Montana labor news., 1938-05-12
Labor's Interests Are the Peoples
Interests

Democratic RONtIIullGlllt AlAldotAAo1 DNNSN
ity and economic security were the three
main principles advanced by the Pennsyl-
yania Industrial Union Council, in the reso-
luton with which it endorsed Lieut.. Cover
nor Thomas Kennedy, secretary-treasurer OF
the United Mine Workers for governor.
A great labor convention, representing
some 500, 900 workers organized in c. l. q.
unions throughout the state and voiclng the
sentiments of countless other workers both
in A. F. of L. unions and u~norganized, gave
its unanimous endorsement to a union man
for the highest political Office in the state.
Although Kennedy was the logical candi-
date and the one who could command the
widest support on his record, the Democratic
party state committee refused to endorse
him, for no other reason than that he was a
labor man."
Corporation lawyers and millionaires can
be endorsed without qualms, according to the
reasoning of this committee, but to run a
labor man forsooth is to put forward "a rep
resentative of a special group or class IN
~terest!'
There are perhaps a few hundred corpora
ton lawyers in the average state and certain
" no more than a bakers dozen of million
aires. The group or class interest they per-
sonally represent through their own back
ground and associations is that of a tiny
minority of wealthy people in the state.
A labor man like Kennedy by personal
BACKGROUND and association m from a
group consisting of literally millions OF work
ing people and their families throughout the
state.
Yet the labor man, we are asked to believe,
is suspect as representing a special group or
class interest, while the corporation lawyers
and millionaires are not!
Any citizens of Pennsylvania who may
have been fooled by this line of propaganda
would certainly have had their eyes opened
if they had attended the convention OF the
state Industrial Union Council.
They would have found that this special
group interest which organized labor is sup
posed to represent was strangely similar to
in fact identical with the interests OF the
overwhelming majority of the people OF the
state of every walk of life.
In all the speeches and resolutions on the
subject, they would have heard the interests
of farmers, professional people and the citi
zenrv generally stressed along with those o.
labor as needing the services of a candidate
like Kennedy. And they aOouId not ha0t
heard a single speech or resolution IN tDh1cf
ana special labor interests 11ere ad0ancet
that ran counter to the interests OF the 1DhoI
commonwealth.
On the other hand, if the same sceptica
citizens could somehow gain entry into tn
exclusive clubs where the corporation law
vers and milionaires so favored by old-guar
political machines discuss their political in
terests, we are willing to bet they would hea
plenty of selfish minority group interest
being advance. that run directly counter I
the welfare of the citizenry generally.
What are the main political interests {
labor, as advanced by the Pennsylvania sta,
council or by any other similar labor bod
throughout the country?
Democratic government, industrial stab
itu and economic stability. These are aL
the main political interests OF the great ma
of the people of e0ery state.
1t is entirely natural that the best interes
of labor should also be the best interests
the whole community or state in which the
reside. For the working people have mo
to gain from general prosperity, stability al
security; and they are too large a part OF Il
generality to be able to have any anti-socl
special interest from which they might pro
at the expense of the general welfare.
The interests of the people are the interes
of labor, and the interests Of labor are t
interests of the people.
That is why the election of a tried and tr
labor man to public office is one OF the be
assurances that not selfish group intere:
6 but the general welfare will receive the iii
! consideration.-From The c. /. 0. NeaUS.