The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1943-11-26
A Responsibility

Democracy not sef-preserving be protected
and nurtured The people make of instrument for
growth and development of better life for themselves
through apathy permit its to into the hands OF
relatively small group until becomes merely
form without substance Are permitting this to happen
today? And will the harvest of neglect in the
future in the form of fascist state? Every indication
is that unless the great majority of the people awaken to
of their responsibilities to themselves and to society in
democracy, that is the harvest may
believe that the majority of the people of this state
convinced that the last session of the Montana legislature
may be ranked reaconary least preceding
sion The majority of the representatives appeared inter
ested in only general line of legislation protection of the
interests of the privileges cutting at the cost
of services by the state to its people in order to avoid
any threat of increased taxation on the powerful industrial
and financial interests of the sate for the
ing any advancement of social services.
be sure vigilance of the small minority of indie
pendent liberal members and pubcng of the designs of the
majority, with "from home brought to
bear on the eaconary members prevented passage
much this class of legislation but not all And the people
of the state has been paying the price for such passed
since.
We have stressed again. that when have
membership of the legislative session such had last
If is the faut of the peope of the state We have told again
again that only about half of the voters of the state cast
ballots in the last election held and unless the half of the
voters who didn't vote in the last election take the trouble
to their respective county clerks and reregte they in
effect dsfranchised for the coming election Can they at
happen the responsibilities which they
face We submit that they cannot Conditions and
such face for the immediate future far too critical
Right of the apathy of the general public,
face initiation because of the probability that will
prohibiting the of subsidies to keep prices
the stabilized Farmers Union legislative
tons demanding subsidy provisions order to maintain
price abizatonbu expressions from the rank
and file membership of these organizations not being
the members of the But the members
receiving loads of letters kilograms and protests against sub
sides the thoroughly organized privileged who
profits removed Perhaps subsidies
might banned by the of the stooge of the fat boys
spite of protests from the rank and file of the
bershp of these organizations but certainly demands from
hundreds of thousands of them would make congress
hesitate would be fearful when they appraise the
strength of a militant rank and file
We have stated that the times critical When curl
legislature again, is probable that the problems
peace absorption into the life of state
of of present day soldiers will confront
Connected with this problem will be of general ad
jusmen of entire economy from of to
perhaps Do to trust these momentous things to
membership such the majority of the last legislative
bly, proved be? If willing do that then
may said be willing to give green light to all fascist
trends.
May we urge again, all organizations of labor and the
membership of the Farmers Union and churches to make
business that every with whom they in
contact impressed with the necessity of informing them
the questions of the hour and completing the legal
requirements eligibility to cast their ballots the coming
election.
1t is our job as responsible members of democracy to
enghten the who do not feel this responsibility
impress them with the seriousness of their failure to
ognize it.