The war of the Republicans

A half-century ago the power in Montana politics was the Montana Power Company. Created to provide electricity for the operations of the Anaconda Copper Company, “the terrible twins” dominated Montana both economically and politically for most of the last century.

Through their organizations they recruited legislative candidates from both parties, kept track of legislative votes and selectively informed Montanans by the newspapers they controlled.

Much of the old order changed with the adoption of Montana’s 1972 Constitution, which opened up and transformed our government. New cen...