Montana labor news., 1936-02-27
THE UNICAMERAL
LEGISLATURE
By W. ]. PRIEST

We must depend Tor our information
upon these who have proven by their
action for years past; that they are
FRIENDS OF LABOR"
Personally | know Of only one man
in u public life who has devoted his
entire life to the cause Of the Common
People and he is the mar who spon-
sored, fought and put the Unicameral
Legislature over in Nebraska: Senator
George w. Norris. Wherever George
w. Norris leads, l, like thousands of
others, will gladly follow his Banner"
The following eulogys Of Senator
Norris, | think, are the greatest ever
paid any living American.
COX NEWSPAPERS UNUSUAL
TRIBUTE TO SENATOR NORRIS
On its editorial page, the Dayton
News, owner by James M. Cox, the
Democratic candidate for the presi-
dency in 1920, pays the following tri-
butte to Senator George W. Norris
"A few months ago the Democratic
Senator from a certain state advocated
the reelection OF his Republican col
league Of the same state. This Rep
ublican Senator, this Democratic Sen
ator said, should be returned to the
Senate by their state by common con-
sent, a unanimous vote,
On Friday the Democratic President
OF the United States allowed himself
to be quoted directly, saying that this
Republican Senator from this certain
state should be kept in the Senate as
long as he lived that he should by no
means be permitted to retire.
The Baltimore Sun, 1880 miles
from this Senator's State, prints an
editorial saying that no right-minded
member OF either party, in Congress or
out, should wish for the retirement OF
this Senator. This Senator, says Sun +,
has made himself a national institution,
a national conscience, a national bal
ance wheel. In that capacity he is in
valuable both to those with whom he
agrees and to those to whom he is op-
posed.
A city in Tennessee has been named
for this Senator from Nebraska. The
constituents OF this Senator from one
state are and have for years been peo-
pie from all the states. Now from the
President OF the United States down
and regardless OF party this constitu-
ency calls on Senator Norris not to
yield to his years as he wants to do
and retire.
Men 60 out in search Of public office.
They scheme and spend and struggle
and when they have seized preferment
for themselves they speak OF having
been "honored' by US.
When a public official so conducts
himself that the people go out and
scheme and spend and struggle, as in the
case Of this Senator, to force prefer
ment upon him, what is that to be
called?
Yes, an honor, really.
President Green of tn American
Federation OF Labor in Dec. third issue
OF the newspaper Labor" states:
Green Urges Norris Seek Another
Term. Organized Labor is Eager tc
Support Nebraska Progressive, De-
clares Leader.
Insisting that Senator George w
Norris belongs to the people OF the
entire nation" President William Green
OF the A. F. of L. has written the fam
Gus Nebraskan urging him to be a can
didate for another term and pledging
him the support Of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor.
you are regarded as more than a
United States Senator from the SOW
ereign state Of Nebraska" Green de-
clared.
Your voice has been consistently
raised in defense Of human rights
against special privilege and for the
protection and promotion Of the econ
omic, social and industrial rights Of the
masses Of the people. Therefore, yot
are a national character, universally
loved and respected"
The Pathfinder, a National Magazine
issue Dec. 9TH, contains the following
articles
Public commentator by the Presi
dent and other concerted efforts tC
halt retirement from the Senate O.
George William Norris have drawn at
~tention to the distinguished career o
Nebraska's senior Senator. Born il
Ohio in 1861 he became the sole sup.
port of his widowed mother at an earl
age. He worked out on neighborint
farms in summer and attended schoo
in winter, later teaching school to de
fray expenses at Baldwin and Valpar
also universities. Although admitted t
the bar in 1888 he taught another tern
for funds to buy a law library. Recog
milton was rapid. He served thre,
terms as prosecuting attorney and wa
a district judge when elected to Con
gress in 1908. At this time he remar
ried, his first wife having died in 100
leaving him with three small children
to care for. After five terms in tn
House he was elected to the Senate il
1918 and reelected to that office thre,
times. In politics he is a progressivl
Republican, becoming chairman of tn
Progressive League for Roosevelt il
1882, after supporting Smith in 1925
He was instrumental in securing uni
cameral legislature for his state AM
adoption Of the lame duck" or got
amendment to the Constitution. H
was actively identified with the figh
for the Anti-lnjunction, Muscle Shoal
and the Tennessee Valley Acts. He !
a~ffectionately called Uncle George" b,