The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1950-11-10
Labor's Contribution to
Democracy
First ($1OO) Prize

William Gladstone, more t h n
three generations ago, said: "The
trade union is the very bulwark of
democracy" Democracy is, in fact,
the rock upon which the labor move
ment has been founded. 1t is, in turn,
the very foundation of truly demo-
cratic society. Labor's contribution
to American democracy has been i'm
pressive, far reaching and continuous.
Democracy rests upon the worth
of the individual and upon a respect
for the minority. Labor has accepted
from the very start the principle of
the spiritual nature of man. Man is
not an automaton, commodity, or a
statistic. When the worker is ex-
plotted or compelled to labor under
unhealthful conditions labor has pro-
tested since earliest times. Exploiting
of children and women has met with
more than mere protests against con-
ditions in industry which have done
violence to the human spirit.
LabOr's contribution to democracy
has been an insistence on the develop
ment of great system of free public
education. Labor realized that univer-
sal democracy was impossible without
universal education more than hum
bred years ago has valiantly sup
ported it for more than a century.
When my Dad attended the three day
labor school at Missoula, DR.. James
Mccain declared that labor was the
university's first line of defense and
staunchest support.
Labor has supported the rights of |
the minority. Labor asserts that the |
final test of a democracy is not the |
manner in which the will of the ma
jority is made to prevail but the way
in which the rights of the minority /
are respected Labor has fought |
against dictatorship and tyranny be-
cause they ruthlesssly suppress all
minority rights. Labor sounded early
warnings against Communism, Fascism,
and Naziism. Dictatorships begin by
suppressing labor because they know
that the most valuable defenders of
the rights of minorities have been
wage earners. 1t should be
that the American labor
is the only movement in
the world that has consistently re-
pudiated both Communism and Social
ism. Labor has held to the principles
and ideals of democracy.
Labor has stood valiantly in sup
port of civil liberties in America. The
Bill of Rights has been supported by
labor down through the years. In a
period of approximately sixty wears
labor has passed no less than 243
different resolutions in support of
civil liberties here and abroad.
Man cannot be politically free I'M
til he is economically free was early
by labor Also they recog-
1ized the fact that American people
we're the best customers for its prod I
lets. Labor sought higher wages and l
shorter hours not for material salts
action alone but because they were !!
enabled to buy goods and services !,
made available by the creative genius
If American industry.
Not least of the roles played by t
abor unions is the AUGMENTATION 5
If the newcomers to our shore. They p
ave been helped to fulfill their
lream of America. 1t is contribu- n
ion synonymous with the beginning n
f America and one often overlooked. v
Freedom of labor means an Ameri- a
a free from dictatorship and all u
he foreign isms. |;
BRUCE ENSLEY a
1910 9Th Avenue North
I'LL. NTo~4.-o