The Sidney herald., 1957-10-31

Democratic party affairs, which
is certainly his right, just as it i.
the right of anyone to affiliate
with the political party mot COM
munist, of course) which he be-
lieves best represents his ideas
and most effectively promotes his
interests.
The point, however, is that for
SO many years that it has become
an almost undertaking historical
fact, the labor leadership, with
hardly an exception, has supported
Democrats because they are Dem
ocrats and opposed Republicans
because they are Republicans.
Any assumption that Republi-
cans because they are Republi-
cans are against labor is not only
untenable but it is demagogic and
sheer political bigotry. But in this
general matter, let not the Repub-
lican party call the kettle black,
for the Republican party has its
share of bigtory.
If the profeSsed attitude of some
labor leaders toward the Republi-
can party is softening, that, too,
may be political expediency. AL
legations growing out of congress
sional Investigations that in some
areas of trade unionism the rank
and file is under dictatorial domi-
nation are having the effect of
putting the labor leadership gen.
orally on the defensive. All labor
chiefs should not be condemned
for the misdeeds of relatively few,
but the situation has helped to
crystalize the resentment that
more than a few people have be-
cause Of highhanded methods Of
some local union bosses.
Over the years I have been ac-
quainted with many Of the state
level leaders Of organized labor
in Montana. With an occasional
exception, these men have been
contentious, clean and fair =
both to the union memberships
and to the public. Sometimes l
have felt that in their zeal to adj
vance the cause of trade union
ism they have not always been a
aware as they should be of the
effect on the general public. /
nope we are now on the thresh-
hold of a more considerable atti-
Jude.
l hope also that at last organ
zed labor is coming around to
that it has friends, actual
and potential, in both major politi- |
al parties. To brand a Republican
IN enemy of labor just because he
S a Republican does not tend to
make him friendly. 1t tends to
make him feel, and not without
'eason, that regardless of what he
ries to do for labor, the leaders
If labor will be against him any
way.
Speaking of legislators in par
ocular, labor leaders are finding |
,ut that a person does not neces-
arily go along with them just be-
.ause he was elected on the Dem
cratic ticket. Recent sessions of
he Montana assembly have given
onclusive evidence of that. Some
f those who presume to be the
'romulgators of the true Demo-
ratio party creed call such nom
onformists traitors to the party.
But who is to judge whether a
Democrat is a loyal Democrat or
lot? Or a Republican for that
natter?
Referring again to the legisla-
ure, what Montana labor should
ave been doing all these years is
D try to nominate favorable can
idates on both tickets. Jim UNI
er's declaration of political in
ependence will be more convin-
ing if demonstrated in action by
he organizations of which he is
he state spokesman.
If the principle of political in
ependence enunciated by the
reat Samuel Gompers can be
effective, it will mean a
ew and better era for organized
Dor and for the general public
5 well.