The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-04-04
WAsHINGT TON LETTER

paying high wages to their merch-
ant crews. In Sweden, the seaman,s
wage scale is even higher than in
the United States"
1t is much the same with ship
building. Hurley finds that while
British shipbuilding wages are less
than ours, yet American workers
are more e;cient, and today we have
an army of skilled men who can do
at least so per cent more work than
was the case when we began to re-
establish this industry on our coasts
two years ago. Wage differences no
longer keep Americans out of the
race, and even these differences are
going, an organized labor abroad
makes further demands.
SENATE FIGHT IN CALIFORNIA
Congressman julius Kahn of Cal
ifornla, Republican, chairman of the
house, is reported at the capitol to
be among the aspirants for the seat
of Senator James d. Phelan, Demo
crat, who must run for reelection
next year. Other candidates for the
Republican nomination against Rhe-
Ian will probably be William Kent,
member of the United States tariff
commission and former member of
congress; Mayor Rolph of San
Francisco, and Governor Stephens
has the advantage of being the only
Republican candidate coming from
the Los Angeles region. Kahn and
Rolph live in San Francisco and
Kent is a resident of an adjoining
county. AS Senator Hiram Johnson
is San Franciscan, the vote of the
city by the Golden Gate will be di-
vided among her sons, while Steph-
ems will claim the support of all
distant regions of the state on the
ground that San Francisco is try
ing to monopolize the benefits of of
flee.
Both Senators Phelan and John
son, with Kent, were Identified with
the famous graft prosecution of
years ago. Rolph was elected mayor
in 1911 as the result of a genera
revolt against the attempt to brinf
back the Abe Ruef regime. He i.
supported by organized labor. KahI
has always had the supper Of thu
business interests Of San Francisco
but has avoided local politics.
SOLDIERS MEMORIALS
i A warning to patriotic communi
ties against setting up portrai
statues as memorials has been is
sued by the national commission o
fine arts-because most towns ar
now talking about memorials te
: their boys who died in the war.
Portrait statues of individual
: are rarely successful" says the CHI
2 cular of advice to local committees
: "and vet, with committees, they ar
the favorite form of commemora
ton. A portrait statue which
: also a work of art is not an lmpos
7 sibility, but it is such rarity thu
{ committees should exhaust othe
d possibilities before settling on TIL
Il one" -,
o Community social center build
ings are recommended as the fir'
choice, and memorial bridges, whlc
e shall combine real architecture
n beauty with fine materials and col
: struction to last a thousand year
o are also recommended.
l. NEW HOUSE REACTlONAKf
It "Uncle Joe" Cannon will not hes
= annv of the big committees in tt
e new house. He will serve as men
d Der OF the appropriations commute
n which is under the direction OF Re
+ resentative Good of Iowa. AS T.
ct Oldest and most belligerent Repu
lie lican in the house, the form
II 'sczaro rejoices in the return OF
l. marty to full command OF congres
le end even more because the lnsu
ID gents who once overthrow his
De eanization in the house have dlsa
k neared. Norris is in the sena
is Murdoch is a member of the tar
commission, and their followers
1b scattered, but Cannon and his staun
or supporters remain in possession
ne the popular branch of the natior
n legislature. 800 :,
in Cannon's office is located J.
across the corridor from the hep'
l;can cloakroom, and next door
O. the rooms of the appropriation CO
he mittee. He will keep watch on
Nv sessions of the present congress '"
ut a minimum of effort.