Montana labor news., 1945-04-05
STORY BY ACM PRESS
ON O'CONNELL
NAILED AS LIE
-lFrom Peoples Voice

q "a 100000
From Peoples Voice.
Following up its campaign of false
hoods and villification of Jerry O'Con-
nell. the CLIO Political Action commit
tee and its program of tieing liberal
candidates in the election campaign last
year in with its smearing, a story that
O'Connen had been ordered to make his
presence scarce in the state capital and
that this order was reported to stem
directly from the office of Gov. Mon c..
Walgren" was feature in the ACM daily
press. the mdependent-Recor of Hell
ena, one of the corporations dailies, Civ
ing it a three-column spread on its
front page on January 81.
Suspecting that this story was Of The
same stripe of veracity as other stories
carried during last years campaign by
this sheet and others of the ACM Com
pany's controlled propaganda sheets 60
] ing by the name of newspapers, the
editor of The Voice wrote to Harry c.
Huse. state chairman Of the Democratic
party of Washington requesting a state
ment from him, and enclosing a clipping
of the story. Mr.. Huse was said in the
story to be the one who had delivered
the order to O'Connea to stay out of the
capitol.
Under the three-column. three line
head in the center of its front page, the
Record, carried the follow
ing introductory paragraph.
Fred Niendorff, staff correspondent
of the Seattle st-Inteligencer (Hears6'
writing from Olympia, Wash, tells how
activities of Jerry J.. O'Connell have
aroused the ire of Washington Demo
cratic leaders. His dispatch follows
Below we publish letters received from
Gov. Mon G. Wallgren of Washington
and Harry C. Huse, Democratic state
chairman, which need no comment.
STATE OF WASHINGTON
Executive Department
Olympia
March %, 1915
H. S. Bruce, EDITOR
The Peoples Voice
Helena. Montana
Dear MI. Bruce.
1t has come to my attention that the
Montana press recently carried news
stories reporting the alleged removal of
Jerry O'Conneu as executive secretary Of
the Democratic party in Washington
state; and stating further that such a
move originated in my office.
I desire to take this opportunity to
DENY these stories ana to state emphatic
ally that such rumors are not true and
have no factual basis. No such action
was at any time, nor is o contem-
plated.
Jerry O'ConneI and I served together
in the United States Congress, and be-
came. and have since that time, re-
NAMED good friends. He was named
executive secretary of the Democratic
state organization because Of the ire
mendous part that he played in my cleo
ton and in the victory of the entire
Democratic party in this state.
He is now doing an excellent job and
the Democrats Of Washington, including
myself, are more than satisfied with his
work.
Sincerely yours,
Csigned) MON c. WALLGREN,
MCWlm Governor
DEMOCRATIC STATE CENTRAL
COMMITTEE
426 Vance Bldg.
Seattle 1, Washington
March %, 1945
H. S. Bruce, Editor
The Peoples Voice
Helena, Montana
Dear Mr.. Bruce:
In reply to your recent letter in which
YOU inclosed a clipping of a news story
featured in the Helena Independent
[ Record. I wish to assure you unequiv-
ocally that the story contained therein
with reference to Jerry O'Connell is
without any foundation in fact, and is
completely false.
Jerry OConnell was selected as execu-
tive secretary of the Democratic State
Central committee, because Of the out
standing contribution which he made to
the Overwhelming victory which the
Democratic party won in TINS sIaJe lasD
November.
I can tell you that both Governor
wallgren and myself are wholly salts
fled with the job he has been doing, and
we are glad that he has decided to live
in the state Of Washington, because We
feel Montana's loss is our very substan-
tial gain. 4.
With kindest personal regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
(Signed) HARRY G. HUSE,
HCHInm state Chairman.
Card Socials by Ladies
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The regular meeting or the Butte
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