26
Federal Laws and Association Activities
used by the employe, constitutes the viola
tion.”
H A TCH ACT INTERPRETATION
In a discussion of the Hatch Act
published in the April 1944 issue of
the Journal of State and Local Govern
ment Employees, Colonel A. E. Carey,
expert counsel on labor legislation, ex
presses the following opinion:
“Activity concerning constitutional amend
ments, referenda, municipal ordinances and
similar questions are not considered political.
Presumably activity in behalf of State or
local candidates running on a non-partisan
ticket, that is, without political labeling,
would not be considered to be subject to the
act. The effect of the restrictions is limited
to activity on behalf of candidates and nom
inees of political parties which were recog
nized as such in the last preceding presi
dential election.”
ASSOCIATION OBJECTIVES
Consider now the objects and pro
grams of the Oregon State Employees
Association in the light of the above
interpretation of the Federal laws.
The objects of the Oregon State As
sociation as expressed in its constitu
tion are as follows:
1. To foster and preserve in the hearts of
its members a constant dedication to the
principles of constitutional democracy, as
reflected by the American form of govern
ment.
2. To encourage among State employees a
sense of civic responsibility.
3. To maintain high standards of em
ployee conduct on governmental affairs.
4. To disseminate a knowledge of depart
mental activities among State employees to
the end that cooperation, efficiency, and
harmony may prevail.
J. To unite the employees of the State of
Oregon for the purpose of exerting an effec
tive influence with respect to matters con
cerning employees which are compatible with
the best interests of State government.
6. To advocate and support a merit sys
tem of civil service in state government.
7. To urge and support the effective ad
ministration of the laws of the State of
Oregon.
8. To cooperate with other organizations
in the civic development and the economic
growth of the State of Oregon, and to pro
mote the substantial progress and develop
ment of the State and its resources.
9. In so far as action by this Association
is compatible with the best interest of the
people of the State of Oregon, to sponsor
and support legislation beneficial to State
employees, and to oppose legislation detri
mental to their interests, and to promote
and protect the welfare of the membership
of the Association.
The constitution provides further
limitations in Article IX, Sections One
and Two as follows:
Section 1. The State Association shall be
strictly non-political. The General Council,
board of directors, chapters, committees,
agencies, officers, or members shall take no
action which is incompatible with the ob
jects of the State Association.
Section 2. A vote shall not be taken or
sanctioned by the General Council, board of
directors, chapters, committees, or agencies
thereof which relates to the political advance
ment of any individual or group of individ
uals.
The Oregon State Employees Asso
ciation is now by official action of the
General Council pledged to support a
state-wide merit system of civil ser
vice and a state-wide retirement plan.
Activities in behalf of this legislative
program in the light of the above in
terpretations of the Hatch Act are
non-political and non-partisan and
therefore not within the scope of the
act.
SMITH CONNALLY BILL
Smith Connally Bill—The War La
bor Disputes Act (Smith Connally Bill,
Senate Bill 7 9 6 ), which was vetoed by
the President and passed over his veto,
provides in Section 9 for the amendment
of the Federal Corrupt Practices Act
of 1925, Section 313, so that the sec
tion now reads:
“It is unlawful for any------ labor organ
ization to make a contribution in connection
with any election at which Presidential and
Vice Presidential electors or senators or re
presentatives—are to be voted for, or for
any candidate, political committee, or other
(Continued on page 27)