The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-12-02
Thoughts Concerning The
Once Grand Party

For month political bordering
question: HAS the Republican party underground in Mon
ana?' More recently thoughtful OGP partytes
dering whether last weekends Republican meeting Helena
actually wake" before the final gravesde rites
Both questions have been answered The OGP has not
underground continues the past have its head
buried the sands of time Nor weekend gathering
wake despite the somewhat morbid outlook of of the
party leaders, including Sen Zales n Econ who insisted
publicly shadow-boxng with FDRs ghost The wake not
yebut be in the maknguness the OGP abandons its
longtime role of simply being agn the program of the
iority party.
age-od axiom that individual group
long stand still Either you go forward back
Prior the the OGP neither progressed slid back
any extent. 1t like rudderless schooner
dead calm 1t whred first then another fear
fully searching for formula prope itself back into
Liberty -Leagued 'me-tooed" with little mufed
its chance to regain its former grandeur 1914 by sdeep
ping Wendell Willkehe only Republican in 16 years who
fair of capturing the imagination of the American
people Wllke much too mid2Oh Century satisfy the
"old guard" leadership.
this static pre-war position gradually began
develop psychosis of yearnng the good old days.
No the leaders overly inclined accept too
attitude But in disavowing they offering nothing in the
way positive to take its place. In short their
political stock IN trade has become entirely negative
proach
The above intended to be disparaging in
Nor bid to be of the pabearers at the widely
heraded forthcoming funeral Rather written because
sincerely the all imminent danger country drift
ing zone party system such spelled the doom of the
German Republic of post World War days And should this
catastrophe be realized will be because of the default of the
Republican party and its leadership will because
Republicans apty put by Philip Wkie (on of Wendell
Wlke) failed produce :" sounder equally positive
program of security offset the Democratic party
cd of spending and Of total national income
for non-productive purposes. I"
Much of the American public today overly satisfied
with Trumansm and all it implies in building up huge non
productive machine Nor does presently consider vote
for third party other than futile Faced with choice of
Trumanism back to the nneties Repubcansm the
public almost invariably will choose the lesser of the evas
has been out of the last general elections.
Because of repeated the Democratic party has
become nsolent; has, in the few years. developed
creang tendency to ride roughshod all opposion has
become the victim of of 'purgtis Whether
be the judicial persecution of of the Communist
party the executive persecution of such Admiral
Denfed and Captain Crommelen thoughtful Americans
beginning realize that all who do conform to the Harry
Truman-Tom Clark party ne may be similarly prosecuted
the Republican party continues people CO.
fault only matter of time until it's leaders will begin
to suffer similarly Sounds impossible?
history bit and you'll find this be the end
suits any nation where group political
ligious, has become dominant
the Republicans do about it? One suggestion
seems quite order-quit doing what they've doing
which mostly wang and drawing silly pictures of
that they Philip Wilkes suggestion and draft positive
taking the party through $40 years in the wilderness
Montana am there many younger Repub
cans Charles Mahoney of Garfield Sen Don Vail
Powell and Rep Joseph McElwan also of Powell who
given opportunity could provide the leadership
essary the pad look the Once Grand Party
Lincoln Teddy Roosevelt and George Norris here in the Treas
Such recommendation that the Republicans