Montana labor news., 1932-11-17
WORKERS AND
NJ IN
SOUTH SUFFER
By JOSEPH MILLER.


CLEVELAND-(F. p "A tour
through Louisiana and Texas taken
by a Federated Press correspondent
disclosed the fact that although
newspapers and business leaders
claim that conditions are getting
better, poverty and suffering among
the workers and farmers still exist.
The leading products of these two
states are cotton and oil. Both the
farmers and workers are up against
the wall. Cotton growers who got
their crops in early sold them at
about 9 cents a pound. AS the days
passed the price dropped and finally
settled at about 6 cents. Quite a
few of the planters had their cotton
ginned and then held on to it in
hope of rising markets. Cotton pick
ers received from 35 to so cents per
hundred pounds. In sections of
Louisiana police made a roundup
of all able-bodied Negroes and made
them go out and pick cotton. White
people who refused to take that job
were usually let alone unless they
were transients.
Even with low food prices and
rents the worker finds it difficult
to get along, especially if there is a
family to support. In many places
the whole family from the oldest to
the youngest go out in the fields in
order to earn enough to keep body
and soul together. The homes are
nothing more than a lot of boards
nailed together.
In the oil fields the same condi-
tions exist, although there is quite a
bit of activity going on. Many new
wells are being drilled, but for every
job there are at least a score or
more of applicants.
The usual question asked Of appli-
cants for jobs are "What experience
have you had?" and "How little will
you work for?" Several oil truck
drivers said that the costs of bring
ing in a well have been cut in half
or better since the depression began.
The gas tax was higher than the
wholesale cost of the motor fuel, and
as usual it was passed on to the
consumer. Houses in this area were
makeshift and a quarter was usually
enough to get a fairly good meal.
Patched clothing was in evidence
here but it was not as bad as among
the cotton growers and workers.
Whereas previously in Texas one
only saw cotton fields and in very
few places any sign of the farmers
growing foodstuffs or having any
cows, hogs or chickens, now corn
fields are s%pringing up, other produce
is being grown, and COWS, hogs and
chickens abound. Farmers say that
previously the high price paid for
cotton carried them over, but now
with low prices they have to raise
something to eat. Store owners feel
the change since less foodstuffs are
being bought by the farmers.
In the cities the Salvation Army
and missions take care of workers
who travel from city to city in search
of work. In the majority of places
the transient receives only one or
two meals and a place to sleep for
one night. Travelling workers are
not wanted around. Jobs are sup
posed to be given to home people
only.
Hundreds keep passing through
and some stop over in the vain hope
of being able to get enough work to
take care of their families. Many
cars from northern states are now
on the way south to spend the winter.
Most of these people carry all their
belongings along and camp in any
vacant spot they can find.
Public treasures are empty in
nearly every part of Louisiana and
Texas. Public employees are receiv-
ing |. o. us instead of money.
These I. o. us draw 8 per cent in
%terest, but the workers, broke, sell
them at a discount of from 10 to