Montana labor news., 1937-01-07

Roy f. Ayers. the first native born Montdnon. wus
inauguTated as Governor Of this commonwealth on
January 4th. Whether the fact that he is native
born will have any bearing on his future conduct
is -prOblemQtcdl. Alter oil it matters little whether
q mon is born in another state, in respect to his
Loyalty toward the institutions dnd people OF the
state over which he presides. Nevertheless. in all
Of us there is ON inherent Loyalty to the city. state.
religion. ond the institutions which we have been
taught to cherish in our infdnCY.
Roy E. Ayers knows the state Of Montana, he
knows thdt it has been dominated by corporations,
dt least from the time it Wds admitted into the union
which, after oil, hos not been SO very long ago.
He delivered his inaugural address over the
radio. establishing q precedent and also indicating
thdt he intends to use the most modern instruments
and conveniences in telling the people Of this state
Of his policies and of how he intends to try to solve
the problems thdt will come before him as Cover
nor. This is q good sign. The people should know.
An enlightened people mdY not be q contented
people but the knowledge thdt is given to them
serves to olldY suspicion. uncertainty and doubt as
to whdt is Transporting in the capitol building dt
Helena.
The Governor attacked the tdx system OF the state.
In this attack he seemed to grouse the ire OF the AnQ-
condd Copper Mining Company. if the Interpreter
ton of the editorial thdt was in the Montana Stand
ard Of January 5 is Interpreted by the general moss
of the people correctly. In this editorial. the COM
pony takes issue with the Governor and cTeotes, in
its usual style. monY q bugdboo to plague the peo-
pie. the greatest one OF which is q threatened,
chimericdl danger to industry Quoting from the
editorial referred to. it sdid. Certainly the Legislu-
ture cdlled upon to make such deep revision IN the
tdx structure Of the state must be composed OF wise
and thoughtful men if there is to be no obstruction
to or paralysis OF our Industries. 1t would seem
thdt the editorial writer's in the employ Of the cor
pordtons Of the state Of Montana would try end
get new dnd original defenses tor their objections
to anything and everything thdt seems to be in the
interest Of the common people.
When the struggle to pass the hour amendment
to the constitution Of Montana Wds at its height just
before election, the same fdlse, specious arguments
were used, namely, thdt if the amendment Wds
passed Montana industry would suffer in cOmpet-
ton with other industries Of the nation. The people
ore SO used to the company newspapers Stating thdt
industry is GOING to close down, thdt the mines will
be shut up, thot they no longer fear these Wuils.
After all government hos no right to exist il in its
operation it does not take core OF the people whom
it seeks to GOVERN. Government is not designed
for uny Gloss of people or dnY type OF industry; it
is designed purely to give the best social and eco
nomicc conditions to all of the people. Corporations
have no more right to ask q government to send
troops into q Locality where q strike is in progress
thqn q union has to dsk for troops to protect their
interests nor should corporations or business inter-
ests expect special consideration in the natter OF
tax cldssificdtions, notwithstanding that they have
always enjoyed such special consideration. The
Governor is merely asking the Legislature to equal
ize the burden, which is just and right.
Roy Ayers hos sounded q high note, q note OF
independence if not Of defiance. Roy Ayers hos
indicated Clearly thot he intends to live up to his
the common people.