The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1943-09-10

legislature, but only after PUBLI
/, OPINION forced the opponents {
! Teachers Retirement to vote in favo
Of the aged school teachers. TIL
splendid work done at the legislator
by representatives OF the Anaconda
and Butte Teachers Unions, was
big factor in securing an increase II
the monthly benefits paid retiret
teachers.
While the armed forces protect oul
country from the enemy without, 1
is our educational institutions tina
laid the foundation of our nations
greatness.
Legislators, or anyone else, who
will persist in opposing any and all
efforts to raise the standard of living
of educators in schools and institu
lions of higher learning, are enemies
of Americanism and Democracy, and
obstruct the further advancement of
our citizens, and should be ostracized,
politically by. all forward looking peo-
pie.
LEGISLATION
Many anti-labor bills were intro
duced in the last session of the legis-
lature and every one was defeated.
The reason for the defeat of these
masures was the fact that public opin-
ion in the state was decidedly against
the enactment of anti-labor legisla-
ton, together with the fact that labor
had substantial number of friends
in the senate who were not slow in
opposing measures aimed against or
ganized labor. Labor made some
gains in the last legislature by amend
ments to the Workmens' Compensa-
ton Act, increasing the time limit to
disqualification and a slight increase
in benefits to injured workers by pro-
viding artificial limbs and false teeth.
THE PRIMARY ELECTION LAW
The membership Of the house was
decidedly ultra conservative, with
tendency towards being reactionary.
Only a few scattering liberals and
progressives were among the house
members and mostly on the left.
A legislature with such a member
ship, lacking brilliancy in debate and
thought, is a dopey, muddled mass
No improvement will be had in legis- |
lation as long as the present primary |
election law exists, which permits pol
iticians to change their party affilia-
ton whenever the time arrives for
70 hot, |
On the primary election ballot.
In strong republican counties, office
seekers will change over night from
being a member of the democratic
party to a staunch republican-while
n democratic districts, a republican
will desert his political faith in order
o be nominated and elected on the
ticket-but at all times, In
I'll places these people are office seek
RS and can only get nominated by
,aying to the County Clerk, or Secre-
airy of State, the filing fee to have
heir names appear on the primary i,
election ballot. This is the state of
fairs that the present primary cleo
ion law has developed. The primary
election law should be amended or
epealed, as it is an obstacle to good
government as it is now written. I,
POST WAR THOUGHTS t
Some day the war will end. In all {
the end will come az sud-
emily as it did in 1918. When the
oys come marching home again and !;
tempt to re-establish themselves in !
lg war goods, close for the lack Of .
lrther government contracts, we may :,
nd ourselves in a crisis of unemploy ;,
tent without a parallel in our history, ;,
Mess we exercise more fore-thought :,
ian we did last time.
The construction industry is already .
armed because government con-
.ruction of war plants is winding up, i
nd private industry is just about out .
II the duration. The closing down !,
!, this work may mean, it has been =
,timated, that by April 1, 1914, one =
illion building trades mechanics will ;,
) unemployed. In addition to these Il
Re million building trades workers, !
lere are two and one half million :,
orkers employed in the manufacture .
Id transportation Of materials used q,
the building construction and the :,
ajority of these will be added to :,
e ranks of the unemployed. =,
Judging from experience obtained =,
lring the last depression, private =,
lterprise will not be able to employ n
| of those who are able and willing ~
work =,
PUBLIC WORKS n
The Montana Unemployment Com pl
nsation fund is inadequate to take be
re Of an extensive and intensive pc he
I'd of unemployment. Likely as not, er
Q fund will become insolvent within tn
year if unemployment is acute after eff
2 war. tr
If we are to escape the dreadful ex d.
rience we had during the years of de
30 to 1886 inclusive, years Of bank of
ptcy, misery and starvation, with elk
rampant and farm pro- en-
ce a glut on the market, pubic en-
rks must be planned for by the tn
tie, counties, and cities before the of
/ of the war, and commenced as
IN as war industries cease and de- re-
of the armed forces be- blu
|. Ur
rhe State Highway department is Ing
dy to commence extensive high @.
y construction when the war is str
ished and have program that
| give work to approximately $500 de-