The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-02-24
Editorial
Gas Bill Veto
CONSUMERS GRANTED REPR!EvE

President EisenhoWers the natural bill
that of the nation will continue have certain
amount of protection against substantial and largely
raned gas insgated by the small handful
major gas companies which dominate the production phase
of the industry.
the Presidents considered of
smartest exhibitions of political in America in
the last decade.
The President vetoing the Harris-Fulbrght BILL laid
things While believing the basic tenets
the BILL he said the did include Specific language
protecting their right to fair prices That the
lobbying activities surrounding passage OF the bill had been
so arrogant risk creating doubt the American
people concerning the integrity of governmental processes
Some Democratic leaders branding the President
being POLITICALLY motivated" in vetong the BILL have
doubt that political motivation had important bearing his
final decision Certainly the 16 electoral votes of New York
New jersey Pennsylvania Massachusetts, few of
the heavy gasconsumng statehave chance of being
captured by the COP than do the odd electoral votes of
the four major southern gasprodung states of Texas Okla
homa Louisiana and Arkansas With Republican popularity
slipping the mark in the farm belt the COP must
gain all of the midAanc states in order
stay The four southern states had he signed the
gas BILL would probably for Eisenhower this fall.
But who the Democrats to raise such fuss pol
cal motivation Political expedency to just
as much part and parcel of the Democratic pay bag of tricks
it of the COP We have often employed by both
parties to be depored yet to be the
of American politics.
their effective campaign weaponshe probg business
gveaway Eisenhower Administration The Harris
Fubrght bill introduced the Congress by two Arkansas
Democrats The rammed through Democratic
Congress by Democrats Johnson and Rayburn So
far the is concerned it makes little
difference Democratic against the
BILL while for it, but they will rmeember that Re-
publican president halted it from becoming law
great aoriy the nations million gas consumers
the Dixon scandal the deland oil deal advocated by
the President undermining and gradual destruction of the
public program far away the political unrest
Morocco compared to substantially higher natural
rates which would have followed enactment of the Harris
Fulbrght bill The HarrsFubright bill, in their minds
gveaway of the 84h Democratic Congress- Re-
publican orators won't be letting them forget it, for
all the fact that far more Republican congressman than Demo
cratic voted for the bill.
Repeated Democratic charges of deerioratng morality in
government while valid number of confict of
interest to and including the cabinet level
have at least momentary lost much of their sting because of
the Presidents pointed reference to the Case campaign
trbuton affair and how such activities by lobbyists undermine
the faith of the people in the Integrity of governmental
cesses The President by his veto and his condemnation of
such tactics stroke reaffrn
in the public mind his great personal integrity and
any enhanced COP chances next November should he be