davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-11-23
Economic Article -
Bv Leland Olds Federated Press
Less Man Power

spite of increases in individual wage
rates they are saving nearly $20,000,-
600 month in wages.
Railroad employment in August
1928 was below the previous year in
every department. In addition to the
reduction of 25,59O in shopmen the
reductions were, officials 1873, clerks
1857, maintenance of way 1925,
train and enginemen 4,635, other
transportation workers 1913.
The average per capita wage for
August was $145 month compared
with $143 year ago and $137 in
1928. Workers paid on an hourly
basis averaged $139 month this Au-
gust compared with $137 in 1927 and
$132 in August 1928.
A feature of the reports has been
the steady decline in the total paid to
shopmen. In August 1923 the shop
men received $76,344,151. By August
1928 the total fell to $58, 494,733 An
other feature has been the compare
tive stability in the total paid to train
and engine service employees in spite
of the steady increase in their wage
rates. For August 1923 their wage
totaled $66,494,687 and for August
1928 $66,604,75 Such figures show
how the railroads are compensating
for wage increases with speedup tao
tics usually involving layoffs.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-11-23

Railroad shopmen continue the chief
victims of the speedup tactics by
which the carriers are increasing
profits at the expense of wages, ac-
cording to the interstate commerce
commission report covering wages
and unemployment on Glass 1 rail
roads in August. Between July and
August 1876 shopmen were laid off,
bringing their number down to 25,590
below August 1927 and 130,325 below
August years ago.
Railroad employment as a whole
increased POSI- from July to August
but there were 5,423 fewer railroad
workers this year than in August
1927. The July to August increase
this year was more than accounted
for by the addition of 4103 train and
enginemen, all other groups showing
decreases. The increase in train and
engine forces, however, did not mean
more employment for these workers
as the average man-hours of work per
working day for which they received
wages decreased 84,843.
The railroads had 1,730,771 workers
on their payrolls in August and paid
them $25O,875,730 for their months
work. In August 1927 they paid 4,
1864 workers $257, 262,361. In Au-
gust 1923 they paid sos workers
$270, 187, 583. Since 1923 they have
laid off so many workers that in
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-11-23
HOOVER COULD NOT DO BETTER

In His Lewistown Democrat-News Tom Stout says
in commenting upon the formation of the Hoover cab
net:
incidentally, it might be suggested that he would
come out this way and pick Joseph M. Dixon for Sec
rotary of the Interior he will have made consider
able improvement over any choice made by either
Harding Coolidge of for that important posi-
ton"
And the Glasgow Courier says:
Coming from one of the leading Democrats of the
state this suggestion is altogether highly compliment
ry and frank in saying that it is the best one
Tom has made since the 1928 campaign opened.
"Mr. Dixon would indeed, make an ideal secretary
of the interior That particular portfolio is one In
which the west is most directly interested. Joe Dixon
knows the west and its needs well as anyone in the
nation. He would be valuable member of the presf-
dents official family"
We are not at all persuaded that Herbert Hoover
will welcome heed any suggestion of the Producers
News N4ut we add that we believe that he could
DO no better than to take Joe Dixon into his cabinet
and we feel that he is particularly fitted for the Secre
tary of the Interior.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-11-23
General Motors Corporation Is
Easy Money Baby

General Motors Corporation will
split its common stock, issuing pc
shares for each share now outstand-
ing. When this Morgan-duPont giant
carries through its latest juggle the
owners will hold "a shares with
market value of more than $4,000 for
each 500 share purchased prior to
1917. Meanwhile the original work
ers who maintained the increasing
pace of production for bare subsis-
tence wage are either on the industri-
al scrapheap or fast approaching that
climax of wage Gamers career.
The man who invested $4,000 a
little over 10 years ago now holds
stock worth 100000 without having
invest,d an additional cent. The man
who put in a million has seen it swell
to $80,000,000 This year the investor
of 81 100000 received cash dividends
totaling more than $3,150,000. In
five years General Motors has pre-
sented its stockholders with more
than $500,000,00O in cash.
General Motors stock split up is
really equivalent tc a 5000 stock div
idend. 1t caps about 20 years in
which the stock has been so constant
ly manipulated that it is hard to find
ones way through the LADY rinth.
There was a 5000 stock dividend in
1910. Then in 1916 new corporation
was formed and stockholders received
five shares for each share of the or
iginal company. A 2496 stock divi.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-11-23

dend in 1920 was followed by the is.
sue to stockholders of 10 shares of
new no-par stock for each share held
at the tine. In 1894 after the Nor
gan dupont interests got complete
control, stockholders were given ore
share cf $50 par for each four no-rar
shares. 1926 saw 500 stock divi-
dend and in 1927 the corporation split
each share into two S25 par shares.
The 21a for one split just announced
completes the yarn.
AS recently as five years ago you
might have purchased 10 shares of
General Motors ST. OK for $500. With
out touching chem or adding a cent
Of investment you would now hold a.
bout 81 shares worth around $1,000.
In the meantime You would have re-
ceived cash dividends totaling about
S21S.
Multiply this little problem in
arithmetic by 100 OF 1000 or even
10000 and you get some idea of what
General Motors has meant to the du-
Points, the Fishers, the Raskobs ard
all the financial ring which centers
around the house Of Morgan. They
are now getting profits which put
them in the S1,000,000 income class.
Last year the gross profits of Cen
eral Motors exceeded its total wage
BILL The same Will probably hold
true this year. The undivided surplus
profits of the concern total 1914, 900 :
600.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-11-23
Growth of Tenantry in the West

Big increases in tenant farming In
the states west of the Mississippi
since 1910 are concealed under the
general federal figure showing that
for the country as a whole the pro-
portion of tenant farms to all farms
increased slightly from 3790 to 1850.
Detailed figures in the 1925 census of
agriculture show that while the pro-
portion of farms operated by tenants
in the west north central, west south
central and mountain states was
climbing it remained stationary or
even declined in other sections.
The west south central states with
1920 Of their farms operated by ten
ants in 1925 have the highest per-
centage of tenant farming. The 1925
figure is an advance from $3.50 in
1910. In New England tenant farms
declined from go in 1910 to $3.50 in
1925, in the middle Atlantic states
from 22.39o to 1890, in the east
north central from 2796 to $3.50 and
on the Pacific coast from 1920 to
1850.
Changes between 1910 and 1926 in
the proportion of tenant farms in the
10 states composing the west north
central, west south central and noun
tain divisions of the country are
shown in the following figures.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-11-23
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER %, 1928
LETS BE CAUTIOUS"

The following timely editorial, appearing in the ad-
vertisement of the First State Bank of Froid
the point that the Producers News reproduces it for
the benefit Of its many readersit is well worth read
ing and acting upon:
eve do not wish to pose a prophet
yet a disciple of pessimism, but would it
not be we'll for us to exercise just a bit of
caution in operations from into anOth-
crop year. If we recall correctly the fall
of 1918 was just something similar to what
we have and those of us who went thru
the trying year Of 1919 will not soon forget.
Hardly acre of fall blowing has been done,
no rain has fallen since July; lot of fields
have been burned clean of all stubble thus no
snow will hold there-and if go into seed
ing time next spring without lot of rain
there is little hope for "sub-soi" moisture to
carry thru dry period, as has been the
case the past few years. We fear that discs
will be used instead of pows in the spring
to get in the acreage and this will add to the
hazards. Just little headwork and little
caution now might mean great deal when
debt-paying time approaches next fall.'
Nature has been bountul for the past two or three
years-by the law of averages, and from present
sgns the crop prospects for year are not so good
and it is well as the bank says to be Cautious"
The weather conditions of Roosevelt county are
very similar to those in Sheridan county
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-11-23
IN JUSTICE TO BOTH SIDES
(From the Helena independently

Two weeks before the recent election, The indie
pendent published the following it's editorial coumns
Mr.. Rankin's personal character has never
been assailed in any way by The Independent.
On the other hand this newspaper has testi-
fled number of times that as a result of
long acquaintance with Mr.. Rankin, his per-
sona character is above reproach. He does
not drink liquor, he does not gamble, his as
sociations with men and are the very
best and his relations with them above ques-
tion.
Now that the election is over and Mr. Rankin has
accepted his defeat gracefully The Independent being
IN position to know desires to state emphatcally
that at time did there come a suggestion from
anyone in authority the democratic SIDE that the
personal character of Mr.. Rankin could or should be
the subject of attack 1t is to be regretted that there
Were whisperers and gossps busy on both Sides but
the party organizations responsible for them
Friends of Mr. Rankin have stated to The Independ-
ent that two Helena women were EMPLOYED to spread
poison against the personal character of Mr. Rankin
and paid 80 per day by some connected with DEM
ocratic headquarters This is absolutely false The
committee never employed anyone for any such DUR
pose 1t is ridiculous to fall of its own weight
Gossips are always volunteers No one needs to nav
thethei pay is the love of gossip and "dirt spread
ing"
Mr.. Rankin has lived in Helena good manv wears
It would take than two women gossips to niure
ms personal character this city where he is known
The people of this county voted heavily against him
because they did not believe him to be the right man
for Governor, but if it matter of personal char
acter, Wellington D. Rankin would carry the county
as heavily he lost it.
The Independent is led to make this statement at
this time in justice to Mr.. Rankin and also to Mr.
Charles Nevin chairman of the democratic state COM
mittee and his associates It is as unjust to accuse
Mr. Nevin of using having knowledge of such poi
son spreading as it is unjust to Mr.. Rankin to assai
his personal character
MI. RANKIN leads clean, energetic busy fe He
Is entirely too busy to indulge in any kind of
dissipation If he had the inclination. 1t is true that
ne does not affiliate with any church nor does he have
time for the rtuaistic secret societies. Neither the
lodge room ceremony the forms of wOrshin nrac
ced by the churches appeal to him. He does not seem
70 need the entertainment furnished by one nor the
spiritual food of the other If we remember rightly
president Coolidge does not belong to any of the
or secret societies. and there are more than co.
VOVVO people in this country who do not belong to
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-11-23

In the west north central and west
south central divisions of the country
less than a third of the crop land in
1924 was harvested by full owners.
Apparently certain western grain
states are rapidly approaching the
condition of the cotton growing south.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-11-23

any of the churches Mr. Rankin likes to get out doors
for his recreation and mental relaxaton-hs church is
that great one whose altar is the earth and whose
canopy the skies.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-11-23

Libby-Better mail service propos-
ed between here and Marion.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-11-23

If we turn from the number of
farms to the acreage of crops actual
~ harvested in 1924 we find that tax
ing the country as whole more crop
land was harvested by tenantss than
by full owners of the land. The fig
ures are 409o Of the crop land har-
vested by full owners, 41ao by ten
ants, 1870 by operators who rent part
of their acreage and the balance by
managers for absentee owners. Prob
ably at least half of the crops raised
by American farmers are grown on
rented land.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-11-23
THE SHORT BALLOT

Since election, the Great Falls Tribune has come OUT
for the "Short Ballot" which is causing considerable
discussion over the state 1t not often that the Pro-
ducers News finds itself in harmony with the Tribune
politically or otherwise but here is the exception to
the rule, we also favor the short ballot.
The short ballot could only accomplish good-it
could do no harm 1t would do to clarity politics
in the minds of the average voter than any other re-
form that could POSSIBLY be thought ofand confusion
is now the thing that reigns supreme in American
politics
Gov Dixon was in favor of the short ballot and talk
ed the matter many times with the writer. 1t
was one of the big changes in which we agreed.
Over in Canada, in England and in most of the Eur
opean democracies the short ballot is used.
The short ballot simply that only few of
the state and county officers elected and the rest
appointed.
The reason why the long ballot came into use, or
rather the idea of eectng everybody the old fear
of the people of a centralized government-the old
timers afraid of the abuse Of power that they
fixed things with their checks and balances so that
could really exercise any power of any Sort
We believe in the short ballot, the Capitalization of
power, whether the governor be democrat
publican or a Farmer-Labor official.
Let the people elect the governor only then let the
Governor appoint all of the state officers with tenures
not longer than the Governors term of course but
subject to his wil-s0 he can hire or fire when ne
Wills
Let us make the Governor responsible and hold him
responsibilities do away with the division of power
and the passing of the buck between one elected of
ficia and anoher-officers who get their authority
from the same source.
But of course there must be in the way of the
recall over the Governor: he cannot be given such
power without making him responsible for abuse Of
that power.
In county affairs elect the sheriff. county attorney
and county commissioners and coroner, and let the
Commissioners appoint all Of the rest of the officers
There no reason for the election Of Superintendent
OF Schools Clerk and Recorder County Treasurer Sur
veyor and Clerk of Court their jobs are clerical onlv
This would concentrate power, make for good gov
eminent, and for party responsibility would all
be good
The Tribune prints an editorial anent the matter
relative to the objections of the Miles City Star to the
idea. We reproduce it:
New Britain herald., 1928-07-27
HOOVER RECEIVES
TRIBUTE OF State
CONTINUED from First Page)

San Francisco and onward down the
peninsula to Palo Alto. through
town after town. where the mayors
were ready to extend greetings to
the nominee and the people to do
him homage.
This was to be the first and last
public appearance OF the nominee
until August II, when he will for
mally accept nomination and launch
his campaign for the presidency.
With much Of his day taken up
with the Homecoming celebrations.
Mr.. Hoover had little time to give
to political conferences and his &C
ceptance speech, and since he is to
depart early tomorrow for a long
automobile trip into the northern
woods. these things will have to
wait for the better part of a week.
During his last day at home, Mr..
Hoover received number OF call
ers, including political leaders from
several sections who added their
picture of success for his political
fortunes to the many that have
been painted for the nominee since
his arrival here. Representative
John NORM of Pittsburgh called to
convey greetings from Senator
Elect William $. Ware OF Pennsyl-
Nania, and assurances that Ware is
for the nominee progressively"
Pennsylvania to G. o. r.
NORM, the Ware leader in Pitts
burgh, predicted not only that
Pennsylvania would go republican,
but that the Ware stronghold of
Philadelphia would return very
substantial majority for the Hoover
Curtis ticket
The Pittsburgh representative In
congress also told Mr.. Hoover that |
information he had obtained in his |
recent travels over the country led
him to the conclusion that the
strength Of Governor Alfred E. |
Smith, the democratic nominee, was
at flood tide. and that the republic
can ticket would continue to gain.
Real Contest
While naturally heartened by
these and similar reports which
have come to him, Mr.. Hoover is
represented by some of his advisers
IS holding the view that real con-
est lies ahead and that the party
must be kept in first
class working order and running at
ull steam right up to election day.
rhe nominee has been advised by
number of those upon whose judg-
nent he relies to make this cam
,aign of contrasts, and that idea is
New Britain herald., 1928-07-27
Man Caught Between Cab
And a TELEGRAPH Pole

Stamford July ~ LP--Caught
between the cab of truck and a
telegraph pole, Edward Bursten. so,
Of 100 West Main street suffered 4
broken pelvis bone and was taken
to Stamford hospital today
The accident occurred when Bur-
stem released the emergency brake
on the truck which was parked in
front of his driveway. and allowed
it to roll down a slight incline. With
the truck gathering momentum.
Bursten, from the position on the
running board, was unable to pull up
on the emergency brake and the
truck continued down hill striking 4
horse and wagon driven by John
O'Connor. then taking to the side
walk and pulling down an awning
at the store owned by l.. Lazzarra,
finally coming to rest with Burstein
pinned against a telegraph pole.
Patrick Toner, owner of the truck,
was at breakfast.
New Britain herald., 1928-07-27

wreckage had she not been restrain
ed by force.
AS the monocoupe fell, the 100
visitors at the flying field, field en-
lloyes and ayiators rushed to the
ruins in an attempt to save the two
passengers. The heat of the roar
Ing fire drove them back, but Jack
Ashcraft, member Of the Gates Fly
ing Circus, hurled himself into the
inferno in a mad attempt to open
the cabin door. He was beaten back
by the fire his arms severely burned
Needed to BE Higher
A neNspa permap at the field on
another errand saw the tragedy. He
declared that he had talked with a
lying field attache regarding the
safety Of such stunting as vertical
banks at such a low altitude. The
aviator said it appeared that, while
The plane was an exceptionally easy
one to handle, it should have more
altitude.
Only a short time later, as the ship
went into a sharp turn, the tail
swung up and the plane plunged.
New Britain herald., 1928-07-27
Kisses send CREW
| Of ITALIA HOME
CONTINUED from First Paee)

clutches with a great cigar In hi
mouth.
Mobile seemed Ill when he ap-
! peared wearing civilian clothes with
| his gloves in one hand. He smiled
bit when talking to his compan-
| ions aboard but appeared to be ner-
yous and absent minded. His past
suffertnss were manifest and this
seemed to have a restraining effect
on the onlookers.
When the survivors landed radio
Operator Giuseppi Biogi came down
the gans-plank first. He threw him.
self in the arms Of his brother who
was awaiting him. Ceccioni follow
ed, refusing help.
General Mobile still seemed ner-
vous when he said farewell to the
officers OF the Citta Di /Afilano. He
walked down the gang plank feebly
and nearly stumbled.
A large crowd had assembled on
the quay by this time. There was
some kissing, but no disorder and
only two policemen were present.
The members Of the Swedish re-
lief expedition who are travelling to
Stockholm by the same train were
loudly cheered as they boarded their
car.
Passage Slow
The passage Of the Citta Di Mil
ano from Spitzbergen to Narvik was
Very slow. 1t was stated that this
was because Captain Alberto Mari
ano was still very ill.,
Mariano's leg became frostbitten
while wanting on the ice for rescue
with Zappi and it was amputated
after he and Zappi had been rescued
by the Russian ice breaker Krassi1,
on July -.
The Citta Di Milano will return
to the spitzbergen region to aid in
the searching operations for the six
members OF the Italia crew who
drifted away in the balloon part of
the airship after the crash. It will |
also aid in the hunt for Roald
Amundsen and the five men missing
with him.
New Britain herald., 1928-07-27
THREAT TO ignore
ADVICE Of KIRKHAM
CONTINUED from First Page)

clerk of the fire board, members of
the board OF public works and Of
the board of compensation and as
sessment, with reference to salary ?
when the police court prosecu-
tors and the corporation counsel
! com pleted their last term and were
subsequently reelected. was there
council action to fix the salary. and
if there was no such action what
was the reason?
If your opinion as handed to ME
is correct and the council actr[4 I'M
necessarily in fixing Mr. Wason's
salary. am l justified in approving
the action? If ] do so will it estab-
lish precedent with reference to
this position or any other position?
If your opinion as handed to Mr..
Watson is correct, must We now take
up the salaries of the other officials
enumerated and either approve or
adjust them?
AT the time you gave your writ
ten opinion to Mr. Watson there
had been 70 request for adjustment
of his salary, situation mentioned
IN your letter to me as necessary
to require common council action,
Such suggestion was made in the
council subsequent to your opinion,
but 1t was not pointed out as
necessary step in your letter to MFR.
W atSOn. In answering these nuaS-
lions which I have presented to
you, will you please consider them
from the standpoint OF Mr.. Wat
sons status when he first preached
the question. Your opinion to me
discusses the case only from the
angle apparent after the council
had acted.
AN early reply is requested.
Respectfully,
"A. NJ. PAONESSA,
New Britain herald., 1928-07-27
DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE
keevers and Smith Expect To At
tend Meeting OF Democratic CAM
paign strategists In Hartford.

John E. K. keeyers, chairman OF
the democratic town committee, and
Thomas j. Smith, registrar of Not-
ers, have been invited to meet with
men and women holding similar
positions elsewhere in the state, at
the Bond hotel, next Wednesday
morning at II o'clock. Plans for
the state campaign and for drive
to increase the democratic registry
will be discussed. Mr.. Smith has
signitied his intention of being pres
ent and it is expected that Chair
man keeyers will also attend.
At 8 o'clock in the afternoon.
Judge William +. Mangan and Mrs.
Peter McCrann. state central COM
mittee members from this district,
will attend meeting Of that group.