The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-01-29
FREDRICKS0N
STATES HIS
SIDE OF CASE

Editors Note The Voice cham
pions freedom of speech and freedom
of religious and political convictions
and is glad to be able to give a rep
lresentative Of a presently prosecuted
minority group, the opportunity to
state it's position)
Knowing that the Anaconda Com
pany exercises an autocratic control
over virtually the entire press of Mon
tana, and that the avenues of publicity
open to the common people to express
their opinions and defend themselves
from slanderous attack are few and in
adequate, am grateful for this oppor-
tunity accorded me by The PEOPLES
Voice to refer to the scurrilous arti-
cles in the kept press dealing with the
meeting of the Montana Conference for
Liberal Legislation in Helena on Jan
uary 49,
The primary purpose of the COM
pany's ''smear" campaign was to pre-
vent the voice of the people from
penetrating the Legislative halls in
Helena where it might influence some
| Legislators to support occupational dis
ease compensation, enforcement of the
8-hour law, and other such "subver-
sive" measures; also to disrupt and
weaken the economic struggles on
these issues in the various commun-
tiles Their blackjack publicity was
based on the following strategy: ~
To falsely attribute to the communist
party and to me as it's spokesman
treasonable" and 'sun-American" mo-
tives (without a shred of evidence)
and (2) to color the conference with
similar sinister" purposes through my
attendance as delegate-in order, Of
course, to demoralize and disrupt the
work of the conference and brighten
some of the weak sisters" into "re-
pudiating' its program 1t can be
stated that the Populations" pile up
in the entire state to the staggering
total of one ewly-organized, small and
local union in the east
ern part of the state and two mis-
guided individuals. But even the au-
thenticity of these Populations, re-
press, is extremely questionable.
Since the company cynically insists
on picturing progressive gatherings as
'false-front Of labor de-
mands," why does it not grant to the
toiling people the few crumbs which
they ask, thus eliminating this false
'front.'? Instead of ordering its stooges
in the labor movement to work for
he expulsion of Communists" Gin
other words, of all progressively why
loes it not grant labor's modest de-
hands and thus insure greater indus
rial peace? Why does it's press in
lite hatred and violence?
By no stretch of the imagination can
he Montana Conference for Liberal
legislation be classed as commun-
st organization. The program of the
communist party goes far above and
ar beyond the worthy but very limited
inns of the conference. The program
of socialism, for the end
t exploitation of man by man, for de-
locracy, security, peace
AS for the current campaign of vii
fication against the communist party,
ne Grass distortions of it's role in the
fe of the American people, l urge
lat all honest people read the con-
tuition of the Communist Party of
le United States of America, article
|, section l reads as follows:
communists Not Un-Amercan
"The Communist Party of the U.S.A.
Dholds the democratic achievements
the American people. 1t opposes
18th all its power any clique, group,
rcle, faction or party which con-
,ires or acts to subvert, undermine,
eaken or overthrow any or all insti-
lions of American democracy where
: the majority of the American peo-
e have obtained power to determine
cir own destiny in any degree. 1t
ndemns and opposes all policies and
is of sabotage, espionage, and all
her forms of Fifth Column activity.
lie Communist Party of the U.S.A
anding unqualified1y for the right of
o majority to direct the destinies of
r country, will fight with all its
'ength against any and every effort,
lether it comes from abroad or from
thin, to impose upon our people the
Ditrary will of any selfish minority
pup or party or clique or conspir-
y"
The Montana Standard, in a front
&c editorial, says that "the commun-
8 masquerade before the public
. :. false colors' and then, knowing
s absurd lie cannot be made to
OK, hastens to explain" that local
Continued on Page Three)