Montana labor news., 1944-07-27
ACTION
GROUP BR0ADENS
THEIR ACTIVITIES

for the common people OF Montana III
the July primary elections, the Montana
Council for Progressive Political Action
already is laying plans for a real peoples
victory in November. Made up Of mem
bers from all walks of life and all pro-
gressive labor and farm organizations
the local councils in Silver Bow, Cas-
cade, Lewis and Clark, Yellowstone and
many other Montana counties have de-
termined to keep the Political Action
program alive, to consolidate its gains, to
broaden even further its representation
among all Of the people and to carry on
the fight not only to elect progressive
candidates to office but to fight for dem
ocratic legislation.
The Montana Council is only a little
over three months old, having been or
ganzied in Great Falls at a representa-
tive meeting in April But in those three
months it has amply demonstrated what
can be done when farmers labor. small
business people, teachers and profession
al men and women join hands in a
common program for the common good
one Of the first steps in organizing the
courcil was the adoption at a state
meeting Of a legislative program upon
which all liberals and progressiyes could
agree. This program includes the fol-
lowing points:
Speedy, final and complete victory in
the war
Unalterable opposition to negotiated
peace.
A lasting peace based upon the promise
of Teheran.
Insistence that all men belong to a
single human race and are entitled to
certain inalienable rights, regardless Of
color, race or creed.
The continuation of full production
and full employment in a peace-time
economy of abundance.
Maintenance of the huge industrial
plants built by the government as a
public domain for the benefit of all and
not for the profit of a few
A real "GI Bill of Rights for return
ing veterans.
Extend to agriculture the health and
old-age insurance, housing, electrifica-
ton and social and commodity service
necessary to safeguard the health and
welfare of our rural population.
Strengthen and preserve the rights
won by labor during years Of struggle.
Enactment of real labor compensation
laws broad enough and liberal enough
actually to take care of the medical,
dental, housing, disqualification, security,
Unemployment, and compensation needs
Of all working people
A decent and adequate old-age pen
sion system.
Development of the Missouri river
along the lines OF the iva for the bene-
fit of the people rather than the Mon
tana Power company.
This brief sketch barely touches upon
the highlights Of the legislative pro-
gram, but even this is enough to show
that the council means business and
that they know what they want. In ad-
dition to the Political Action and legis-
lative program, the councils are conduct
ing educational campaigns and pro-
grams.
The daily press ia Montana has issued
several statements about the Montana
Council which are misleading and
should be answered. First is that this is
CIO program. True, the CIO is taking
part. but so are members Of AFL, r. r.
Brotherhoods, Farmers Union and in
dependent people from all walks of life.
The very fact that the council does
have such broad representation is one of
the greatest reasons for its success.
Another erroneous idea is that the
council has unlimited funds and is be-
ngi paid for by this Or that special in
terest The fact is that the only funds
received by the council are from mem
bership fees of one dollar each and small
contributions from friendly organizations
and individuals
The Silver Bow Council for Progress
sive Political Action meets each Thurs
day evening at 3 o'clock in the Court
House, Judge Downey's court room. All
labor organizations in Butte are invited
and urged to encourage their member to
attend and participate All meetings are
open to the public. Here is a chance for
everyone who really believes in progress
sive political action and in defending la
boris rights to get into an organization
that means business.