Evening star., 1946-07-16
torWheeIerFaces
Stiff Contest Today
In Montana Primary
By the hssocio ed Press

Montanans decide today the mat
ter Of ffth-term nomination for
Democratic Senator Wheeler who,
in the final days of a sizzling prl-
mary campaign. drew support from
President Truman and opposition
from James Roosevelt.
Senator Wheeler's contest with 40
vear-old Lief Erickson. former State
Supreme Court justice. overShadows
in national interest other primary
election races this week
Wyoming, Arizona and Arkansas
also are having primary elections
today while Georgia, where a torrid
race for the Democratic governor
ship nomination is winding up
votes tomorrow.
Labor Opposes Wheeler.
In the hot Montana campaign.
Senator Wheeler had the opposition
Of at least TWO labor organizations
the C1O and the Brotherhood OF
Railway Trainmen and of his
ray.
With moderately heavy vote of
about l25.000 forecast. Senator
Wheelers campaign chairman. Bal
ley Stortz. predicted victory by about
$4,000 votes.
An Erickson victory by 10000
votes" was the forecast from MI
Ercksons camp
special Senate committee is
investigating campaign expenditures
as a result of Senator Wheelers
protest that unfair propaganda,
financed by New York and Holly
wood money" had been injected
into the contest.
Other lssues revolved largely
around international affairs and the
railroad strike with MI Erickson
rontending the four-term Senator
had tried to put shackles OF slavery
on labor
Truman Aids Wheeler
President Truman entered the
campaign last week with a letter
to Mr.. StortZ MI Truman de-
clared campaign assertions that
Senator Wheeler is an enemy OF
railroad labor are sheer distor-
tions of the fact" and expressed
hope the smear campaign against
Burt Wheeler" would stop.
Mr Erickson retorted that the
President had made an attack upon
Montana men and women members
of ho I'll
mittee.
James Roosevelt stepped INTO The
picture Monday with a radio appeal
for Mr Erickson. He declared
'Wheeler went to very dangerous
extreme in opposing policies de-
signed for the protection OF our
Nation IN critical times
Last week MI Roosevelt backed
Representative De Lacy. Democrat.
in his successful campaign in the
Washington State primary.
Race in Wyoming.
Principal Wyoming interest IS The
race between former Gov. Nels H
Smith and State Treasurer Earl
Wright for the Republican sena-
torial nomination. The winner will
oppose Senator O'Mahoney. Demo-
crat, who is unopposed for renoml-
nation.
Arizonians climax an indifferent
campaign by choosing between Sen
ator Mcfarland and Harry j. Val
entine, Phoenix attorney, for the
Democratic senatorial nomination
The States two Democratic Repre-
sentatives Murdock and Hairless,
have only one challenger Albert H
Mackenzie Prescott lawyer.
denomination of Senator McFar-
land. Representatives Hairless and
Murdock and Gov. Sidney P. Osborn
is expected by observers
Arkansas primary election is split.
national nominees being named
today. State candidates on July 30.
This was arranged in an effort TO
prevent Negroes from voting for
State nominees They will be al
lowed to vote today. OF the seven
Democratic Representatives four
are unopposed but war veterans
are bidding to unSeat three-Rep-
resentatives HAYS. Harris and
CravenS.
Gene Talmadge, tnree-tlme Gov
ernor of Georgia, has raised The
white supremacy issue in Georgla's
primary He has three opponents
for the governorship nomination
former Gov f. D. Rivers, James Y.
Carmichael and Hoke O'kelleN. MI.
Carmichael has the support OF Gov.
Arnall On the question Of Negro
voting Mr. Rivers and Mr.. Car
michael have taken the stand that
the issue was settled by Supreme
Court decision holding Negroes are
entitled TO vote.
"It's tho laW-they will vote Mr.