The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-12-30
Commissioner of Labor

DOT. IHe workers DO not sense the I'M
portance of voting in primary cleo
tions. That is the reason that in some
counties, such as Silver Bow, special
interest groups can invade the Demo-
cratic primaries and elect candidates
unfriendly to labor.
Let US now look at the general cleo
ton returns from Yellowstone county.
General election 1850
yellowstone county,
Precinct No. 81 (most Democratic)
70%o of registered voters went 90
polls.
Precinct No. 46 (most Republican,
82% of the registered voters went to
polls.
This points out another failure of
labor. The workers tend to stay at
home on election day. Labor is not
getting out it's full potential vote.
In the 1850 general election a week
before final closing of registration
a deputy registrar went door to door
in Precinct 81 (most Democratic in
Yellowstone county, and obtained
81 new voters. In this precinct 249o
of the potential voters could not even
have voted except for the efforts of
this deputy registrar. Of this 81 new
voters only 81 actually voted. This
shows that getting the workers regis
tered is not enough. About 800 of
labor's potential vote is being lost
due to failure to register to vote and
failure to vote even when registered.
tial voters and found that everyone
of them would have voted the straight
Democratic ticket.
What can labor do?
Look over the list of members
of labor unions and be sure that every
man and his wife is registered to vote.
2-Set up election observers on
election day and check off their
names as they vote. About pm. if
they have not voted send out cars and
bring them to the polls to vote.
Stalk to your friends and try
% get them to vote for candidates
friendly to labor. This missionary
WIN SiloulQ NC dOlC oOo udyS pei
rear, not only one month before cleo
ion every two years.
The Commissioner of Labor is of
he opinion that labor should be ac-
i've in both political parties. If the
Democrats can ever take labor vote
or granted then labor's influence
an only decrease. The ideal political
position is to have both parties fight
ng for labor votes.
Temporarily labor in many counties
must work largely within the Demo
ratio party. The Republican party
till has too many candidates who
re unfriendly to labor and who look
My to the special interest groups for
dvice. AS labor becomes more pow
rful they should defeat these anti
abor special interest group candi-
ates in both parties. Labor should
tart supporting friendly Republican
andidates. This support of friendly
republican candidates is very import
Mt because the anti-labor groups will
tart infiltrating the Democratic
arty, and due to the fact workers
o not vote primaries, labor will lose
ontrol by putting all their eggs in
ne basket.
If labor plays the political game
roperly, their political power will
lcrease but along with this increase
| political power labor must develop
strong sense of social responsibility.
abor must develop program. There
no sense in obtaining political pow
: unless labor has program to de-
elop. Labor needs to start thinking
bout long range programs. Develop
plan of action. Most important,
Dor should not develop punitive at
tudes toward business. Labor needs
lie capitalistic system in the same
nse that a fish needs water. Free
unions can exist only in
capitalistic system. AS your poll
cal power increases, use it gently.
o not abuse this power for abuse of
,wer will generate political reaction.