-
tives meet at an early date to dis
cuss and seek to determine which
of the methods, convention or pri-
mary election, be made for nornin-
ating congressional candidates.
"The situation is becoming more
progressively absurd Milestone
said. I'VE shall be taking action on
the higher plane if the heads of the
Republican and Democratic organ
izations meet in counsel and will
listen to good reason and logic, to