The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-11-22
ANSWERS "WHY THE
COP LANDSLIDE"

AlSO w ENS WI I lie
COP LANDSLIDE"
Deer Lodge, Mont
Nov. 10, 1916
The Peoples Voice
Helena, Montana
Dear Editor:
Perhaps my opinions on the result
of the last recent election don't coun
flor much, but the QUESTIONABLE il
your last issue provides such small
space for answers and comments, an
going to use this letter instead.
Did the Independent vote swing Il
the republicans because of strikes
No, because the vast majority of in
dependent voters happen to be work
ers who belong to some union The
vote Erickson polled in Butte ant
Anaconda bears this out, think.
Did our present "get tough" foreign
policy bring votes to the republicans
No, because the majority of voters
particularly the young ones, are not
especially interested in our foreign
policies to the extent they are interest
ed in domestic affairs which vitality
concern them at present.
| Did shortages of goods such as
meat, soap, ETC., affect the independent
vote? Yes, because meat and soap
ETC., were increasingly hard to get
with prices creeping up in spite of the
OPA. Most of the people were blind
to the fact that a reactionary group
composed of both democrats and re.
publicans, in the last session of con-
gress completely sabotaged the OPA
by refusing to appropriate sufficient
funds to police the black markets and
make it's provisions effective. Many
voters are unaware that big business
has been on a sit-down strike for
months, ignoring the needs of the
public, while they have built up huge
reserves. The National Association of
Manufacturers knew if they could
force OPA out of the picture and con-
troll a working majority in congress,
they could gradually release trickle
of goods to the desperate public, keep
ing in mind that a scarcity keeps
prices higher.
Even if labor should indulge in an
other wave of strikes due to the con-
tinual rise in living costs, big bust
ness will still be sitting pretty with
its huge stock-piles.
1t would have been better for the
democratic party if Truman had re-
fused to sign the OPA measure as it
was finally submitted to him. After
he pointed out its weaknesses he
should have dumped it back Into the
lap of congress. Public opinion built
up through ignorance and propaganda
forced him to gradually remove most
of its waning power, thereby putting
the democratic party in very unfav-
orable light with the general public.
"Red Smear" Played
Important Part
What effect did the vicious "red
smear" campaign have on the outcome
of Montana's senatorial ticket? 1t
played an important part in swinging
the Independent vote to the republi-
cans. Was it Hitler who once said if
you tell lie often enough the people
will finally accept it for the truth?
Again the NAM used this propaganda
through the press and the
radio to fool the people, not only in
Montana, but all over the nation. 1t is
to be regretted that the Church paper
I,a no in,
with cartoon on its front page show
ing Erickson shaking hands with a
communist in the primary campaign.
When the churches promote this COM
munist scare what are the people to
believe? Instead of fostering suspicion
they should lead the way in promoting
tolerance and earnestly endeayoring
to find common ground of under
standing between the two ideologies.
Recent elections in France and Italy
indicate the Church must give its peo-
pie bread instead of stones if it wants
to hold their confidence and love-,
Do you think American liberalism
was materially weakened by Tuesdays
election? Only temporarily. Nine
tenths of the Americans are liberals
at heart. They only voted republican
as short cut to attain the vital things
which they need now, and which the
republicans so rashly promised to
give them in short order If the repub-
Leans fail to live up to these promises,
some of which are impossible to fulfill
then look out The only time this
country was in danger of going COM
munistic was in 1881 and 1882, after
u years of republican administration
had completely wrecked our economic
life, and forced millions into bread
lines.
Did the independent voters swing