The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1947-05-23
BY "BILL"
WE'RE THE REPUBLICANS DUPED?

Al w ~ NJ AIDs
pol and other polls indicate the people to be 2to-1
against the Truman This in itself might in
dictate that 1913 presidential conspiracy has
backfired to the benefit of the GOP-except that the
Republicans in both houses gave overwhelming support
to the proposal Thus, the majority party will not be
able to capitalize the opposition sentiment of the
voters the 194S classic and will have to carry its
campaign the people principally on domestic issues
such as labor legislation, reclamation appropriations,
farm parity etc The President by exercising mod
crate role on such controversial domestic issues
collect in millions of labor and farm votes while by his
strategy of ut-"red batting the Republicans, have
little fear from the most howendous red smear"
the COP concoct.
Summed up doesn't appear that that man in the
White House" has not only effectively stolen the
der of Carroll Reese but at the time has secured
COP approval the most enormous political campaign
fund to grace the Democratic party?
1t Can Be Done
You've heard lot about the impotency of labor
in indulging in political acton-how useless it is-how
labor business entering the political field etc,
ad nauseum. How much of this concerted campaign of
rdicule is based big business fear of effective po-
tical action by the workers is matter for conjecture
several elections have given substance to the
possibility that American capitalists may have sound
reasons fearing ultimate political unity of the
workers.
How labor-endorsed progressives in Chicago and
Baltimore away with the city elections is now a
matter of history and if these the only such in
stances the results could be attributable TO local
dons
However Chicago and Baltimore not the only
cities feel the keenedged sword of awakening po
ical interest the part of industrial workers.
More recently Hoboken ~ J., aborites and liberals
the polls and cleaned out a political machine
of q standing Leading the ticket when the final
votes tabuated vice president OF the CIO
shipbuildng workers other successful city council
candidates included liberal ndustralist the president
of the Policemens union. five progressive Democrats
and progressive Republican
On the Pacific coast at Oakland. California. about
the same time a united labor slate delivered a crushing
defeat to the Northumberland COP machine which
had held power for the past IS years. Among those
elected a CIO chemist, AFL radio unonst
q liberal attorney and veteran of World World H. and
locomotive engineer
A similar victorious swath was cut in Passaic Nj.
and then again just last Saturday in the third district
of Washington. Labor and liberal Democrats turned
out in huge numbers to nominate ex-Cong. Charles
Savage, who's campaign platform embraced opposition
to pending labor legislation opposition proposed
reclamation cuts, and support of the international pol
cies enuncated by Henry Wallace. In 1916 this
district elected the late Fred Norman r.. Savage
The two-way Savage-smith Troy Democratic race saw
almost twice as many votes cast in the
Republican primary, in which four running.
Finals to fill the Norman vacancy will be held June Z.
The victorious march an awakened labor move
ment however, not confined solely the
west coast Minneapolis last week saw labor voters
turn out IN great numbers in successful effort make
g house cleaning in city hall. And, only Tuesday
aroused Denver voters the polls and made
similar history. The 2O-year incumbent mayor ran an
extremely poor third with only 1900 $4,000
Tor the runnerup and rs 900 for the World
war IL veteran who poed 60 per cent of the total
ballot
More closely at home it should also not be over
looKeu that only recently labor-endorsed candidates
were elected to the offices of mayor Great Falls
and Havre.
What's it all add up to? simply-despite the de-
rsons OF the paid propagandiss the wishfu thinking
Oh inc mlsnformed, labor, when of unified mind and
purpose does have real political strength That
WIN ue unity OF purpose at the polling places during the
neAt lew months, there be denyng-the Tafts,
bals' Hartleys and Rankins have awakened workers
me hoh over to the fact that gains through economic
'on "lthout reinforcing through political action
W extremely short-ved. American workers. now on
inc very Drink OF legislative precipce will not be
future - ~ ~
Il !. .-