The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1936-04-17
POOLING THE PUBLIC

time was a radical representa-
tive" in the legislature and Joe
was present as lobbyist attempting
to secure votes for a bill to ex-
empt fraternity houses from tax
alton. Joe approached me in a
gentlemanly and perfectly legiti-
mate way asking my support for
the bill. Since the bill had not as
yet been placed on our desks l
asked him for particulars and dis
covered that these fraternity
houses were built by students at
the Universities for the conven-
fence and pleasure Of those stu
dents who were fortunate enough
to be chosen as members Of the
fraternity, and whose parents
were financially able to keep up
the membership, and possible suf.
ficiently influential to make their
offspring desired as members.
Feeling that these fraternity
houses were therefore owned by
groups amply able to pay taxes
on them in the small amounts re-
quired, refused to vote for the
bill. This possibly is beside the
question Of Joe Monaghan's quail
ficatiOn for office but it gives a
slight insight into his attitude to-
ward the working class. l felt,
and still feel that if he had the
proper attitude toward the COM
mon class of people he should not
have been lobbying for a bill to
reduce the taxes on property
owned by children of wealthy par
ents.
Since that time Joe has been a
member of the lower house Of
Congress where he attracted con-
siderable attention by sponsoring
the Townsend plan, and after at
tracing considerable attention to
himself by his efforts in that line,
ne announced his candidacy for the
u. S. Senate. However, when this
announcement did not secure the
publicity in the Townsend Weekly
which Joe though his efforts in
behalf Of the plan deserved, he ex-
hibited his lack of finesse as a
political "fan dancer" by making
quite a "fuss" about it on the
floor of the House and deciding
that the Townsend organization
needed investigating.
Well, possibly a little inveSti-
eating wont do the Townsend or
ganization any harm, but it APP
pears to me that all the "hulla-
baloo" over the Townsend investi-
cation is inspired largely through
the politicians fear Of its political
effects, and their desire to dis.
credit the organization and dis
courage its membership. There
fore l believe that he has made a
major error of political strategy,
and exposed in some degree a lack
OF sincerity In his attitude toward
the Townsend plan. However if
Joe should be successful in his
campaign for the Senate he will
probably learn a lot in the next
SIX years and when he goes be-
fore the public again he will be
able to do the fan-dance and fool
the public with the best of the
politicians.
So much for the representatives
In Congress from Montana at the
present time. Neither of them is
attempting to succeed himself in
that office altho many of us have
our suspicious that since the death
OF Governor CoOney, Ayres has re-
GREETED making his announcement
Tor governor and rather wishes he
mad attempted to succeed himself.
There will be no doubt numer-
GUS candidates for the lower
house before the campaign be-
comes warm and it may be advis-
able to give some attention to their
records and their ability to fool the
public before the season on candi-
dates closes.
In succeeding issues I expect to
devote some time TO an analysis
OF one of the greatest ''fan dane
ers OF recent times in the game
OF tOoling the public.