Montana labor news., 1938-07-21
Open FORUM
PARTY
WAS NOT ENDORSED
Montana Labor News Political
Aspirants.

Musselshell.
Inquiries and criticisms reaching
during recent weeks indicate that
there is confusion among the pro-
gressive voters of the state, especial
ly in the eastern congressional dis
trict, regarding action taken by the
Montana Council for Political Ac-
ton, and that taken by the Farmer
Labor party in the conferences held
by the two groups in Great Falls
this spring, and l take this method
of correcting the mistaken impress
sions which seem to have been Gre
ated by this confusion of the two
groups.
The Montana Council for Political
Action held a series of meetings in
Great Falls extending from early in
March to June 20. In these meetings
the Farmer-Labor party was not
officially represented and took no
part. Individual members of the
party were present, largely as spec
tators, but the party membership
took no official action and is not in
any way responsible for the Coun-
ellis program or endorsement of can
didates in the primary election.
On May 7th the Farmer-Labor
party held an informal conference at
Great Falls, to which representatives
from other groups and organizations
were invited. The purpose of this
conference was to discuss the forma-
ton of a party program, decide upon
the ACCESSIBILITY of entering the pri-
maries, and make preparations for a
possible campaign this fall after the
primary.
Inquiries coming to me from sew
eral sections of the state, and more
particularly criticisms coming from
the second or eastern congressional
district, indicate that voters have
confused the action taken by the two
groups and it therefore devolves
upon me as chairman of the Farmer
Labor party state committee to clari-
fly this situation
First let me make it clear that the
Farmer-Labor party of Montana has
endorsed no candidates whatever in
the coming primary. This subject
was of course discussed May 7th and
a decision reached that as no candi-
dates we're then entered who mea-
sured up to our standards as pro-
gressives for the nomination for
Congress from the eastern district
of Montana, that we would endorse
no candidates whatever in the pri-
maries, but leave such action to be
decided by the Farmer-Labor party
state convention which will be held
early in August after the primary.
Since candidates for Congress from
this district have been endorsed by
other groups and many have been
given the impression that the Farm
er-Labor party has endorsed candi-
dates l wish to state that the party
is not responsible in any manner for
these endorsements,
On the Democratic ticket we find
James O'Connor, incumbent, opposed
by Herbert D. Rolph, endorsed by
the Montana Council for Political
Action.
Representative O'Connor has no
record of any aggressive or progress
sive action on behalf of the common
people during the two years he has
served in Congress and the Farmer
Labor party membership was not in
favor of giving his candidacy any
support or encouragement.
The legislative record of Herbert
D. Rolph as Speaker of the Montana
House of Representatives during the
recent session was such as to stamp
him as anything but the kind OF
progressive to whom the Farmer
Labor party could give its support
His vote against the Farm Mortgage
Moratorium and opposing the teach
ing of cooperative methods in
schools, and his votes for the in
famous Hitler Bills" (H. r. 65, Civ
ing the governor dismissal power
over all appointive officers of any
state Department. and rs. B. II
placing the supervision and contro.
of the liquor business entirely in the
Governors hands, are sufficient tt
class him as the kind of politician
whom the membership of the Farm
er-Labor party will not support ever
with silent assent to or passive &C.
ceptance of his candidacy.
Since these were the two principa
candidates in the eastern district anc
we could accept neither on their pas
records, the membership felt that We
should make no endorsements what
ever since in all probability it nigh
be found advisable to place an entire
Farmer-Labor party ticket in th'
field after the primaries.
l hope that this explanation will
clarity the confusion among thos'
who have recently written express
ing opposition and criticism of tn,
endorsement of Rolph.
The Farmer-Labor party does no
endorse either H. D. Rolph NO.
James F. O'Connor and it is quit
probable that a Farmer-Labor part,
ticket will be placed in the fielt
after the primary. Definite decision
as to this action will be made by tn,
party convention which will be hel,