The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1951-02-23

| NUMBER OF senators.
Wednesday from the galleries some
1000 farm people watched the work
ings of the lawmakers.
Wednesday afternoon two spokes-
men appealed to the Governor IN his
reception room in front of crowd
that overlooked into the halls.
S. R. Logan of Charlo told the
Governor that these people were the
little people, that they were not
people who asked favors of the state
and national government. He said
that this legislature had not passed
any laws to produce new revenue,
that the attempt to raise additional
revenue from the little farmer would
produce very little in the way of
taxes and would dry up revenues In
closing he said we are frightened
and alarmed. We do not know what
will happen. We turn to the office
you represent for all tile people
of the State Of Montana"
Oscar Horsford of Wolf Point re-
called the days when the country was
on the verge Of revolution; when
these farmers formed their co-opera-
tives mot just to have something to
do, but to enable them to stay on
their farms. He said the bill was
not introduced as revenue measure !;
that revenue was not the issue; that
it was intended to cripple TIE 60
ops, and finally that if we are put
out of business they will bring their
houses down upon themselves. The
nation cannot prosper unless the
farmer prospers.
Tonight after the Governors as
surances that he would give every con-
sideration to what they had to say
and the final hearings were held
many farmers reluctantly started
home. There were cows to milk, CO.
ops to manage, and the already
costly trip to be considered. They
had all seen their senators, they
had applied the privileges OF demo-
cratic action, the rest was IN the
hands of the lawmakers.
HB255 and HB167 are still to be
considered by the senate after pass
ing the house with a wide majority:
Do these bills, ostensibly directed
at the Hdtterites, have much more
far reaching effects? butterflies have
theological views inconsistent with
military service, however, would not
this bill also apply to any priest or
minister of the gospel filing draft
registration form in which he seeks
deferment on account of his theo-
logical position? In the last war mini
sters were classified AID.
Thursday afternoon the senate gal
lery was packed. 1 imagine it was
difficult for senators to work There
was a Washington's Birthday pro-
gram in progress in the House and
being a holiday people milled in and
out of the galleries.
1t was said HB42 and HB39 were
going to be up for discussion dur
ing the course of the afternoon so
many of us waited.
1t was worth waiting for. Senator
Wilson had three amendments to of
fer. He fought for them in true
Wilsonian style, pulling no punches,
and roughing it a bit with the boys.
They were rejected by the senate.
They would have given protection
to the REAs.
Then came the highlight of the
entire afternoon. | believe it may be
recorded as the tops in political ex-
preston of the entire session. SEN
ator Wedemeyer took the floor in |
opposition to HB42. He had spoken |
out a few words when complete
lush came over the galleries and |
he senate floor. In a few words and |
With an eloquence and sincerity Sen. |
Wedemeyer convinced the at dience
hat HB42 was not good legislation.
He said he was not against pri-
rate power. He believed in public
power and private power, that both
nave place in our competitive econ
,my. The senator said he believed |
n fair play, and that his experience
vas that private power did not al