The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-03-25
Bv LOWNDES MAURY. Butte

WdlidlC, NOiiiliialid Ill I Cctnh QlVl-
sion, War y in his "The Second
World War;, (Duell, Sloan & Pearce,
N.Y. says: "Not only were the at
omic attacks a reversion to type
of war which would have disgraced
Tamerlane, but President Truman's
ultimatum of August 6, IF they (the
Japanese) do not now accept our
terms, they may expect rain of ruin
from the air, the like of which has
never been seen on this earth, was
equivalent to a gangster saying to
his victim, Unless you do as | ask,
| will shoot up your family"
The book scrubs from war the ro-
nance and glamor. The blunders of
the heroes are exposed without re-
serve. The author does not spare
the "brahims", such as Montgomery,
Eisenhower, Churchill He recounts
orders given to charge with tanks
over ground where bombing had
made craters as feet deep; also at
Caen, us. bombers hit our own am
munition dumps even miles behind
the line; how Canadian headquarters
was plastered by both British and
American bombers; the American
ships sunk in the Pacific by our own
and Australian air and naval crews.
Such books cost too much for wide
circulation, but they have untold |
value as arsenals of facts for the lit
tie fearless press that has carried |
four national elections against the |
money power press where circulation
outnumbers the little crusaders 10
thousand to one.
Filibusters-Rotten Boroughs
The road to democracy is rough
and treacherous. Entrenched classes
block the march of the people. High
school students of English history
recognize a likeness of the anti clot-
ure rule UNLIMITED debate) of the
us. Senate to the power of the "rot-
ten boroughs" before 1882. In Eng
land there were boroughs of less than
100 residents who had the same rep
in the House of Commons
as cities of $4,000. Nevada, with
10000, has as many senators as ,
New York with IA million people
Under our outmoded two-house con-
yress, either house can defy the 9TH s
ar. f
"By 1880 they (the rotten bor- G
)ughs) were strongholds of corrupt
and bigoted obscurantism, in the Z
midst of a country transformed by I
Industrial development, and alive d
With new political, economic and So n
,ial movement" Ency. Britannica. r
In 1882 the Parliamentary Re- il
orm Act proportional the repre- p
in Commons" to numbers
# people. This helped Then the i,
House of Lords became the weapon F
# entrenched classes and wealth. t
The king Cor queen) could appoint
IS many as desired to the House of K
4ords. England has no written con- s
titution. In fact, of the large ma e
ions, the two with such basic law g
n written complete form are the Ii
United States and the Soviet Union, Il
nd the Russian Constitution is most N
Y copied from our own. C
Some 70 years ago the power OF if
he House of Lords was abridged. W
low that house can only delay for t.
wo years the laws passed by "com-
IONS; Commons could probably abol- a
III "lords" in two years. b.
Workers who elected Mr.. Truman
D repeal Taft-Hartley,' all decent a
eople opposed to poll tax, and 9th ,
+ restrictions on the ballot, all OPP
osed to discrimination against the
'egro, or any other minority, will
BON see a coalition in the senate M
Southern Democratic (?) Jim OF
row advocates and Northern Re- &c
ublican(?) labor baiters. The weap NJ
n will be "filibuster". III
A movement will spring up to abol-
h the senate, unless that august o.
ody" does soon reform itself by as
hitting silly debate which can pre-
emit the transaction of any business. OF
Unicameral Legislatures "A
Ask any man or woman you meet -
bout the Montana Legislature. The ~
1swer is one of disgust. A usual =,
,ply is 'it should meet only every r.