The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-02-20

very large companies at present nom
unionixed II perfectly willing to have
4 union Of Its workers-providing 1t II
one union. The executives Of this
company do not want to be bothered
with 80 or 10 different sets OF union
officials. Particularly they do not want
to have strikes caused by friction bet
tween different unions in their organi-
ration
See Chance for Victory
Henry Ford, General Motors and
Chrysler may be forced to accept such
4 union. The Lewis crowd believes
III chances of victory here, and In the
steel industry and the electric industry.
will be much greater under Roosevelt
than under anyone the Republicans
might nominate.
But some very astute labor leaders,
who for obvious reasons are not put
ting out their necks at the present mo-
ment, think the mixture Of politics
with the fight for vertical unions IL
highly unfortunate. They believe that
the whole cause OF labor may suffer 4
serious setback due to the stampede to
the Roosevelt band-wagon By the
United Mine Workers. stampede
which of course will include all other
unions sympathetic with the Lewis
goal.
For, AZ can be demonstrated by any
search OF the records, organized labor
has 4 very poor batting average In
political campaigns In this country.
The record Is 10 poor, even In strong
Industrial sections, that It II perfectly
obvious the Individual members Of
unions, when they enter the polling
booths. vote Just AZ they please indl-
vidually and seldom X ever accord 1rst
place among the motives actuatinG
them to the recommendation Of their
leaders.
To hear politicians speak In public.
one would never think they suspected
this, but actually they know It per
fectly we'll Actually II there 10
politician In Washington who really
thinks that the chances for reelection
Of President Roosevelt have been #
fected by the United Mine Workers'
endorsement he II pretty well hidden.
Privately all agree that the endorse
ment and the pep talks bound to follow
will throw a few votes. perhaps even
a considerable number OF votes, T.
Roosevelt. But they also think that
an equal number will be aNenated-
More About Taxes
What taxes win be levied 1t this
session of congress-er more accu-
rately-what taxes will be levied b.
fore election. depends upon whether
President Roosevelt definitely decides
to accept the Liberty league challenge,
give up all hope Of the "stockholder
vote" and put all the burden on cor
poration profits.
Conviction among his advisers IL
that the President win seek to raise.
at this session. about $70o, COX. 900.
That Is approximately the amount
needed to make up for the loss Of the
processing taxes and to pay interest
on the sinking fund for amortization
OF the soldier bonus. I'm this conncc-
tion 1t makes almost no difference to
the Treasury department whether It
pays interest on the bonus taken BY
the soldiers, and eventually pays them
of, or whether the soldiers cash their
bonds, In which case the treasury Dor
rows the money at about the same rate
Of interest the bonds carry.
Up until the last few days most Of
his advisers were convinced that the
President would Insist on this moneys
being raised BY excise taxes These
would be very similar to the processing
taxes just outlawed by the Supreme
court, but spread over a wider base
so as to get the $15O.OOO,OOO to $780,
100000 additional needed, and ad-
justed 30 as to avoid some OF the
particular hardships and difficulties Of
the processing taxes.
This Is still the probability, but re-
Gently another angle has developed.
Some Of the Presidents advisers are
urging that he oppose any such excise
taxes on the ground that, being taxes
for the most part on The poor. they
will tend to flare up popular resent
ment among the very small income
people against the extravagant spend
Ing at Washington.
Very Little Loss
Which, they point ont ID very little
loss at all, because, as illustrated BY
the Liberty league, I considerable
percentage Of this type Of voters Ii
against the reelection OF Roosevelt
anyhow. Therefore, they argue, why
not turn from the "haves" and 20 all
the way In trying to get the votes Of
the "have nots." especially ~ tho
have nots" have more votes7
Advocates Of this course have an
other string TO their bow. They point
out that everyone who studies the
governments financial standing ut all
knows that the tax plan to be puzzled
through at this session II mot a1kklng
to balance the budget. but 1(fely to
unnkn nm FIR fwo 10ssnc-th/ Xrro~n~a