The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-02-19
BY GRETCHEN G. BILLINGS

Saturday when Democrats met il
Helena to honor their National Chair
man, Stephen A. Mitchell and his
wife, Evelyn Mitchell.
For the banquet Friday mite at
tended by at least 800, some clever
people had made place cards of a
donkey resting on its rear launches,
for each guest. A few skeptics tho
highly impressed with the work that
went into preparing them, hoped the
position of the donkey didn't indicate
the future attitude of the party.
The decorations committee had a
sense of humor, too. Amid all the
donkey place cards was lone ele-
plant for the press representative of
Helena's company paper.
Howard Craig, local entertainer,
delighted the partisan crowd with
ditty entitled Soup Kitchen Blues"
sung to the melody of who's Sorry
Now" Mr. and Mrs. Mike Kennedy
were given credit for the lyrics, which
seemed to come as a complete sur
prise to the Kennedys.
Stephen Mitchell's speech was
short, snappy and to the point. Harry
will cover it in more detail, but
among other things Mitchell intimat-
ed that Republican party concept of
government indicated that some COP
leaders had graduated magma cum
laude from the trees.
Leo c. Graybill, National Com
was master of ceremon- |
les. There were many introductions |
of active Democrats from around the |
state. 1t is always matter of con-
troversy at affairs like this whether
it is wise to introduce other than the
main speakers, and as it turned out
there were so many introduced those
that were not, felt they should have
been, and the result was few hurt
feelings. But then l can't remember
If hearing about political banquet,
ever, where no matter what course
vas taken, someone didn't come away
ceiling sighted.
John Holmes gave a tribute to Sam
Mitchell and Mitchell received
landing ovation for his so years in
'olitics, his % years in office and
us 80 years of life.
The tenor of the Democrats was
ct by John Bonner who said, eff
hey want rough and tumble con-
est let's give 'em rough and tumble
ontest. This is supposed to be
government of the people and we
lust give it back to the people" John
7as in fine fettle and this was one
f his best speeches.
The biggest ovation of the even
1g, however, was for Arnold Olsen :
yhen he stood up to introduce Steph-
n Mitchell. 1t must have been heart l
ming to Olsen, who has taken the .
udgle for the people," whom the
profess to represent, and I
ept the fight going through the c
reary days. He has had to incur the G
rath of all the vested interests in the C
ate, fully recognizing that they n
ork in the manner of termites to z
ndermine any man with the courage 6
, oppose them. u
Democrat women had a breakfast n
aturday morning Feb. Is, to honor L
rs. Mitchell which was held in the e.
asement of the Placer Hotel to ia n
litate attending meetings at 10 a. s.
on the mezzanine of the same Ho- q
/. n
To the CONSERVATION of the COM L
ittee in charge of the breakfast ,
ost of the women went from the .
lsement to the dining room up
airs to eat. p
1t was profitable morning for the u
acer Dining room. After charging Il
cents to the Democrat women for 81
mato juice, coffee, and roll they Ia
rived most of them second break
st in their dining room. pr
Many of the women figured that CT
2 Democrat women had made lit III
money on the affair and so didn't ~
mplain about the meagre fare. IL
'wever, the committee had ordered w
75-cent breakfast and didn't think ~
was necessary to check on whether Fl
,y would get their monies worth. o.
L l.