Montana labor news., 1944-08-10
WHY A LABOR
LEGISLATIVE TICKET

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The selection of labor candidates for
the State Legislature on a Labor Ticket
might cause surprise in some quarters,
but to those who have kept in touch
with politics in Montana, and especially
in Silver Bow county, the move was but
step in the battle Of self preserva-
ton
Several years ago the local labor
movement, as represented by the Silver
Bow Trades and Labor Council, entered
into politics to the extent Of selecting a
slate of ten candidates for the State
Legislature. and was successful in cleo
ing nine of them These nine men came
back after the session with one hundred
per cent voting records and their influ-
ence was sufficient to raise the other
member from this county to an all time
high voting record. Through the sue
ceeding years interest waned somewhat
except through sporadic uprisings by
small groups of individuals. and the re-
suits obtained we're far beyond the
hopes of these militant groups. Through
their efforts the rights of labor we're
safeguarded to some extent. However
the campaign of 1912 saw an almost
complete relaxation of their vigilance,
and as a result, the newly elected legis-
lators from this county were, with one
exception, almost completely dominated
by the vested interests. An attempt to
shackle labor by taking away the right
to enforce its demands was defeated by
"a narrow margin, and then only by the
cooperation of all groups uniting to
fight the common enemy.
In the present campaign the labor
unions took no active part. Some en-
dorsements were made with the hope
that these candidates would be success
full and that labor would have some one
whom they could support But the re-
suits of the recent primaries blasted
this hope With the exception Of one
or two, or possibly three on both Of the
old party tickets, labor had no choice in
their candidates. The other successful
candidates were hopelessly tied to the
vested interests.
Prior to the recent primaries the
Legislative committees of the Silver Bow
Trades and Labor Council and the Butte
Building Trades Council, had brought in
somewhat similar reports to-wit: That
after the primaries, in the event that
there are not a sufficient number of
successful candidates whom labor can
support, then a convention be called for
the purpose of nominating labor candi-
dates. and that this convention be
sponsored by both trades councils"
The results of the primaries forced the
calling of this labor convention. The
convention was called according to law
and met on Aug. l. 1914, at the Car
penters' Union hall and was attended
by almost all delegates to both labor
councils and many sympathizers. 1t
was apparent from the harmonious atti-
tude of those attending the meeting,
that they were grimly determined to OBJ
tain results The legislative records of
several of the successful candidates were
scrutinized and it was the sense of the
meeting that we do nothing to ieopardize
the chances of those who had supported
labor at previous sessions. Accordingly
only four candidates we're nominated.
Two have had previous legislative ex-
perience and the other two have been
very active in their local unions. These
candidates are affiliated only with the
local labor movement, and are repre-
sentative American citizens who know
the needs of Silver Bow county and the
state of Montana.
Their platform: Preserve labor and
veterans right" is not difficult to digest,
and on this platform they solicit the
support Of all union men and women
and others who believe that labor and
veterans have some rights.
Labor is proud to present as our can
didates-stanley Babcock, past president
of Butte Miners Union, who has been
very active in the affairs OF his organl-
zation and in civic welfare movements;
Sam Spiegel, member Of the Motion
Picture Operators Union, who has
served in four sessions of the Legislature
and whose record Of 100 per cent may
be equalled but can never be topped,
and Erwin West of Butte Miners Union
who has been very active in its affairs.
And in passing, as an indication that
labor does not forget its friends, it was
the unanimous vote Of the convention
that Jack Healy, candidate for the State
LEGISLATURE on the Democratic ticket be
given the endorsement of labor for his
past efforts in their behalf.