The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-04-06

"Never in the history of Montana
has so much money been allocated t(
beat candidate for office, veter'
an politician told me today when we
were talking about Arnold Olsen.
Of course that is nothing unex-
pected. Olsen's activities the past
seven years in behalf of the people OF
Montana precluded any possibility
that he would run for higher office
without the finances of every big in
terest group being pitted against him.
1t means a great deal to the oil in
terests, the Anaconda interests, the
power interests, the communications
interests, the gambling interests, to
defeat Olsen. He has fought them
all in his capacity as Attorney Gener-
al when he thought their desires so
greedy they conflicted with the best
interests of the people of the state.
He is on record as perhaps the only
official in the history of the state
who has unfailingly and uncompro-
misingly put the peoples cases before
the courts where they could be heard.
He is the only gubernatorial can
didate to date in this campaign who
does not defend the oil companies at
tempt to lease school lands for pit
lance.
Early reports that the Murray
forces were involved in the state cam
paign have been denied, but daily it
becomes more evident they are active
in favor of Bonner. Longtime Muir
ray campaigners are out in the field.
A former left-wing Republican en-
ployed in DC. through the blessings
of the Murrays is in the state button
boiling old-time acquaintance trying
to sell them the virtues of Bonner.
Now it is perfectly legitimate for
the Murrays to support anyone they
like, though it is not considered too
wise for party officials to get into
primary melee. Of course most peo-
pie know Olsen considered strongly
getting in the race against the Sena-
tor in 1854. He didn't and instead,
campaigned strongly for Murray. !
That may be the reason Murray peo-
pie are fighting Olsen, but rumor has |
it there is an appointment to the Sen
ate in the balance that might make it |
possible for Senator Jim to resign.
l am sure this will be strongly de-
MED, but it can't be removed from {
the campaign now in face of events.
If money can beat man for office
Olsen will have a rough time. His
nope is in the people he has repre-
'ented at the risk of his political fut-
Ire. If they sit down and think
hese things out he will win hands
Town. The job of the opposition is
% cast doubt on the man. The con-
est ahead will prove rather conclu-
lively whether it is worth the while
or a public official to fulfill his OBJ :
gation to the people, in fact as well
S in words.
We understand that Pat Gilfeather,
treat Falls attorney, is considering
ling for the State Supreme Court.
Ten more ballots came in after .
printed the results of my poll last
yeek. One had voted for Eisenhow-
r in 1852, he would vote Democrat {
| 1856, and vice-versa, one had vot- 7
d for Stevenson in 80 but would l
ote Eisenhower in '56. Eight voted i
,r Stevenson in '52. Of those eight a
even would vote for Kefauver in a l
emocratic primary. =
Governor Aronson will join Mon t
ina Democrats this week in uphold =
g the Grow Indian request for five
illion dollars for the Yellowtail dam 7
tie, according to press release from r.
S office.
Orvin Flare, second district con- T
essman, has opposed the sum for
e Indians and is being supported by