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In the primary held on December 7, 1963, Jones failed in a comeback attempt against Montgomery. Calling himself an "[[Independent voter|Independent]]", Jones endorsed the unpledged elector movement for the 1964 presidential campaign, a position originally held by Montgomery himself.<ref>''Minden Press,'' December 9, 1963, p. 1.</ref>

In the primary held on December 7, 1963, Jones failed in a comeback attempt against Montgomery. Calling himself an "[[Independent voter|Independent]]", Jones endorsed the unpledged elector movement for the 1964 presidential campaign, a position originally held by Montgomery himself.<ref>''Minden Press,'' December 9, 1963, p. 1.</ref>

Oddly, Montgomery and colleague [[Danny Roy Moore]], who represented Claiborne and Bienville parishes, had side-by-side desks in the far right corner of the Senate chamber. Moore noted too that he and Montgomery were the most conservative members of the chamber during the 1964-1968 term.<ref>Statement of Danny Roy Moore, Arcadia, Louisiana, January 5, 2011.</ref>​

Oddly, Montgomery and colleague Danny Roy Moore (born 1925), who represented Claiborne and Bienville parishes, had side-by-side desks in the far right corner of the Senate chamber. Moore noted too that he and Montgomery were the most conservative members of the chamber during the 1964-1968 term.<ref>Statement of Danny Roy Moore, Arcadia, Louisiana, January 5, 2011.</ref>​

According to Montgomery's obituary in ''The  Shreveport Times,'' he was indeed "known as a staunch conservative. Fellow conservatives loved him, and even those who disagreed with his views respected him. All who knew him either personally or by reputation respected him for his impeccable veracity, honesty, patriotism, fairness, dedication, and his love of [[God]], family, home, and country."<ref name=obit/>​

According to Montgomery's obituary in ''The  Shreveport Times,'' he was indeed "known as a staunch conservative. Fellow conservatives loved him, and even those who disagreed with his views respected him. All who knew him either personally or by reputation respected him for his impeccable veracity, honesty, patriotism, fairness, dedication, and his love of [[God]], family, home, and country."<ref name=obit/>

In the 1959 and 1963 [[Governor|gubernatorial]] election years, Montgomery, like most of his constituents, opposed the candidacy of fellow Democrat [[Chep Morrison]], the [[mayor]] of [[New Orleans]] from 1946 to 1961 and later ambassador to the Organization of American States. Montgomery believed that Morrison, as governor, would work to dismantle the segregated school system still in place in the state even though Morrison, considered a party [[liberal]], was openly committed to maintaining segregation. Montgomery supported state Senator [[William Rainach]] of neighboring Claiborne Parish in the gubernatorial primary. When Rainach finished third in the balloting, Montgomery, like virtually all of Rainach's supporters, backed former Governor [[Jimmie Davis]] in the Democratic runoff. Davis then defeated Morrison and thereafter turned aside Republican [[Francis Grevemberg]] in the [[general election]] held on April 19, 1960.​

In the 1959 and 1963 [[Governor|gubernatorial]] election years, Montgomery, like most of his constituents, opposed the candidacy of fellow Democrat [[Chep Morrison]], the [[mayor]] of [[New Orleans]] from 1946 to 1961 and later ambassador to the Organization of American States. Montgomery believed that Morrison, as governor, would work to dismantle the segregated school system still in place in the state even though Morrison, considered a party [[liberal]], was openly committed to maintaining segregation. Montgomery supported state Senator [[William Rainach]] of neighboring Claiborne Parish in the gubernatorial primary. When Rainach finished third in the balloting, Montgomery, like virtually all of Rainach's supporters, backed former Governor [[Jimmie Davis]] in the Democratic runoff. Davis then defeated Morrison and thereafter turned aside Republican [[Francis Grevemberg]] in the [[general election]] held on April 19, 1960.​

Montgomery in a 1964 appearance said that the Louisiana legislature is independent only when a two-thirds vote is required for select issues; otherwise the governor's program is nearly always automatically adopted. "The way Louisiana is governed is by the man we elect governor of this state. With a bad governor we'll fail," Montgomery said. His legislative ally, [[B. H. "Johnny" Rogers]] of Grand Cane in DeSoto Parish south of Shreveport, agreed: "The government of Louisiana cannot be any better than the governor of Louisiana."<ref name=sjournal/> Rogers urged citizens interested in good government to come to committee hearings in Baton Rouge. In such cases, their mere presence will impress legislators.<ref name=sjournal>{{cite web|url=http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15140coll23/id/2266|title=Legislators support med bonds|publisher=''[[Shreveport Journal]]''|author=Harry Taylor|date=May (day missing) 1966|accessdate=October 25, 2014}}</ref>​

Montgomery in a 1964 appearance said that the Louisiana legislature is independent only when a two-thirds vote is required for select issues; otherwise the governor's program is nearly always automatically adopted. "The way Louisiana is governed is by the man we elect governor of this state. With a bad governor we'll fail," Montgomery said. His legislative ally, [[B. H. "Johnny" Rogers]] of Grand Cane in DeSoto Parish south of Shreveport, agreed: "The government of Louisiana cannot be any better than the governor of Louisiana."<ref name=sjournal/> Rogers urged citizens interested in good government to come to committee hearings in Baton Rouge. In such cases, their mere presence will impress legislators.<ref name=sjournal>{{cite web|url=http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15140coll23/id/2266|title=Legislators support med bonds|publisher=''[[Shreveport Journal]]''|author=Harry Taylor|date=May (day missing) 1966|accessdate=October 25, 2014}}</ref>​

 

==Further political developments==​

==Further political development==​

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In 1960, Montgomery opposed increases requested by the new Davis administration in the salaries of elected and appointed state officials instead of pay hikes for the lower-income state workers.<ref>"Lawmakers Voice Disappointment on Results of 1960 Legislature," ''Minden Press,''  July 18, 1960.</ref> That same year, he supported legislation to make the dumping of litter or trash along roads in the state or parish road systems a crime punishable by fines of up to $100 (equivalent of 950  dollars in 2020).<ref>"Montgomery Seeks Anti-Litter and Park Commission Legislation," Minden Press,'' June 6, 1960, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1960, Montgomery opposed increases requested by the new Davis administration in the salaries of elected and appointed state officials instead of pay hikes for the lower-income state workers.<ref>"Lawmakers Voice Disappointment on Results of 1960 Legislature," ''Minden Press,''  July 18, 1960.</ref> That same year, he supported legislation to make the dumping of litter or trash along roads in the state or parish road systems a crime punishable by fines of up to $100 (equivalent of 950  dollars in 2020).<ref>"Montgomery Seeks Anti-Litter and Park Commission Legislation," Minden Press,'' June 6, 1960, p. 1.</ref>​

(Harold Montgomery was not related to former state Representative Billy Montgomery, a Democrat-turned-Republican from Bossier City and Haughton.​

(Harold Montgomery was not related to former state Representative Billy Montgomery, a Democrat-turned-Republican from Bossier City and Haughton.​

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==References==

==References==

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