The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-05-15
Political Tools and Footballs


far from straightforward and above board
methods that they designed delay rather than ia
ctae discussion searching deberaton and definite,
conclusive action
Following the of piece of legislation good deal
like trying to find through of the created
Tor entertainment found In amusement places You reach
point where you think you your way clear ahead and
find usually that you only confused There way
there.
With very exceptions both houses of Congress- may
be said that the members playing politics. every
politics the standpoint of their constituencies necessarily
but from the standpoint of their particular personal
eres with their constantly cooked the possible effect
Of their actions on their future political strength and Influence
Thus if member of either of the houses from
industrial CENTER where labor well organized might be
that such member would consider first of ALL the
interests of the of voters who sent him there to
sent them However, in these industrial ceners there
other interests the employing whose interests
Numerically opposed the interests of the labores Labo
interests to sell its COMMUNICATIONS much
possible The employing groups primary interests buy
this commodity cheaply possible.
Because in many the employing interests the
of the members district and the general of people
do not themselves much with legislation of
eral nature the member vote for socaed labor
ures while at the time working for and voting for
other that is not recognized Tabor measure but
nevertheless have the effect of multiplying all of the bene
fits of the bill by labor and in which has demon
strated all of its interest in legislation.
The members work for the piece of legislation sponsored
by labor will probably insure his Congress
where he will continue his performances He
them using labor legislation as political tool for reeec
on while actually working for the protection of the interests
of the exploiting groups.
The conditions obtain of course in the case of many
members serving from agricultural sections
These work just diligently ostensby champoning the in
of the farmers whose votes they depend for reeec
ton, while still actually serving the interests exploiting the
farmer
Realistic appraisal of the membership both houses of
Congress anyone that have all too many
members who could give cards and spades
beat the appeasers of both des the expoes and
the exploited And it is because of the possibilities of pro
tactics possible by the nrcaces of the
methods of the Congress- that too often legislative
designed ameorae the condition of the oppressed become
political footballs the deft hands of the legislators
should the right of the people section of the
country expect of their chosen representatives and
vigorous effort interests
oncomng election but all of the time The people pay
them render them honor enough by the confidence
displayed in them to be entitled to the fuflment of that
pectaion.
All too often the electorate permit themselves to be placed
the position of having effect bargain with the repre-
sentatves to get them to perform service which it the
plain duty of the representative to discharge to the limit of
his ability He feels free to bargain and that he feels free
to do rather sad commentary the intelligence of
the general voting public They place themselves in the posi-
of petitioners before the throne of this high mighty
personage-ther hired man. they collect what they
seek that they him the bonus that he fixes
promises work for them and their interests
his sole oband then does the opposite But it's all SO mys
FERROUS that they know for sure whether he did
work for them The ntrcacies of the legislative
helps but the representatives. certainly does not IA
clitate legislation. ;
sure fact that socalled Glasses"
society each of Them thinking interests conflict with
those of the Others the primary of all of the egisla
tive confusion The representative in Congress- when he
eaks the people" thinking
certain whom he depends for reelection
lately before election he be expected to declam in
tones about the needs of the class whose votes he
needs the most it organized sponsoring the
legislation it certain that the member will have barganed
with the leadership of the for of its support
support specific piece of legislation that
has always been the representatives. duty to fight
This of procedure probably shewd politics. crafty
probably fitting adjective But makes of leg
ave controversial between the interests of our
classes society," political football to be bounced back and
forth and used trading stoc becomes just another po
itical tool ri
responsibility this situation course with the
oters their attitude of petitioners for support IN
in their interests from their representatives More
ouraging showing awakening of the of m
bty the of voters the recent gathering ST. m
less than day notice sent out by the Farmers
"a states petitoning, but m
demanding legislation affecting their interests Such gather al
to the scheming politicians shows them Gu
matters entirely under their control to play with
democracy the march This group only OF
legislation of ITSELF but demonstrated
consciousness by demands for safeguarding the
other