Montana labor news., 1945-11-08

WHEELER Is HOT
POTATO in
6. 0. P. FINGERS
At the recent gathering Of the Montana
COP at Helena, where cogs Of the
Montana Republican machine puzzled
over future political schemes and lis
tened to National COP Chairman Her
bic Brownel make talk, it was noted
that the Goppers, as usual, possessed
no program The stuffy atmosphere
suggested that they want to go back"
but to where or how or why nobody
knew. The gathering was mystified as
to how it could best pay Of its mort
gage to B. X. Wheeler who has used
it of recent years in Montana as a per
sonal tool to the embarrassment OF such
Goppers who get that way. 1t is un-
fortunate that no solution was found
The COP can raise all sorts OF money
as indicated by National Committeeman
Milestone when he wrote in 1914 their
financial contributions helped carry an
expensive campaign and to close ii with
no red bookkeeping" But paying off
Wheeler, who gave the GOPPERS
Thorkelson, Jeanette Rankin and Sam
Clarence Ford, is a horse Of a different
color. Although everybody from Dan
"Pundit" Milestone, State Treasurer
George (Shrieking' Porter and Rail
Commissioner Leonard (The Handl
Young, to the lesser fry, thirst Tor con
troll of all public offices they offer
naught but their sorry services
Chairman Brownell took note Of Sen
ator Burton Kendall Wheelers ambi-
ton to win backing in the Republican
party "by playing the conservative
role" Then the great Copper pro
claimed, I'VE are interested in the cleo
tion of Republicans Republicans who
will 90 into our caucus and regularly
and consistently back our traditional
principles and policies and that's why
we shall throw our strongest support
to a Republican candidate for senator
from Montana next year"
He didn't say whether he thought
Wheeler might be that candidate
l recall the days of the big red apple
on the street corners, the two cars in
every garage and a chicken in every
pot the policies used on the Bonus
Marchers in Washington D. c. in the
closing days of Herbie Hoover's fade
out. | reckon such to be the traditional
policies of the COP he talked about
along with steel control OF the party by
Big Business.
Some people in the back rows Won
dered what the COP bigwigs would dc
with their covert support whilst throw
ing their "strongest" support to Repub-
lcan candidate? 1t seemed like Brownie
was advocating dividing it up a bit
maybe to give Wheeler a few essential
crumbs should that worthy make the
primary election hurdle in the Demo
cratic race-a possibility which while
seeming remote today might ensut
should AL 1.-the Democrats who fee
disgraced by Wheeler get into the po-
litical combat Then Wheeler witt
Burke Clements and Barclay CraigheaC
Democratic appointees of Republican
Governor Sam Clarence Ford who can
find a Copper to take their place. woulC
be able TO count three and get Wheeler
the nomination
Some malicious wits recalled somt
sad stick strawmen stuck up by Copper
in the days Of yore when BERTHE Wheeler
was taking the political hurdles.
point out that the u S. will still hav'
an Army Of Occupation overseas in boil
the ETO and PTO when Wheeler run
for fifth term as senator next year
If the Goppers play political pattycak
with Wheeler in 1916 as they have il
the past it is altogether probable the.
will run some CT overseas agains
Wheeler should he get the Democratic
nomination This would be in line will
past Republican procedure in Wheeler
case. Unfortunately I do not find il
the CT Bill Of Rights any provision re
quiring the Republican party to adyis
its candidates that they are running TO
office and want to know how fellow
in Tinian or Casablanca can put u
much of race for the Senate, evei
against a knave like Wheeler, if tn
CT doesn't know he is a candidate7
Wheeler was not present at the gath
ering of the Republican clan but, a
was forecast by Editor Tom Stout q
the Lewistown Democrat News, Cover
nor Sam Clarence Ford was presen
Stout has for years been aware Of wha
a monstrous fraud Wheeler is and whe
he suggested that Ford would represer
Wheeler at the COP session it wa
probably from first hand knowledge {
skullduggery as practised by Senate
Wheeler. In the near % YEARS tn;
Wheeler has held public office, ANNA.
sing a sizable fortune whilst presun
ably in the service of the public, i
has learned most Of the trick, Of ii