davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08
THE CRUISER BILL

This week the Cruiser bill is receiving the attention
of Congress and the question of whether the United
States will have navy equal to any other navy in the
world will be settled. The opposition to increased
naval program mostly from those who fear that
an increase in the battleshps of this country will
that they will be used to create Those in
favor of navy equal to the best claim that this is not
true, but that this country owning half of the
wealth of the world should have ample protection from
those envous of the position of the United States who
would endeavor to recuperate their finances at the
pense of this country Both sides have arguments in
their favor, but the fact remains that while Great
Britain, who is endeavoring to rehabilitate the
conditions of that country and is stretching out to
grasp all possible trade connections insists huge
navy it is certain that the public opinion in this
try will be in favor of larger naval ornaments Since
notice of the building of navy by the United States
equal to the best, has been given out to the world,
there has been or less of change of heart in
the British Isles and the people of that country
reported to be protesting against this of
ments with the huge expense attached thereto which is
thrown onto the shoulders of the taxpayers and people
whole AS the richest nation in world the United
States is in position to carry the building of
fighting ships huge SCALE but the whole question
of huge ornaments be settled between the nations
they desire and the huge expenditures for what might
be termed worthless floating forresses far as the
good of the people is concerned be put into channels
that would bring comfort to the people of both this
country and Great Britain and lead to the upbudinq
of the human rather than its destruction
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08

Some time ago the matter of Radio Club in Plen-
tywood was preached through these columns and sew
eral radio fans thought it would be fine thing and
that is as far it got In fact it is the belief of the
writer that all radio fans believe Radio Club would
be fine thing, but they waiting for the other
fellow to start it. Even the elements or disturbances
seem to have heard the discussions reception from
the air has been excellent the past few days up to
the time of this writing but it doubt will change
with time and perhaps as this paper goes to press
will be giving the radio fans much dspleasure. 1t
would be fine if the Commercial Club-eould take up
this matter and call meeting to discuss this question
which is becoming and more public affair as
the citizens purchase radios for their homes. And it
must be said for the progressive spirit of Pentywood
that very few homes in this city are without radios of
one make or another at this time.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08
A FUNERAL OR A RESURRECTION

More should be heard from the Commercial Club of
the City of Pentywood and its activities Every per-
interested in the welfare of Plentywood should be
active member and make the local CONNER
cal Club active body. The elected officials cannot
carry the work alone The cooperation of everyone
is needed city the size of Plentywood needs and
should have upto-the minute civic body that will
take of the problems confronting the city outside
the jurisdiction of the City Council and also make sug-
gestions and cooperate with that body
How about another big get-together meeting of the
members of the Commercial Club such as was
held last year. 1t cannot do any harm and perhaps
---~-i- 81 nav come from it.
Anyway lets hear from $500 -.
if that body is not completely dead it may be
rected If it has got beyond the stage of resurrection
why not have funeral and bury it and start all over
again. Something should be done.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08
rDIICKSONS ECONOMIES
(From The Montana \ .

Governor Erlcksons suggestions for economies IN nv
operation of the state government are of modest kind
Confronted by debt of three million dollars and the
need for million e-I~ LII
meet the growing needs of the state university and
the state Institutions, of his concrete recommended
tons that the trial judges of the state be taken
for ride In other words he believed that about Is
judges dismissed and the judicial districts CONSOLE
dated here and there the state might pick up $50000
His recommendation is being considered by the legis-
lature. However, the view advanced by him that half
the trial judges in state of this great size do the
work of those in office is not concurred in by the
members Of the legislature. Even those members of
frugal tendencies cannot go the length of the
chief executive in penny pitching to offset dollar spend
ing.
The best that those lawmakers who believe in
such economies offer is project to eliminate
judicial districts and cut the judges accordingly That
might the state $4,000 year. That sum would
not quite pay the governors emoluments for
which to $4,000 or more, counting his mansion
office allowances spends for travelling and the like
But it would be something
1t is highly probable that in such economic aspira
tons these the chief executive did not have the aC
of Governor" Murphy, but doubtless he is always
heartened and encouraged by the approval of tn
Anaconda Copper Mining company. The company is al
optimst defined by state senator, who said tina
optimist is who does not care what happens s.
long it does not happen to him. This should be ap
preciaed by district judges who coming under tn
shadow of the axe
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08
Little Prosperity in Factory Jobs

Factory employment in October was
above the previous year for the first
time since October 1926, according to
the U. S. department of labor. From
the 1923 low point in July the num-
Der of factory workers increased 40
to a level 0.68o above October 1927.
The total wages were $500 above a
year ago and weekly wages averaged
$40 ahead of the previous October.
Optimism derived from these fig
ures, however, should be moderated
by two facts. Employment at the
highest level since June 1927 is still
about 1870 under the average for
1923, with total weekly wage pay
ments $50 under the level five years
ago. The gain in employment over a
year ago is almost wholly limited to
the metal industries, depending on
the activity in automobiles and farm
equipment.
The country is manufacturing autos
and machinery at high pressure while
other important industries lag. Auto
plants this October employed 1867
more workers and paid 44.59o more
wages than year ago. Agricultur-
al implement makers employed 22.8%
more and paid 29.396 more wages
Manufacturers of machine tools EN-.
ployed 22.2e6 more and paid each
week $3.50 more in wages than il
October 1927. There were smaller
increases in steel mills, foundries anc
machine shops, structural iron, chem
icals and fertilizers, pottery, meta
products than iron and steel and cleo
trical apparatus.
Decreased employment, compares
with a year ago, was reported from
| 80 of the 81 industries in the survey
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 8. 1929
WORTHY INSTITUTIONS

We are again calling attention of the readers of the
Producers News to Hospital Day Tuesday, February
12th and the Freman's dance Friday, February 22nd.
The first named institution is fulfilling the mission
of saving life and minsterng to the wants of the sick
and MANNED The last mentioned institution is dedi-
Gated to the saving of life and property.
Could there be two projects worthy of the full
and unstnted support of the whole people of this
munity than those mentioned above?
Let not forget these dates and show appreci-
alton by opening up the purse strings and giving them
moral support that they may continue the humani
tartan work unhindered by lack of finances
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08
ASKING TO KNOW
(From The Montana Free Pressl


The senate of the legislature of Montana asks to
know about the road work done by the state highway
commission. 1t wants particulars The Erickson adj
mnistraion is short particulars as reflected in the
governors message and everything that has come into
the legislature from Offices boards and institutions
since, and the senate adopted resolution asking for
these by February A.
The legislature has to contend with camouflaged
communications of highly deceptive kind such as the
statement made in the tax report that the Anaconda
company and other corporations of the state would bear
~ per cent of the proposed tax Increase which wholly
failed to inform the lawmakers that the railways nav
great deal taxes than the other corporations
particularly the Anaconda company.
The people of the state hould not forget that one
OF the most difficult conditions with which the repub
can legislature has to cope is the smooth and almost
impenetrabe resistance offered by the copper com.
panys administration to all attempts to get at the
rock-botom facts and particulars lying under the spe
cous pretenses that all is well and lovey-except that
the taxpayers must pugle $l5O00OO more taxes 3
year hereafter to meet the states expenses
In the matter of road construction what the senate
particularly desires to know is what roads have beer
built what abandoned, in all districts and counties il
the state during the past two years. so that can forn
an intelligent Judgment the efficiency and fairness
OF the commission in its of the public money Il
build highways. With this knowledge the Legislature
VIII be better equipped TO proceed with legislation rel
atlve to highway building and the imposition of taxe
to secure revenue for the same
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08

Auto tires down 1870, pianos and or
gans down 1850, shipbuilding 1S.4%
steam and hot water heating appara-
tus 11.5@o, cotton goods 1196, cement
8.7@o, electric car building and repair
S.7ao, mems clothing 500, steam rail-
road car building 6.486, brick 6.2%6
and boots and shoes down go are
among the major casualties. Such
figures indicate what would have hap
pened to the general employment lev
eel but for the auto industry which
faces precarious year in 1929.
Per capita earnings are above a
year ago in SO of the "a industries.
Large increases include brass and cop
per products 1920, machine tools
10.4@0, iron and steel 1919, foun-
dries and machine shops 7.196, agri-
cultural implements 5.23O, structural
ironwork 5.136, automobiles 1920 anC
hardware $500. Among the larger
wage cuts are pottery $500, millin
cry and lace 5.296, cotton goods 5%
and rubber boots and shoes so. Th'
average weekly wage for all indus
tries was $27.62 this October com
pared with $26.72 year ago.
The department has extended it
monthly employment survey to includ
not only manufacture and railroad
as in the past but also coal mining
public utilities and both wholesal
retail trade. These new features ar
too recent for comparison with las
year. The coal figures reveal tn
variation in miners wages.
Coal diggers in the mountain state
in which the I. w. w. led a success
full strike year ago, have the high
est average among bituminous miner
with $S1.96 a week in October. Thi
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08

An unmistakable downward trend
in prospective building construction in
inc rInited States is indicated in the
Commercial & Financial Chronicle an
Absorbing s5f to the the ERfoRIcls e6lj db S2R
ward trend has been in progress for
three successive years and is common
to all the leading geographical divi-
sions of the country.
The Chronicle maintains the signif-
icance of its figures against the more
optimistic conclusions of the F. w.
Dodge corporation. The Dodge fig
ures show 1923 as a record year for
contracts let on new building and en-
cheering work in 81 states east of
the Rocky mountains. The Dodge to-
tails, which are supposed to represent
about 9146 of the total construction
in the United States, are $6,38O,915,-
600 in 1926 and S6,OO6,426,OOO in
1926.
The Dodge figures, however, in
clude not only building construction
but ais engineering projects and pub.
lie works construction such as sew
ers, subways, bridges, crossing elm
ination and other highway work. Thu
increase in such engineering construc
ton has served largely to offset tn,
decline in distinctive building work
the Chronicle contends.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08
Economic Articles
By Leland Olds, Federated Press
Kansas City Boasts Of Low
Standards of Living

Kansas City is painted as an open
hop paradise for the manufacturer In
sbook of Kansas City facts issued Dy
tie city's chamber of commerce. IL
bosts that the Kansas City labor res
erwin is 900 American born white,
sprnging from farm families IN an
ares of $50 miles radius which has no
othel large industrial city.
Practically all of the existing in
dustrhs," says the chamber, Operate
on anopen shop basis. Kansas City
manufacturers, many of them with
experience in other centers, state that
Kansas City labor is considerably
more efficient than the average found
in similar industries in other cities.
The high efficiency of the workers
and lower living costs have combined
to maintain lower labor costs than in
other industrial centers."
The chamber also points out thai
there have been only seven strikes
since 1898 and none since 1921, argu
ing that labor is settled and content
ed. The labor turnover among manu-
facturers employing more than 1O'
persons is 1920 which it terms al
exceedingly favorable condition. 389
of the skilled workers and 1870 o
the unskilled own their own homes.
Relatively low labor rates accord
ing to the chamber prevail in unskill
ed trades, with skilled labor rate
more nearly in line with those in othe
centers. It gives the following 1872
rates as representative for skilled me
chanical non-union labor:
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08
ANOTHER LEGAL KILLING

In this weeks issue of the Producers News is a
newspaper article telling of the hanging of Dr. Dreher
and Mrs. Ada Bonner Lebouef at Franklin Louisiana
last Friday for the murder of the latters husband
Both the accused and women protested their
innocence to the end and the doctor wrote his last
words in the death CELL protesting both his innocence of
the charge and that of the woman. Both were con-
victed on circumstantial evidence.
Among the last written words of the doctor were
Theses eff our lives are sacrificed hope it will not be
all in vain. hope that with our deaths a movement
will be started to abolish capital punishment, relic
of the barbaric ages If some movement like that
grows out of the legal murder of Mrs. Lebouef and
myself, then Jesus died on the cross that others
might live two shall not have died in vain God
knows and | know both are innocent and yet we
have had the benefit of the faintest shadow of
doubt 1t is hard not to grow bitter when you stand
face to face with shameful death you have not de-
served as / do tonight. will not try to be bitter
have forgiven those who have lied about and have
prayed TO God to forgive them Mrs. Lebouef has
done the We face our God with clear con-
sciences"
Do the above words of a condemned to die with
no hope of repreve, words written as the last ones
earth before he went to meet his Maker sound like
the words of criminal murderer
Most people will agree that they do not Neverthe-
less, they were found guilty under crcumstantia evil
dence and the word of man now serving life sent
ence in the penitentiary for the murder
Who knows, but what this man, in death-bed con-
fesson might have cleared DR.. Dreher and Mrs Lee
bouef of this horrible crime if the course of time had
been allowed to go on its way.
1t is to be hoped that readers will take heed of
the last words of Dr. Dreher and use their influence
to stop legal murder in the state of Montana with the
full realization that innocent life taken is greater
disgrace than the lives of several criminals escaping
the death penalty by being given life imprisonment
in the penitentiary.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08
NARCOTIC SQUAD TO
Get BUSY IN BUTTE

Butte, Feb. 2.-"Dope is selling in
Butte at rs cents bindle, but when
we get through, it will not be OBJ
tainable at any price," federal and
county officers declared, after a con-
ference on a projected campaign
against the drug traffic in the mining
city. The positive statement was con-
ditioned with, eff we have our way"
T. R. Cassidy, federal man, who has
been placed in full charge of the
work here, declared that even now
the drugs are hard to obtain. Ped
dlers are mighty cautious, he said.
The drug traffic in Butte should be
practically stopped within year, C.
D. Brightsman of Seattle, head Of
the federal narcotic force in the north
west, said recently in conference
with County Attorney Freebourn. The
date when the campaign will begin
was not announced by the officers.
The plan worked out by the federal
and county officers is for the men to
secure the evidence and for the coun-
ty officials to prosecute the peddlers
under state laws which are more
stringent than federal laws. Free
boun further stated that his force
will not pass up any opportunity to
get evidence and that his office would
cooperate with federal men in every
way possible.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08
Building Boom Tapers Off

The Chronicle shows building per-
cities in 1928 covering plans for con-
struction totaling $S,514,SS6,995. For
the same period 354 cities previous TO-
Ials were 9o,uoI,UoU,zTU In 1927, 81
III, 964,853 in 1926 and $4,393, 1864. 166
in 1925, the three years. de.l:-.e IL
ing $878,477,171 or about 2036.
Except for the continued high level
of building activity in New York City
the decline in the value of projected
building construction would have been
even more serious. The total for cities
outside New York fell from $3,294,-
125,3S1 in 1925 to $2,475, 9O5,541 in
1928 or a decline of 2596 to the low
est figure since 1922.
The Dodge Corporation figures are
given wider publicity because they ca
ter to the feeling that each veal
marks new high for American CAPT
talism and that all is well. But thu
Chronicle figures should be studieC
carefully by building trades workers
and by all others whose employment
depends on the volume of buildin,
construction. Available employment
figures indicate that the experience
of the job hunting building trades me
chanic will check more nearly wit
the optimistic picture painted by tn
Dodge corporation.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08

Sanders policy of evasion upon it.
Latest activity was a committee dis
cussion Jan. 20 at which nothing def
mite was achieved.
!
Thos. Flaherty, secretary of the
National Federation of Post Office
Clerks, in the January issue of The
Postal Clerk, says that responsibility
for killing postal employees legisla-
ton is to save the president from en-
barrassment, placed upon the house
leaders. These he names as Speaker
Longworth, Majority Leader Tilson,
Chairman Smell of the rules commit
tee. These republicans who deter
mine the party program with the
guidance of the above named three
potentates are Darrow of Pennsylvan-
ia, Dennison of Illinois, Hadley of
Washington, Newton of Minnesota,
Treadway f Massachusetts, Johnson
of South Dakota, Hoch of Kansas,
Dempsey of New York and Lehlbach
of New Jersey.
Flaherty might have added that
five or six of those nine can always
control the decision of the steering
committee, and that Longworth, Til
son and Smell can control the five OF
six. Andrew Mellon in turn can con-
sroi Coolidge and Longworth and Til
son and Smell.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08
The WASHINGTON SCENE
By LAWRENCE TODD, FEDERATED Press

Washington Critical persons, ex-
aiming the photograph of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor delegation
which visited the White House TO ask
President Coolidge to help federal
employees to secure a house vote on
their old age retirement bill, may
have noted that the face of Calvin
Coolidge was not on the group He
had heard William Green's argument,
and that of other spokesman for the
workers who want a retirement pen
sion of 81 200 annual maximum. But
he had given them chilly answer.
Two years earlier, Coolidge had met
a similar delegation, and had listen
ed in mellower humor. Their request
at that time was that he agree to at
least an increase in pension maximum
from $720 a year to $1,000 year. To
their surprise and pleasure, Coolidge
agreed that they were right.
"This comes near home to me-" he
said. "Mrs. Coolidge's father is re-
tired from the lighthouse service at
$72O year; this 81 900 would make
substantial difference to him."
That was something that Calvin
Coolidge could understand. His own
father-in-law would be better off by
o $3.50 year if the law were amended
: And within few weeks it was 81
{ amended.
But since that time the father-in
: law of the president has died. A civi
. service retirement pension is no long
e er an item in the calculation of tn,
n family's resources. 1t is merely
; public issue, in the view from tn
: White House. The fact that it is al
n immediate family concern to hundred
of thousands of other households doe
a not impress Calvin. The desirabilit
5. of cutting down government expen
J. ditures does appeal to him. He de
Is clines to ask Chairman Smell of tn
l. house rules committee to kindly pei
i NIT the 4S4 other members of tn
al house to vote on the 1900 propost
i'd ton in the dying weeks of this cor
sr gress.
n
20 Organized labor's agents at the car
Ne itol are battering away on anothe
s issue-the securing Of report in tn
n house on the bill sponsored by Sci
LaFollette and adopted by the senat
- granting the "A hour week to tt
Il 100000 employees in the postal Sc,
4 vice. Day by day the pressure {
> public sentiment has increased, in Il
Io offices of the members of the hous
- committee on post offices, demandin
- that the bill be reported. Rep. Mea
IL sponsor of the bill in the house, h;
been unable to induce Acting Chat
man Sanders to take action.
g Investigation by the officers Of Il
- post office workers unions has.
II closed that Speaker Longworth, bac
RS ed by President Coolidge, is obstruc
lis ing the measure and is dominati1
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08

The 1926 census figures show
greater Kansas City with 42,961 fac
tory workers who received total of
$54, 469,OS4 in wages for turning out
commodities worth $558, 1853, Isl. Their
wages amounted to less than 1919 of
the value of their product. The av-
erage per capita wage for the year
was about $1265.
To show the low living costs in
Kansas City the chamber chooses FAM
lilies with incomes between $1,000 and
$500 and finds that the budget Of
such family, according to the U. S
department of labor figures, costs
1888. This compares with $3.50, the
cost of a similar budget in Minneapo
lis, $1448 in st. Louis, 1924 in Chica
go and $1481 for the country as ;
whole.
Clearly such a family budget is ia
below the labor departments standar
of health and decency.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08

some day place one of in the same position ashat
of the two departed who died the gallowsast
Friday declaring their innocence of the crime chayed
and asking that their lives be not sacrificed in vain
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08

Lewstown offers attractions for the meeting of the
County Commissioners at their next convention-wet
dry take your choice, They the convention for
their city.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-02-08

per hour
Assemblies TO
Buffers 70
Lathe men 60 20
Machinists G. Toolmakers .6O-1.OO
Machinist's helpers so
Punch press and screw ma
chine TO 80
Pattern makers .85
Welders .75-1.00
Wood workers go
Wood finishers rs
Painters go
Painters, spray .65
Painters, stripers 10