BIG SKY -- A Montana Republican Party platform committee voted 5-1, with one abstention, Friday to support a ballot measure repealing the voter-passed state ban on the use of the cyanide leach method to mine gold and silver.

The Resolution Committee also unanimously endorsed a separate constitutional initiative that would define marriage in Montana as a legal union between one man and one woman.

Its recommendations go before the full convention today for a final vote.

The lone dissenter on cyanide leach mining issue was the panel's chairman, Sen. Gary Perry, R-Manhattan. He warned of the potential political consequences.

''We have a lot of Republican candidates around the state who will be nailed hard in their communities and their elections if the Republican Party steps out with the resolution," Perry said.

But Rep. Rick Ripley, R-Wolf Creek, disagreed.

''If we don't put this in the platform, then we will be eliminating Republican candidates in this state," Ripley said. ''Republicans are taking a stance that it's time to develop our natural resources and become a Treasure State again."

Initiative 147, which backers say already has sufficient signatures to qualify for the Nov. 2 general election, would repeal the state's 1998 ban on the use of the cyanide leach method to mine gold and silver.

The resolution, which expresses the state party's position, says I-147 imposes ''new stringent environmental regulations on gold and silver procedures within the state which allow for the protection of the environment."

It goes on to say that voter passage of I-147 ''will create an opportunity to enhance the availability of good jobs, provide for economic growth and increase the tax base, providing increased revenue for such things as education, health care and funding for local and state governments."

Tammy Johnson, the Whitehall woman who heads the group advocating I-147, provided copies of the resolution, and Ripley offered it as a new resolution.

Perry argued that adoption of the resolution could cost Republican candidates some legislative seats. Ripley countered that the party could gain more seats than it loses by passing the resolution.

Perry said he would prefer the resolution instead say the Republican Party supports the initiative process.

''We can all agree we support the initiative process," Ripley said. ''What I'm saying is I think all Republicans need to stand up and say they support I-147."

Perry was successful in getting the panel to eliminate platform language that he said would hurt Republican governor candidate Bob Brown in his race against Democrat Brian Schweitzer. The committee deleted language that said the Republican Party ''supports the transfer of administration of all federal lands, excluding military installations, in Montana to the state of Montana."

''We have some battles ahead, and that is to elect Bob Brown governor," Perry said. ''Brian Schweitzer is coming to Gallatin County talking about how Republicans want to transfer all federal land to the state."

On the other issue, with little discussion, the panel endorsed state Constitutional Initiative 96 to define a legal marriage as the union between one man and one woman. Members also called for separate amendment to the U.S. Constitution to accomplish the same goal.

It is an effort to stop courts from allowing gay people to legally marry.

Sen. Kelly Gebhardt, R-Roundup, said recent polls show about 70 percent of Montana voters favor CI-96.