The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-05-30

PrCbable-LabOr Wants Easier
Method of Amending Constitution
Baker Stops Free Auto Service
for Capital Officers-Many Immi.
grants Going Back to Europe
Former Labor Congressman Out.
lines Program-Baer and Sinclair
on Hand for Opening Session.
Washington, D. C.-Congress con-
venes, elects it's new officers and
committees, and begins it's grind
There are few changes, above or be-
low the surface. Democratic chair
men of committees now step aside
but they will sit next to the Repub-
lcan chairmen, when the committees
90 to work, and they will be only a
Slight degree less active than before
After all, congress is a pretty con-
tinuous institution, and enough of the
ABS representatives and the 96 sena-
tors come back after each election to
prevent any notable change in its
methods or in the face it presents to
the world.
Champ Clark used to be Democrat
ic leader. After eight years in the
speakers chair he has been re-elect-
ed to his old job of leader on the
floor for his party. Claude Kitchin
majority leader when Champ was
presiding over the house, retires to
his secondary post in the committee
on way and means. Gillett will be
speaker, and Mann, Cannon and
Mondell will direct the Republican
majority on the floor, as they have
been directing the Republicans for
years past.
In the senate the changes are all
according to seniority, thus far, ex-
cept in the case of Senator Cummins
who is made president pro tenn, in
the hope of placating the progressive
element, and possibly in the case OF
Penrose and Warren, whose political
regulations are considered by good
many of their Republican associates
to be dangerous to party success next
year. But whatever the positions to
be held by Penrose and shall have a
is inevitable that they shall have q
powerful influence upon Republican
Legislative policy during the next
two years. They represent the bulk
of the party organization known as
the old guard, just as Mann and his
friends represent it in the house.
SAFE PROPHECIES
Several prophecies of this first
session are SAFE First, the peace
treaty and league of nations coven.
and will be kept on the hot griddle OF
hostile discussion for several months
Second, the attempt to return the
railroad properties to private opera
ton with a governmental guaranty OF
their hugely inflated and watereC
claims Of valuation-the claim that
S19,00O,000, has been invested
will strike snags because it means 9
big advance in freight and passenger
rates. Third, legislation against the
food monopoly will be shelved
n Fourth, legislation designed to solve
the problem of unemployment viii
4 not be seriously considered. Fifth
q congress will run along until Novem
Il Der or December without having sat
a isfed the expectations Of the returned
s. soldiers either as to well-paid EN-
plOyment, cash bonus or farms read!
VI for their use.
8 LABOR DEMANDS INITIATIVE
q The more conservative organized
labor in the United States has al
q most reached the point where it vii
81 demand a share in the right to legis
late. But it will not be satisfied
s merely to take a few seats in con
81 gresS and in the state legislatures
according to Henry Sterling, legisla
tive agent of the American Fedora
81 ton of Labor. 1t wants action in ;
score of fields of legislative need
and it suspects that the "law-makint
monopoly" as Sterling terms tn
81 state and national legislatures, vii
never in this generation catch VI
81 with the crying wants of the people
81 So, labor is going to raise a racke
in favor of the initiative, the refer
n endum and the recall. Particularly i
81 It interested in the initiative. L
"a would apply this to amending tn
# federal Constitution, as well as t.
amending the statutes. What Judg
King of the National Popular Gov
eminent league calls the "gatewa.
amendment" to the Constitution.
which will permit the people of 81,
or eight states to bring forward
az proposed amendment to the Constr
tuition, to be voted upon and approve
E by majority of the people in
@ majority of the states, is wanted a
the outset. p
The convention of the America
Federation of Labor at Atlantic Cit
4 next month will draft a series of de
mands, among which will doubles
De this one for the easy popula1
amendment of the federal Constitu
ton and statutes.
The new congress has scarcely
man known prominently in the trad
Union world.
OFFICERS LOSE FREE CARS
Upon certain corners along fash
lonable Connecticut avenue, In tn
ofhclal residence quarter of the na
uonal capital, these bright sprn
mornings, passersby have been In
.erested to observe army automo
piles, more or less crowded wit
dapper young lieutenants, captain
md @