The Sidney herald., 1955-07-14
BY Ernest Immel

Helena - Death of 8~3-year-o1,
Secretary of State Sam w. Mitch,
ell and appointment of forme,
Sen S. G. Arnold of Stillwate,
county to fill the vacancy bs,
transferred political control -
the state board of examiner,
from the Democrats to the Re-
publicans. This is the first Tin
in more than two decades tba1
the Republicans have been in The
majority in this most important
state administrative board Mitch
ell had served continuously cinoe
January 1888.
In choosing Steve Arnold. nou
a Flathead lake East Shore rasi
dent, Gov. J. Hugo Aronson
named an old friend and a COL
league of the days when thew
were both state legislators. More,
over, Arnold was president Of
the Aronson for Governor c1,Ib
in 1852. Presumably he will %
along with Governor Aronson On
policy matters. Politically thew
think alike, and inherent in tbiS
thinking is traditional RepubIi-
canism unleavened by dogmatic
heresles or convulsed by crusad-
ing tendencies.
Steve Arnold IS well qualified
for the office of secretary ~
state, eve though his exnari-
ence in state governmental af-
fairs has all been in the IegisIa-
tive branch. I first met Steve
Arnold IN 1927, his initial term
as state representative. He has
always impressed me as delibar-
ate and cautious. He is easv of
manner, courteous and kindly
The state board of examiners
consisting Of the governor. at
torney general and secretary of
state, is n of heavy responsi-
bilities and wide authority &C
pecially in relation to exnendi-
lures. Since first taking office in
l949, Attorney General AronId II
Olsen has usually been able +o
1900 ~ u !
dominate the board, for v~irt11a1Tv
without exception Sam Mitchell
voted with him. This was s1Jb-
stantlally as true during the term
OF Democratic Gov. John w. Ron
ner as 1t was during the Aronson
administration.
That Governor Aronson. now
having control of the state board
OF examiners, will reap a politi-
cal advantage is not at all con
elusive, for such an assumption
fails to reckon with the political
.aStuteneSS of Arnold Olsen. who
Is now in an excellent position to
put Republicans Aronson and Ar
mold IN the spot.
The second most important
board on which the secretary of
state serves is the state board of
land commissioners, which since
the beginning of the Aronson
in 1858 has been in stale
mating controversy over state oil /
and gas leases. It was Aronson ]
On n side with Olsen, Mitchell f.,
and Mary M. Condor, state super +
ntendent of public instruction. on ;
he other. Now (if you will par
lon the pun) it will be even
stephen an. equally divided
,ote IN which neither side will
Prevail except in blocking and
frustrating the other. Hence the
ituation on the land board seems
Unlikely to be better and it may
,ecOme worse.
The death of Sam Mitchell, who
vas in his 23rd year as secretary
I state, may not improve the po-
-tical fortunes of Governor Ar
nSOn.
Aside from the competency and
Availability of Steve Arnold, I |
ont know what the governors /
onSiderationS were in making
MS selection. It may be surmised,
course, that one factor was
ersonal friendship.
Politicians disagree on the wiser !
purse in such a situation. In gen :
raj, those who think in terms of !
at the next election be-
eve the appOintee should be a
arson who will be a candidate
T the office at the polls and
no can be built for secretary of
ate in 1856 is an unanswered /
lestiOn. The fact that he would t
2 nearly 70 at the beginning of V
-e four year term in 1857 might [
.fluence him against running. O
The other point of view is that G
e governor gets himself off a Ii
.ot by appointing someone with G.