Montana labor news., 1935-03-21
BUTTE PRIMARY ELECTION

lit must oAShiANah a. III liz inliNl lAihdl1 NhSN
ton was the vote given to Charles Hauswirth. What was
the reason he received so many more votes than any other
candidate? It's answer lies in the mood of the people. This
mood is one of bitterness, establishment, anger and des-
peration. The people have been suffering in mind and body
for five and one half years. Some of the theologians say
also that there is a spiritual and moral breakdown. From
the point of view of the extreme liberals this latter assertion
is not correct. Religious teachers have done little to attempt
to alleviate the misery. It has taken no positive position that
would tend to fundamentally alter the capitalist structure and
it is this capitalist profit system structure that must be chang
ed before any lasting relief can be secured.
In respectto the government itself the people since the in
ception of the constitution, have idolized the republican forms
governing this country. Are they losing faith in that con-
s%titution and those republican forms as agents to insure them
life, liberty and the pursuit Of happiness? It seems that they
are. From every state legislature comes reports of contests
to challenge the consttutionality Of every liberal measure
that managed to Il become a law. More and more the people
see that the constitution is mostly an instrument to protect
the wealth, privileges and ruling position of the rich. This
is so in every state constitution and the national con
stitution. 1t was Theodore Roosevelt who said that the con
stitution should be interpreted in the light of the twentieth
century and in a spirit in accord with the changes that modern
science has brought about. Too many judges of the state
supreme court fail either deliberately or through ignorance
to apply that principle to their decisions. And too many
Federal judges cannot yet see that times have changed. That
we are living in a different world than when the constitutions
were first framed. The recent decision affecting adversely
the interests of the working people concerning their rights
in the coal code is one instance. Inc adverse decision G
garding the government and the Tennessee Valley Authority
is another and the decision Of Judge Nields at Wilmington,
Delaware tossed Labors right to organize aside as 50 much
trash.
1t is not only as regards the lethargy Of the churches and
the failure of the agencies of the government to relieve the
distress Of the people, although these things have aided in
teaching, but above all it is the physical senses of the
poor men and women that is pointing the way to them OF the
truth. What then has the depression taught these men and
,-o~ran7 If bc tanoht them that scarcity has been COn0uer-
ed. That they live in a land Of milk and honey which they
are not allowed to touch, although they created it. 1t has
taught them that the society in which they live and which is
ruled by the rich and powerful, is not the best type of society.
That property rights are more valuable than human lives.
They have also been taught that there is an abundance Tor
every one, that no child need labor, that no one need want,
that happiness and leisure and culture could be had by every
one if they could shake loose the vultures from their backs.
Contemplating this back ground Of newly acquired know
ledge what may be expected from the people. One thing in par
ticular. The rallying of these folks to the standard OF any
one with the courage to attack their oppressors. To any one
who will offer to lead them to the promised land. The peo-
pie know that they are being wronged but they know of no
definite way to get away from it. Consequently, in their
blind cropping for deliverance they look hungrIy for a leader.
All this is evidenced by the tremendous upheaval in the cam
paign Of Upton Sinclair in California, the enthusiasm Of the
followers of Huey Long, Of Governor Olson, and last but not
least the flocking to the banner Of President Roosevelt in
1882. More often than not the people are fooled, betrayed.
Very few men and women are ideaistic and practical at
the same time. 1t is a combination of these qualities COM
bined with the element of sacrifice that makes a true leader.
Undoubtedly President Roosevelt is one of the most sym
pathetic men who has ever been in the White House, but is he
willing to make the personal sacrifices to bring about a new
industrial and social order? It is d doubtful. The same APP
plies to Hdey Long. Abraham Lincoln was a type OF leader
combining all three elements. 1t is said that when he went
to the White House he was so poor that he took all his world
" possessions in handkerchief. Never in the history of this
country have the common folks needed a leader so much as
they need one now. Never has Butte needed a leader so much
as it needs one now.
The working men and women of Butte nominated Mr..
Hauswirth. In every part of the city he received a majority
of the votes. These men and women are looking to him as
their leader to bring them out of this morass of suffering.
Will he do it? viii he carry through? AS a merchant, sell
ing 100000 worth Of coal, in the last fourteen months, to
the relief alone, is he willing to abolish the profit system.
In no other way and, by no other method, can be basicaly
assist the common people who voted for him.
There are many instances in history of the working people
collaborating with the bourgeois, the merchants, to achieve
rights or privileges. In hardly any instance have the eX-
periments proved successful. Sooner or later the interests
of the merchants and the interests Of the people conflict. 1t
will be interesting to observe what will happen in this case
if Mr.. Hauswirth is elected mayor.