The people's voice., 1959-01-02
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
By GRETCHEN G. BILLINGS

| | think the legislature is going 10 10
and close their comments with the
observation that they will be less
nervous when the legislators have all
gone home.
We need to pump a few red cor
puscles into the democratic idea of
representative government, put up a
little more fight to keep legislators on
their toes, pay more attention to
Helena and what goes on, and revital-
ize grass roots contact with these
fellows who shook our hand and
asked for our vote that sent them to
the Capitol to transact our biennial
business.
Democrats fought to the bitter end
over closing the state office, but close
it they did. We got phone call Sat-
urday telling us "the Democratic state
office now sits in a truck in front
of the Power Block''.
Grace Bates, vice chairman, bat
tied valiantly, and for her efforts
the comment was made, "Who does
she think she is, chairman?
So the Democratic party for the
time being has been Hu (gh) manized
Even after the rent had been
paid on the office for the month of
January.
Some Democrats are determined
to keep the office open in this coming
political biennium, but just
how it is going to be done hasn't been
announced out loud.
This, however, was predicted at the
August convention, and no one paid
any attention to it, or else didn't
care.
1t was said, then, the new chairman
would be nothing but caretaker,
and now they are saying "little did
we know-we elected an undertaken.
A lot of people didn't want to ap-
oroach building Governors Mansion
on shoe string and it was quite a
subject of debate in several sessions
IF the legislature before the abortive
process that has developed began.
Deals like this scare politicians to
leath, and their fear has been re-
lected in every step of this project
with the legislature.
The Governor has shrugged off all
with his tar paper shack
omment-he lived in one and leaves
he impression he would still live in
ne without complaint, even, if you
lease, as Governor.
This is just political flim-flammery
like the approach he takes to every
hing depending on the occasion
ough, tough, calloused superman, etc.
But this has left it's mark on the
lansion and I can never think of it :
kept l think of a remodeled tar
aper shack.
The front of it looks like a 1927
rade school. 1t sits without furniture
nd has to be heated to keep it from
ecoming musty.
1t is not good for house not to
3 lived in-maybe the Governor
ould be willing to exercise occu-
ancy if we gathered up and sent
m some apple boxes. Most tar paper
lacks didn't have much better.
| hope something will be done to
It it finished and get Governor
it. Furnishing and landscaping will
lot to make it look better, and
neither it is as worthy of represent
g the people of the state as resi-
nee for their chief executive or
vt, it is better than the present one,
ID we might as we'll relax because
has gone too far now to renig.
aybe sometime when we get flush
: can change the front of the place
maybe even the Governor can
augurate a do-it-yourself project
d give us the real tar paper shack
Any atmosphere" might be pre-
rrable to the unattractive formal
presently has.
We hear rumors that New Years
eetings to Montana people from the
lephone Company may we'll be in
form of request for rate in
,ase.
Butte people are talking about an
plane that sat at the airport for