The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-06-17
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
By GRETCHEN G. BILLINGS

| we govern ourselves. Pure democracy
is close to anarchy-and organiza-
tions that don't provide leadership
and guidance for their membership
are failing in their responsibilities. 1t
is leadership that is entrusted with the
programs of organizations, and this
is as true on the political level as any
other level. Most every organization
has legislative program. They send
representatives to the seat of gov
eminent to work for their program
and against anything harmful to
them.
Organized labor has much to gain
or lose in the halls of government,
as do many other organizations.
How is the membership of an or
ganization to know the people who
have been their friends if leadership
does not tell them. don't think there
is any choice in this thing.
I think all organizations should
make public their endorsements.
The most difficult time on the en-
dorsement level is in primary where
there may be number of good candi-
dates. Some may have records, some
can be expected to have good records.
Choices are not always easy to make,
but choices are vital, and as long as
we remain a two-party system they
have to be made from them.
In Montana where primaries can
have a large number of candidates
for each office, endorsements have
a peculiar necessity for groups like
labor and other liberal
groups.
The reason should be obvious-in
Montana ballot-loading is time hon
ored practice. With no direction given
to membership of organizations pri-
maries become meaningless. Political
policy is decided in the primary
and today when corporate interests
have as part of their political pro-
gram the infiltration of both parties,
the antagonism toward endorsements
is either abysmally naive or gross
political chicanery.
After all if the corporate interests
INSIST ON perverting the two-party
system in America SOMEBODY has
10 speak up.
There were lot of fine candidates
n the recent primary-candidate
Who could carry their party philoso-
,hies with courage and honor-but
he political facts of life are such
here has to be a rallying around
omeone or lose everything. l think
ack of leadership in Republican erii
nted organizations resulted in their
osing their highest calibre candi-
ate, Gerard, and nominating one of
heir weakest, Flare. AS fer in
lance.
The implication of political bossism
4 endorsements is political emotion
lism put out for just that reaction
-emotionalism. The guy that allows
imself to swallow that line is, adj
hitting his own lack of ability to
valuate candidates.
Endorsements are put out long
nough before elections that no one
an say there isn't time to look into
lie recommended candidates.
The whole canard about endorse
tents should be blown out of the
alter. People in America should be
roud of their political beliefs
neither candidate or voter and
is incumbent on the American peo-
e to exert their democratic re-
'onsibility to take part in politics.
abor's endorsements, whether the
embership follows them or not
the necessary public de-
tie.
Let those who criticize endorse
ent get out and fight the political
'ogram and policy that is behind
EN-, and not just blast the endorse
emit policy because they don't have
It's enough to do it themselves.