Montana labor news., 1936-06-25

Now, the point | wish to make is
that these n~ame-calling contests are
not settling any OF our national ques-
tions. They have become tiresome and
irritating to citizens who have regard
for the seriousness OF the situation
confronting our country. This is an
economic matter. Bitter personalities
constitute no answer. Confidence in
the government, in Congress, and in
American institutions is not encour-
aged by this vulgar competition in
rough phrases.
Among other things, the President OF
the United States has been accused OF
being a Socialist, also OF being a Com
munist. He is denounced as a Fascist,
who has a longing and Unsuitable lust
for pomp and power and is planning to
set up a dictatorship in our country.
He is accused by some Of placing in
experienced, unframed, and incompe-
tent men in high places and is criti-
cised by others for putting highly
trained specialists and college PROBES
sors in other high positions. In other
words, he is damned if he does and
damned if he Doesn't" It remained,
however, for a former President and
candidate in this campaign to cap the
climax OF this TRADE OF |nonsensical
attacks by charging him with being a
Tory, trying to fasten a Tory govern
ment on US. Now, there is nothing
new in all this weller of libel and
SANDER which we hear every day. His
tory is simply repeating itself. In
every crucial stage of our history we
have had similar manifestations. In
Washington's time he was attacked by
bitter opponents and fiery partisan
publications, and his character, his in
tegrity, and his reputation were sought
to be destroyed. In that period Wash
ington was charged with being a hyp-
ocrite in public life, and it was stated,
The world will be puzzled to decide
whether you are an apostate or an i'm
poster" These %utterances were hurled
at him from all sides by fanatical,
idotic, and yet frantically sincere par
tisan political opponents.
In W~ashington's case, time has
erased these unkind illusions to him,
and like the ever-changing tempest
OF the deep, they lashed, they ragged,
they subsidized, they shifted, and depart
ing, left behind them only a calm and
tranquil sea"
There is a hidden motive behind all
this bitterness. What is it that causes
this singular commotion and excite
ment? My fellow citizens, it is all
very simple. Every piece OF co%nstruc-
tive legislation that deprives special
interests OF unjust privileges or adj
vantages, is always denounced as So
c~ialistic, communistic, or unconstitu-
tional.
During the Hoover administration
when big business was being aided by
the government in e~xtricating itself
from the destructive conditions Gre
ated by its own folly in the so-called
new era" everything was satisfactory.
No voices from these same interests
were heard d%enouncing that regime.
The Hoover administration came most
generously to the rescue of all the
prime ministers Of big business and fl
nance. It aided the banks, the rail
roads, the insurance companies, and
even the international %financiers 1t
did nothing, however, for the small
business man, the farmer, or the la
borer, o r the growing ranks Of the
hungry and unemployed.
In contrast to this attitude, Presi-
dent Roosevelt was prompted to con-
slider the country as a whole. He has
taken the wise view that it is danger
Gus and utterly wrong to confer bene-
fits and give protection to one class
only and let the balance OF the people
shift for themselves.
The Republican administration fol-
lowed the theory that by being over
generous to those on top, some Of the
prosperity thus created would trickle
down to the masses underneath and
thus do some good. President Roose-
velt's theory wa to prime the pump
by public works and by relief measures
to save citizens from starvation. 1t
was his plan to render necessary fl
nancial aid to the farmer, the small
home owner, and the small business
man. 1t was his plan to improve con
ditions from the bottom, and restore
confidence in our banks by guarantee
ing deposits. He sought to allay fear
and get boarded money back into cir
culation, and by appropriate monetary
action offset the deflation which was
running the country and paup
our population.
When President Roosevelt took Of
flee 100000 jobless Americans chal-
his imagination, his wisdom and
conscience. They were the vic