Montana labor news., 1932-11-03
To the Montana Labor News:

tana is entitled to the voting fran
chise under Section 2 of Article TX
Of the Constitution Of the state of
Montana, if he has the following
qualifications, viz: First, he shall
be a citizen of the United States;
second, he shall have resided in this
state one year Immediately preced-
ing the election at which he offers
to vote, and in the town, county or
precinct such time as may be pre-
scribed by law.
That section of said Article TX
is entirely in accord with the basic
principle upon which popular gov
eminent is founded. 1t exemplifies
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE,
BY THE PEOPLE, AND FOR THE
PEOPLE!"
The proposed amendment to Sec
ton 2 of Article TX sets up a new
theory Of exercising the voting fran
chise in this state, namely: Firstly
and. secondly, political franchise to
all qualified voters; thirdly, economic
voting franchise only to those who
can qualify as taxpayers. This di-
vision of the voting franchise into
political and economic factions is
clearly seen in the wording of said
proposed amendment, which reads as
follows: eff the question submitted
concerns the creation of any levy,
debt or liability, the person, in addi-
ton to possessing the qualifications
above mentioned, must also be a
taxpayer whose name appears upon
the last preceding completed assess
ment roll, in order to entitle him to
vote upon such question"
Said amendment if adopted will be
a breeder of class hatred because il
is NOT in accord with the idea Of
government Of the people, by the peo-
pie and for the people. Said pro
posed amendment is the Doorstep
child" that the adherents Of the ABB
SENTEE LANDLORDS who rule
this state have left on the doorstep
of Montana voters hoping that said
voters may adopt it, and, so give
said spurious child conventional ere
dentials of respectabilityl
1t is argued by those sponsoring
the adoption Of said amendment that
its purpose is to prevent irresponsible
voters from voting to increase the
burdens of taxpayers. And l ask
you, Mr.. Workman, Mr.. Farmer, and
Mr.. Veteran, who are the sponsors
Of said amendment? And you answer.
the bankers, power companies, cor
porations that have %monopOlies OF
mineral and lumber resources, and
industrial corporations of this ano
other states, and your answer is
correct.
But your answer should cover more
territory. 1t should include adherents
of said ABSENTEE LANDLORDS
such as Commercial Clubs, Rotarians
Kiwanis, Lions, and all other associa-
lions of middlemen of whatsoever
kind or nature. Nor should you
overlook ministers Of certain demon
nations who are honorary members
of business mems associations anC
who as free guests at business mems
banquets tell what a blessed thing
it is to bond and mortgage future
generations to the limit to increase
trade areas by building more roads
more bridges, more Of everything
that makes bond issues necessary
And the town, city, district, county
or state must collect at public ex.
pense the interest on said bonds anC
pay it over to the bondholders free
of cost. Too, taxpayers + assessed
a further sum to provide a sinking
fund to pay said bonds at maturity
and during the period that the bonds
run the banks are the chief bene'
ficiaries of said sinking funds. Fur
Their, said bonds make the safest in
vestments for bankers and make il
unnecessary for them to use then
capital in legitimate banking where
they must assume the hazards Of
loaning to those who seek gain in
merchandising and farmingl
Now, Mr.. Workman, Nh. Farmer
Mr.. Veteran, you know who are
responsible for b~urdening you with
intolerable taxes and for bonding
and mortgaging the future far be-
You'd the third and the fourth gen
erations. And doesn't that GROVE
make you suspicious when it de-
mands that you disfranchise non
taxpaying voters? And when they