The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-07-12
Post-Dispatch Writer Finds That Wheeler
VIII Need Republican Votes

almost unanimous support from this
bloc although Wheeler has made
seemingly minor inroads. CLIO is rep
resented principally among copper
miners, smelter workers and oil field
workers.
Both sides agree that support by
members of AFL unions will be sharp
ly divided, perhaps about equally, be-
tween the two candidates. The AFL
unions have many thousands of mem
bers in construction, lumber, machine,
service and other trades, including the
numerous bartenders in wide-open
Montana.
The state ALL federation makes no
political Endorsements. William Green,
national president of the AFL, has
come out for Wheeler, but the Cascade
County Trades & Labor Assembly at
Great Falls which includes the CLIO
as well as AFL unions, has criticized
Green for this 1t called Wheeler zone
of Americas leading fascists." Some
ALL locals also have criticized Green.
1t is conceded by Erickson that most
of the hundreds of Montana members
of John L. Lewis's United Mine Work
ers will vote for Wheeler An indorse-
ment by Lewis is included in the
Wheeler campaign leaflets
Among the democratic organizations
in the counties, Erickson is looking for
strong support. The democratic coun-
ty organization at Billings, in strong
republican county, has officially pro-
nounced Wheeler party prograde"
interested only in personal political
gain and the darling" of un-Ameri-
can elements.
Both sides agree there is much
apathy among the voters. Attendance
at meetings for both candidates has
not been up to expectations. While
some politicians question the extent
to which republicans will enter the
democratic primary, the marked pre-
ponderance of opinion is that repub-
lican votes for Wheeler could decide |
the contest Erickson supporters hope |
that keen republican primary fights
for lucrative posts as sheriff andfor
other local offices in some larger
counties will keep republicans in their
own corral
Wheeler told the correspondent:
''Iye always been democrat, but
Montana has strong Independent
vote, and no one can be elected Just
by democratic or republican votes"
Registration is about 225,OOO. If
more than 10000 to 100000 democratic
ballots are cast in the primary, it will
De surprising, and the vote, might even
De lighter. Although Montana now has
republican governor and legislature
Ind three other republicans among the
tate officers, there usually is a much !
heavier democratic vote than republi-
an in primaries.
Wheeler won reelection by a record
lurality of 10000 in 1910 against c
epublican who was away on military =
ervice, while Roosevelt carried the i
tate by $4,000. Then in 1914 Sam C. e
ord, incumbent defeated Erickson \
Or governor by $4,000, while. Roose- c
cit won by 10000. c
Before the war Wheeler was an out C
landing national speaker for the. iso- 1
ltionist America First. He told the S
he received no fees, but
My expenses. and was not a member c
the organization, although, he had 1
dvised its early promoters. Rather S
ian an "isolationist" he described p
imself as "non-interventionist. A
Gerald L. K. Smith, head of the g
resent-day America First party, an p
ounced a month ago that Wheeler s.
as among the members of congress a
hose reelection it favored.
Wheeler said he had spoken dis 81
lragingly of Smith, but he did not a
pudiate the Endorsement. Wheeler N
as bitterly critical of Sidney Hillman IL
Id the PAC over the announcement 3
few weeks ago that PAC opposed rs
'heeler. II
Erickson has criticized Wheeler for d
lure to use his senatorial position in
stop freight-rate discrimination SO
.ainst Montana. The state, largely W