The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-12-02

harry ndu oil dl IlCiC ieaoo WSoh
in the VOICE that carried statements
of Governor Aronson, Mary Condor
and Arnold Olsen on the oil leasing
controversy, and it is interesting to
note the Governor almost always
leaves himself an opening in his
criticism of Condor and Olsen, such
as the barn door in his speech to the
Woolgrowers when he said, 6. re-
gardless of what my personal views
may be-"
The Governor is an astute bust
ness man, he has shown that in much
of his administration of state govern
ment, and | don't think he really
disagrees with the stand Olsen and
Condor have taken on the oil issue
when he can't help but realize what
it does to the trust he has been given
to administer school lands.
When he speaks on oil he doesn't
argue the merits or dement's of the
law, he only condemns Condor and
Olsen.
No, don't think it is characteristic
from other attitudes of Aronson that
he can, deep-down, believe the law
is right.
| think Aronson knows the state
lands will be stolen from the school
children of Montana, because the
legislature set ceilings on what can
be secured from the oil companies
for education.
If he was ill-advised early in this
controversy he must be able to see
It clearly now when valuable land
comes UP for leasing. When he sits
n land board meeting as one of
The elected officials of the state, re-
sponsible for the business administra-
ion of school lands, and sees the oil |
expect to get the precious, |
oil and he can not say
this land is worth much more than
2 u 20 royalty and the school kids
# Montana are entitled to it," | will
lot believe he thinks it is right.
When he must simply sign his name
o a lease the oil companies wrote
nd the legislature passed, / don't
hink he thinks it is right.
Aronson is a business man. He
lade lot of money in the oil bust
ess, and he didn't do it by simply
gning his name to contract that
e didn't bargain over. I don't think
e believes the trust he administers
Or Montana school children should
e handled without any bargaining
over either.
I do not think at any point in this
will he argue that it is
ght. think that is why he has in
is speech the words, 6. =. regard
SIS of what my personal views may
E."
So he says in his speeches Condor /
i'd Olsen "believe themselves to be +
Dove the law" and have but one
lestion to ask: What law?
The constitution is buffer against /
discreet lay legislation. Laws may I
me and go, but the constitution is o
ere to protect the people. :
I repeat: Not once, but many times
lring legislative session the state &
emit is made on the floor of the ;,
gislature, '.It is not our job as
gislators to decide the constitution
ty of this law, we will leave that
the courts" Legislators know full
Ill their laws are subject to the
Institutional test, they expect ex-
smely controversial legislation to
tested. The constitutionality of
} oil leasing law was questioned
legislative halls before it became
v.
But if you agree with that, then
% is to test it? The only attorney =
J people have is the Attorney Gen II
Il. The oil companies, the power =
npanies, the trucking industry, all l.
We attorneys they hire, for much
ger retainer than we give the At
ney General to protect the peo- IN
IS interests. pc
1t is dangerous to assume the ~.
gislature is above reproach. 1t is Il,
imposed of people like you and i;
e who don't know any more about "a
than hog knows 10
,out Sunday, and they are the
rst to admit it.
There is nothing sinister about 1l