The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1944-04-21
The BOX SCORE"

The votes on six measures in the lower house
and four in the senate have been selected best
indicating the general attitude of the members on
questions of the greatest good to the greatest num-
ber' and on issues of vital interest to and just
sideraton for the needs of weak, minority groups
Two of the measures selected for the voting record
of senators measures backed by powerful in
terests interested in them purely selfish grounds
without giving consideration to the best interests
of the people of the state.
The selection of these measures, in both the house
and the senate has been made, because In no single
instance can the member claim that he not
of the implications and intent of any Of them.
In each case, the measures were debated and
planned and the individual member went on record
with full knowledge concerning them. If in the
minds of the individual members constituency, he
voted wrong any of them, his only excuse for
voting he did, is that his vote represents his in
divdual conviction the issue. His constituents
must then decide if they think he represented HIS
interests OR THEIR interests.
In the lower house it will be found that 27 scored
zero and Is in the senate scored the same. The
record of these reactionaries would no doubt have
been improved by the addition of other, less conse-
quential measures. Many of these members have
served before and have established records as bad
as this one The fact that they have been returned
to repeat their abors behalf of the corporate in
terests and privileged groups must indicate one of
two things Either their constituents do not make
any effort to inform themselves concerning the ati
tude of their representative, his actions must
meet with their approval. However, if the latter
be the case, then they overlooking their respon
sibility toward society; toward their fellow citizens
in other parts of the state affected by their own
and their representatives reactionary attitude.
The percentages have been computed on the basis
of the number of times the member voted right
when present to vote. When absent, an "X" is
ried instead of an ga" or 'N'' While it is common
enough practice on the part of members to
deliberately absent themselves when contro-
versal vote is in the offing, do not presume to
Judge if the absense unavoidable or deliberate.
Thus if person absent one of the votes in
the lower house he is scored how he voted on the
other five only. If he voted right out of the
five he is scored 1900 right. If he voted right
five times out of five, he is scored 1907, the
as the man who voted right six times out of six.
Absences must be noted to avoid confusion. In
the case mentioned above if the member voted right
once out of five times he is scored 20%. Another
member may have been present to vote only four
times out of the six. If he voted right out of
the four times he is scored 25 o. The evaluation
of the vote of any such member must be based on
the which the vote recorded in each
instance. Actually, it is doubt true that the at
titude of two such members parallel; thinks as
the other thinks, and probably each of them
influenced by similar motives.
Each time "box score" is published, those
whose percentage of right votes is very low,
questions the right of those publishing it to sit in