The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1943-03-05
MONTANA'S
House of Lords
By C. ]. CARLSON

by ". d. tAflLoON
The states first wartime legislature
has finished its chores and most of its
members are leaving the capital city.
Its spotty record of Tory legislation
and reactionary activity indicated that
it had but one speed forward and sew
eral in reverse. The war record of
the legislature is not one to inspire
confidence, and no one can say that
they did their best to help win the
war and help the Montanans in the
service.
1t early became apparent that the
representatives of a few wealthy,
favor hunting, privilege seeking inter-
ests, were not only willing, but eager
to act as the guardians of the new
members during the so days. They
Immediately began to assume the re-
sponsibility for determining how
many of the needy aged dependent
children, blind, tubercular, insane and
destitute were to be denied public as
sistance; how many teachers were to
fits how many in our penal and re-
formatory institutions would be UNI
derfed how many of our laboring
people would be denied compensa-
ton; which activities of the Greater
University would be abandoned, and
how many roads would be unrepaired
All of these things and many more,
these patrioteers willingly did and |
asked in return, nothing but the petty |
privilege of exempting the rich and |
powerful whom they served, from the
obligation of paying their share of the
taxes necessary to finance good gov
eminent for all of the people of the
state.
The lobbyists for the interests were
in the saddle and they drove an obed-
lent legislature. They killed every
workman's compensation bill intro
duced. They attempted to deny the
teachers of the state a decent retire
ment appropriation. They led the
fight to cripple the state institutions
such as the state hospital for the
insane, the state prison and others.
They attempted to reduce the taxes
levied on banks, and they were sue /
cssful in killing numerous reorganiza-
ton bills designed to reduce bureau
cracy and aid the state government.
An ancient statesman habitually /
Il i, |
the solemn declaration: Carthage /
must be destroyed" Our modern day !
legislators merely paraphrase this to:
we shall destroy Montana" The |
of the Legislators continued !
their practice of voting against the {
best interests of the state while loud I
y proclaiming their patriotism. a
When the roll call vote is finally a
made public, the full story will then a
% told and every citizen can find out g
low his representative stood. II
The record made by Speaker George q
pConnoT is not an impressive one. "A !
'oung man, O'Connor was being
,roomed for bigger things. His near
md dear friend, o. H. p. Shelley of
Red Lodge, had hoped to elect O'Con- L
Tor to congress or to the governor I
hip. After his reactionary perform
nee of this session, the only thing Io
eft for George is to join the ranks "
f Billy Rae, Roy Glover, Al Wilkin- e
on and Bill Leavitt and become an G
Their stooge for the interests.
Yet, O'Connor's record is typical of b,
he republican leadership in the house to
nd senate. Their record has been of
ne worst and only through the cour- Z
geous action of the governor in Veto
lg three of the most Objectionable
ills have they saved face. The dem y
Gratis cannot cheer, either, for their ~
went along in perfect -
armony on most of the enactments ~
nd only a handful worked for the -, =,
F,
Organized labor in Montana learned "
bitter lesson. In this session, they
Id not have one labor man upon II
HON they could count. From Silver
ow county's delegation, they re- m
lived slap in the face. Cascade tn
,unty had no labor delegate, and be
issoula county sent three reactionies tr
I'd woman whose record was better tn
ian many of the men. sh
The Farmers Union had a loyal fiji
ock of progressive representatives C;
Continued on Page Four) lBt