Montana labor news., 1932-06-30
ABOLISH THIS GAG ON POLITICAL LIBERTY.

ABOLISH THIS GAG ON POLITICAL LIBERTY.
Under the American form of government as expressed
in the Declaration of independence and declared in the
Federal Constitution, every citizen has the right to par
ticipate in the processes for selecting all elective officers
of the government. This right applies especially to the
election of members of the House of Representatives and
the Senate. 1t attaches to all citizens, whether they are
civilians or employees of the Federal government.
The citizen who takes an interest in national political
affairs usually works and votes for or against the election
of a candidate for the House or the Senate according to
that candidates public record.
To deprive any citizen or group of citizens of this right
is to deny them political essentials without which Ameri-
can citizenship means but little.
Nevertheless, this deprivation is just what the United
States Civil Service Commission does in its rules re-
stricting the political activities" of employees of the gov
eminent.
The Commissions rules are especially sinister in con-
nect1on with the drastic pay cuts and other reactionary
measures which the present Congress voted to impose on
Federal employees.
Under the Constitution, Federal employees have the
right to endeavor to defeat in the November election
members of Congress who voted a 81, 600, 600, 900 dole
from Federal funds to banks and other institutions in
financial distress, and then sashed the pay of govern
ment employees nearly $500, 100000 a year on the pretext
of necessity in balancing the budget.
Federal employees also have the right, under the Consti-
tuition, to endeavor to elect members of Congress who
voted against the Federal pay cuts and opposed other
Legislation inimical to the interests of over half a million
government workers.
But the Civil Service Commission announces that it
will recommend dismissal from the government service
OF all government employees who assert their political
rights to oppose and attempt to persuade other citizens
to oppose the reelection of wageslashing Representa-
tives and Senators and who favor and attempt to get
other citizens to favor the election of Representatives and
Senators who voted against the Federal pay cuts.
The language of the Commission is plain. On the pen
atty it will seek to impose on Federal employees who OPP
pose the Federal pay-slashers it says:
ITO make a public attack on a candidate for pub
lie office is to take active part in a political cam
Daipn. Such action by an empIOye is a violation ne
Civil Service Rule ], and may subject the offending
employe to separation from the public service. IF
the attack is made by the joint action of several en-
ployes, the guilt is still personal and attaches to each
employee separately and severally for the purpose of
the administration of the civil service law"
The Commission is equally plain regarding the penalty
it proposes to apply to Federal employees who exercise
their Constitutional right to work and vote for the cleo
ton Of Representatives and Senators who opposed the
pay cut. 1t says:
+ the Commission accordingly holds that it
is contrary to the civil service rules prohibiting DO
liticaI activity for any organization of classified Fed
eral employees to issue letters or statements making
direct or implied suggestion that the Federal en-
ployes vote or work for the return to office of those
legislators whose records are regarded as favor
able in matters primarily or solely concerning Fed
eral employees"
The clear meaning of this rule is that the Civil Service
Commission threatens with dismissal all EMPLOYEES in the
Federal classified service who work for the election of
Senators or Representatives who have favored main
tanning the living standards of government employees and
against the election OF Senators and Representatives who
have opposed maintaining those standards.
This threat OF dismissal is an economic terrorism ut
terly unworthy of an agency of the Federal government.
1t flaunts the Declaration of independence. 1t nulifies
rights set forth in the Federal Constitution. 1t denies
political liberty. 1t sets up in the capital of the United
States a ~despotism similar to the relationships imposed
by the governments Of Soviet Russia and Fascist Italy.
The United States Civil Service Commission it not ex-
empted from the provisions of the Federal Constitution.
1t should abolish without delay this gag on the consttu-
tonal rights of American citizens who are employees Of
the government.