The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-02-12
Gov. Ford Speaks
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operate with you and other labor or
CARNATIONS in any manner that tends
to promote the betterment OF your or
ganization and the people Of the state
of Montana
Il have always founu, or generally
found organized labor reasonable
That is not always true, as 1t is in
other organizations; but generally
speaking | have found organized labor
reasonable and ready to meet the EN-.
ployer half way in every question.
know that you men and women are
ready and willing to do your part in
the present emergency. You have al
ways responded nobly and cheerfully
and gladly in everycase of emergency
and you are not going to fail now.
But let me warn you: Do not permit
rights you have acquired through
years of hard work and, in some cases,
bitter fighting; do not permit those
rights to be taken from you under the
pretext of national emergency" If
you do, it will be harder to regain
those rights and those privileges and
those benefits than it was to obtain
them originally. So, Guard your
rights!" You will do your duty be-
cause you are loyal American citizens;
but protect the rights and benefits and
privileges that is your duty and do
not be led astray by the hysteria
which is sure to follow; especially, if
the country enters this great war.
Someone told me, and I consider
him friend, that there is dance to
follow Well, far be from me to de-
prive you folks of the pleasure of
dancing. Sometime | hope | may have
the privilege of discussing with you
some of the things | hope to accom-
plish during the next four years. To
night, the time will not permit a dis
cussion of many of the measures, or
many of the ideas I have in mind.
"But I want to review one or two
ideas of special Importance to the
laboring people of Montana. First,
to the legislature that
the damnable "Hitler Law" under
which we have been operating during
the past four years, be repealed.
was delighted to read in the paper
that the repeal of that bill has been
passed in the house. I want to assure
you that it will be readily approved
by the governor.
81 have always believed that every
man and woman in the state OF Mon
tana should have the right to engage
in public service, if he, or she, should
so desire. You know that up to now,
too frequently monies of the state,
and cities have been wasted
due to the employment of inexper1-
enced and inefficient help. You know
and l know that too frequently men
and women have been employed, not
because of experience or qual1flca-
tons, but because of political influ-
ence and that has resulted in con-
1ition known as the "spoils system"
and think that is responsible for the
which we are operating today
81 have recommended OF the legis-
ature the Merit System Law" Polit-
cal affiliations, religion, or creed will
play no part in the employment OF the |
state employees, if that law is passed. |
sincerely believe that your daughter,
,r your son, should have the same |
light to serve the state of Montana as
he son of some politician, or the
laughter of some politician; or some
nan or some women, that has lot
If political influence.
whether we like it or not, the fact
emains that the people Of this coun-
ry, and the people of the state are
osing confidence in state government, /
II in government. They are losing
confidence in their public officials and
heir state officials and that is due, in
large measure, to the "spoils sys-
en-" which l have mentioned
"If by the enactment, and we must
nact law of that kind; or admit
We are willing to operate under the
amnable system that has resulted in
waste; we are going to have efficiency
nd we are going to restore confidence
nd we are going to have conscien-
ious men and women to serve in the
tate offices and l believe that we can
nact a law of this kind and that If
re can make it a success; that sooner
r later, it will be carried into the
ity and county administrations.