The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1951-03-09
Bv GRETCHEN G. BILLINGS

times the case, it seems longer ClaL
two DAYS ago las | write thls) thai
it ended. In fact, it is as if it were
dream-n maybe.
Be that as it may it was an eX-
citing session. Battling against what
seemed like insurmountable odds, the
nroblems were all-consuming. Even a
few minutes away from the galleries
and YOU were sure to miss something.
There were hours of routine debate
and discussion, but the minute you
left YOU were bound to wish you
hadn't.
Here at the Coop with only the two
of us to do so many things we we're
torn between duties the neces-
sity to report as much as possible and
the necessity to keep the wheels
rolling at the office. Thanks to a
couple swell back shop boys things
moved as we'll as they did.
Ususally the dying hours of ses-
sion are just that. But not for the
kids who came to Helena this time.
It was a photo finish.
Last IllulLG 1 ONtb4AAN ekHEOA~A vi -
were presented to the senate on
Thursday. Among them were one
fer the board of health and one for
the welfare board. The two had al
ready served two of a five-year term
and were among the several others
to be confirmed.
Just what prompted the scenes
that followed it IS hard TO say, but
there are some pretty good guesses.
The committee handling these con-
formations came out with do con-
firm" recommendations. The Gov
ernor had had word the night before
that there was going to be trouble
over the appointments. The commit
tee on Boards and Officers had asked
Tor the evidence which was going to
be used against these people to be
presented to the committee, but Mr..
Gosman told them he preferred to
present it on the floor. 1t wasn't ex-
a,etly cricket, because it didn't give
the parties involved a chance to
speak for themselves before they were
publicly smeared.
After the evidence against Mr..
Steinmetz had been presented on the
floor of the Senate and the appoint
ment rejected, senators became I'M
easy. A motion was made to set aside |
for the time being the second con-
The results of that move
rave the second appointment a chance
to appear before the committee and
also resulted in a complete clearing
up of the situation and her confirma-
ton.
What were the motives behind the
tactics used in the cases of the two
people who have had to take this
muck?
Why would not Mr.. Gosman pre-
5ent the evidence to the committee
50 the matter could be handled prop
erly?
Is it not true that the "photo-
static" evidence fluttered in the halls
Of the senate was the same material
being used by the Legion Leadership
n their campaign to get their 'com-
and discredit any number of
Montana people?
Why was Mr.. Gosman willing to ac-
.ept without finding out for himself
hat this information was being mis-
Is Mr.. Gosman gullible
Is he Legion Leadership compil-
ng this type of information with
compile e disregard for the truth?
We must consider these things
-ather seriously because we do have
an un-American Committee, now, and
he evidence the Legion Leadership
presented established the need, with
)ut, to anyone's knowledge, question
ng anyone involved, lie. What is the
Civil Rights Committee in Great
Falls? 1t wouldn't have taken the
services of "the Shadow" to have
'ound out, you know.
By the time the senate was ready
o consider the appointment of
Charlotte Holtz to the Board of
fealth the word was around. The