The Sidney herald., 1956-08-16

the Eisenhower administration ii
any event, but there is evidenc,
that some farmers who favored
the COP national ticket in 1876:
are weakening or drifting away
II should be alarmingly sig
nificant to Republicans tina
some Montana farmers who were
condemning the Benson agricul-
tural policies but were charitable
toward President Eisenhower jr
this connection are now linking
the president with the secretary
of agriculture as being blame
worthy. Whether the Benson pol
icies are in the best interests
of agriculture and the general
national economy is a holly con-
troversial question, but regardless
of the merits of the matter, 8
drift of farm votes from the
Republicans could easily in Mon
tana cost them congressional and
statewide elections, along with
the loss of our four presidential
electoral votes and likewise con-
troll of the legislature.
In my opinion, Mr.. Eisenhower,
first Republican presidential NOM
inee to carry Montana since 1928,
would carry the state if the cleo
ton were today, but by nothing
like the 51,l81 margin he had
in 1852. Subject to development
that cannot presently be forseen,
| believe President Eisenhower
will continue to hold the edge
down to November 6, but his
carrying the state would not
necessarily mean he would car
ry the majority of the Republi-
can ticket with him.
Mr.. EiSenhower's overwhelm-
ing victory four years ago in
normally Democratic Montana
did help Republican candidates,
but for some of them this was
not enough. l think it can be
accurately said that it was the
personal appeal of the Individual
candidate Cor hostility toward his
opponent), rather than the Els
enhower magnet, that pulled over
the successful Republicans, in
most cases by slim percentages.
You have probably often heard
the remark by persons who dis
definite party allegiance
that Il vote for the man and not
for the party" What these peo-
pie r really saying is that they
vote for or against a candidate
because they like him or don't
like him regardless of his party
abel. Although they probably do
not realize it, they are saying
further that they vote for the
candidate who they believe will
10 most to advance their special
interest, be it farming, industry,
business, trade unionism or what.
whose appeal to the
electorate is based on party
platforms and principles may
ant eternally at this 'heresy,"
out that does not altar the fact.
Hence the so-called independ-
mt voter - who is not nearly as
objective or unselfish as he
night think - may be and often
S the determining influence in
elections. The tendency of these
Independents is to fall into groups
II related self interest so that in
fleet they arc blocks of speci
interest votes at the polls.
Although Ezra Taft Benson,
secretary of agriculture, is. poi
'on to certain fractions in the farm
population, there are farmers in
Montana sympathetic to or toler-
of the Benson policies. These
re not as vociferous as the
vowed Benson foes. Therefore
! should be kept in mind that
he indignant and anguished
owing against Ezra Benson is
OF the universal voice of Mon
ana agriculture.
But the alleged indulgence of
ne department of agriculture in
ealing with the drought situa-
on IN eastern and central Mon
ana counties gives the anthem
forces an additional excuse
outcry against Secretary Ben
directly and the Eisenhower
administration incidentally. This
he Democrats will try to ex-
to their advantage.
In what degree Wesley
'Ewart, at this late stage. can
Ill the political storm among
nhappy Montana farmers re-
lains to be seen.