27
Federal Laws and Association Activities
(Continued from page 26)
persons to accept or receive any contribution
prohibited by this section.”
The act appears to apply only to the
campaign or election of Federal officers.
Money contributions, or things of val
ue, such as donations of literature, ra
dio time, paid ads, etc., to a candidate
for Federal office or to his committee
at his or its request, or with his, or its,
consent, is therefore a violation of the
law, whether the group involyed be a
union, labor organization, local, chap
ter, committee, club, or association.
Mr. Joseph A. Padway, expert coun
sel, in an interpretation of the Smith
Connally Bill published in the Journal
of State and Local Government Em
ployees of September 1943 makes the
following statement:
"The law places no limitations or restric
tions . on the expenditure of any sum of
money by labor unions in connection with
any activities undertaken by a union on its
own behalf, in its own interests to promote
its own welfare (such as a legislative pro
gram) even though such activities are in
tended to elect or defeat any candidate or
candidates for office.”
The objectives and activities of the
Oregon State Employees Association
have no connection with Federal o f
fices or elections, therefore it seems
highly improbable that their activities
could be interpreted to be in any way
subject to the restrictions of the Smith
Connally Bill.
ASSOCIATION IS N O N -PA RTISA N
The Oregon State Employees Associ
ation is independent and without union
affiliation; is not concerned with in
dividuals, with candidates, with nom
inees, or with political parties; it is non
political and non-partisan and has for
sworn all pressure methods including
partisan support of either individuals
or party. Its program is one of educa
tion and promotion of the understand
ing and realization of the fact that im
proved working conditions; extension
of the merit system; and an adequate
retirement plan will all result in a dis
tinct and definite improvement of. all
branches of the State service.
The association by study, thought and
discussion among its own membership
has another important function to per
form; that is the determination of the
majority opinion and sentiment of the
State employees, themselves, concern
ing the many details involved in the
above program.
The objectives of the Oregon State
Employees Association are high. A ctiv
ities in behalf of its program will result
in great benefit to the State and in
cidentally to its employees. These ob
jectives are inspiring confidence among
officials and leaders of the State and
local governments. Let us ever aim to
prove this confidence well founded.
Eugene Concrete Pipe
& Products Co.
P.O .B O X 947 - EUGENE, OREGON