The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-10-11
MIR. RANKIN'S REAL ISSUES

But If was on the subject of labor
that he presented his wobbliest plank.
In fact as he stood upon one end of it,
the termites finished chewing off the
other end. Mr.. Rankin said that he be-
believed that labor's right to strike
and to collective bargaining must be
protected under law, and then he
called for the amendment of the
Wagner act. Surely, Mr.. Rankin knows
that it was the Wagner Act which
gave labor it's bill of rights, that this
act is what guarantees labor the right
to strike and to bargain collectively
under law What amendment does he
think necessary? What right does he
wish to deny? He didn't say. You
avoid being specific in doubletalk
AS one who believes in the wisdom
of the two party system I look forward
to the time when democracy will have
as servants two forward-looking par
ties vying with each other to present
the most progressive platform for the
choice of the people 1t is injurious to
democracy to have the republican
party campaigning with dishonesty;
using the red scare, which is as dan
gerous to the peace of the world as
the atom bomb, to cover the lack Of
ideas which has beset them for the
past IA years. If they have no ideas to
present to the people, they have no one
to blame but themselves for letting
the times slip by them. They have had
the same chance the democrats have
had for reading the times-the course
of history. They lack the courage to
face the future, they stubbornly refuse
to learn from experience.
There are liberal and forward-look-
ing republicans, people among the
rank and file who look to the party
publican leaders, men like Morse of
Oregon. Aiken of Vermont or Stassen
of Minnesota who can read the times.
II the party chooses instead the afro
phied thinking of the Tafts, the
Deweys, the Brickers and the Recess,
they are simply sending their party
farther on the road to decay.
| didn't expect that Barney Rankin
would endorse the latter brand of
thinking, if thinking it is. | was sure
that his experience would have taught
him the answers to reaction. | hoped
that | would hear a courageous young
man stand up and talk straight talk
twentieth century talk the kind of
talk Eric Johnson gave the National
Chamber of Commerce when he re-
tired as their president. Mr.. Johnson
a very fine speech which
all Americans should read with these
words:
My four-year course of education
n the Chamber of Commerce took me
round the world, where | saw the
eath of capitalism with my own eyes.
t has taken me endless times across
ur own country And | have learned
his: We in business must liberalize
r face the threat of economic liquida-
ion. The law of life applies: adapt or
lie.
Business has the key to unlock this
DOR to this new capitalism. We can't
uck this one. Ours is the responsible
ty. Ours is the opportunity. Ours is
ne decision"
Mr.. Johnson has had ring side seat
)r observing American business
Philosophy and practices. He learned
is lesson. He knows that progress is
ot to be denied although it can be
etarded through stupidity.
Mr.. Rankin, it seems to me, has had
ring side seat for what happens
vhen the world refuses to learn from
experience, when people fail to learn
he lessons of history. | conclude,
therefore,, and with sincere regret,
nat Mr.. Rankin, many though his
irtues, is not yet ready for the big
ID he seeks. He still has a great deal
, learn. l hope that he will turn to
len like Morse, Aiken, Stassen and
ric Johnson for tutelage, and that
Q will turn his back on those who
ave prevented the growth of his po-
tical party for more than decade.