Montana labor news., 1932-07-07
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ATTACKS
COUNTY OFFICER WHO REFUSED TO
ALLOW IT TO DICTATE WAGE SCALES

About three months ago the Montana Standard carried al editorial stat
ing that the unemployed should be given employment on county road work.
At the same time the Unions of Butte asked that hand labor be used on
county road work wherever possible in preference to machinery. This
last request w a not unusual as other states were doing it in order to re-
lhve unemployment. Everyone realizes that this is IN expensive way of
doing work, but many men are thereby allowed to keep their self respect
and pride. What are a few extra dollars in comparison to men keeping
their feeling of manhood and decency. The county surveyor took the adj
vice of both groups to heart and did his best to relieve a terrible situation.
First of all he noticed that the work given to contractors on or state
highways did not give employment to Montanas unemployed. These con-
tractors violated every law of the state in employing nonresident labor,
refusing to pay the existing scale of wage and violating the eight-hour
law. For proof of this read the full report of President Graham to the
State Federation of Labor convention held last week. County Surveyor
Qunn refused to give Inc work to contractors and decided to use the con-
tractors profit in giving employment to residents of Silver Bow county
When he announced this plan a committee from the Chamber of Com
merce'r representing contractors n other employers, visited him to protest
his action. This group consisted of Dr.. Peter Potter, Willard Thompson
and Paul Hudtloff, all enemies of the working IA When he explained
ms position they nad nm a proposition. III as that he employ men
through the Chamber of Commerce, hiring only those on the relief list
Why was this request made? First of al. it is a weIknown fact that the
Anaconda Company tn chief supporter OF the Relief Chest The fund
is almost depleted; men who were contributing are either out of work or
have had their wages sashed from 25 to so per cent. This would mean
an increased burden on the profteers of the Company who swinded the
gulible out of 10 ITS million dollars, many of them Butte people who
trusted the officials of the Company. (se the Labor News of June 2S)
n Company would rather "a the county support tn victims OF their
greed in accordance with the Hoover plan of unemployment relief. In the
second place, the request a made as a second step in the general cam
paign for tn institution OF n open shop M a general wage slashmg
campaign. The first step vas made when the Chamber met the officials of
organized labor in Butte and presented an outright open shop plan to them.
Every Union rejected the plan and Labor proposed a number Of counter
plans that we're rejected by the Chamber. 1t was to be their plan or none
They then tried the county surveyor, hoping through the threat of polti-
ca power to force him int submission. He say through their scheme
and would have ne part in it. Then they accused him of merely using this
plan, suggested by Labor, as a means of getting reelected. They re now
after his scalp because he is giving unemployed men employment, without
the consent and advice of the A. c.. M. Co. and its messenger boy, the
Chamber of Commerce. The men employed by Quinn are mn who have
been unemployed for years, and many of them with families. The sore
point is that the Chamber cannot force through its three-donar-a-day plan,
instituted in Seattle by the American Legion, through the office of the
county surveyor.
The entire scheme, as is known by every Union, is t. make a general
wage slash and fight for n open shop by August first. The slash was
due July first, according to information received, but somehow OF other
was postponed. This is a mere skirmish of the outpOsts and the real
battle is to begin. Butte Labor must be IN its guard. The best protection
is unificaton of purpose OF the part of all Unions, the forgetting of past
difficulties, and a full strength march to the polls m July 10, and again
in November. Fill the offices of the county and state with friends Of Labor
and not tools of the corporations. When Labor does this, half the battle
is won. Workers of Butte, unite. Forget party lines. Stick by your
friends. ELECT YOUR FRIENDS. DEFEAT YOUR ENEMIES.