Montana labor news., 1932-05-26
SOCIALISTS DEMAND 6.HOUR DAY

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The largest and most enthusiastic convention since the a a held by
the Socialist party of Montana at Helena OF the nth Of May. All sections
of the state were represented by large delegations, and the work of form.
ing an aggressive Socialist movement in Montana at the coming election
went forward with harmony and dispatch.
William A, Curtis of Kalspen, John F. Mas If Kaispen, c. L. Williams
of Butte, and Mrs. Katherine Held of Sanders county were named as the
presidential electors for Montana.
J D. Graham, I. K. Duncan and :. H. MathesOn were elected delegates
to the national convention, which was held in Milwaukee. wis. on the
21t of May.
At a mass convention which was held Immediately following the state
convention the state platform of the Socialist party was adopted and nor
nations for various state offices were made. H, R. Schneider of Flathead
county was unanimously elected chairman, and S. H. IRWIN of Mssoula
county as elected as secretary of this mass convention.
On the report of the platform committee and their recommendation. the
following principles were accepted as the basis 0 which the Socialist
party would appeal for support from the electors of the state.
PREAMBLE.
We, the Socialist party of Montana, in convention assembled. reaffhm
our allegiance to the principles of Socialism and tO the Socialist party
of American and pledge ourselves to work for the complete abolition
of Capitalism.
Your attention is called to the complete failure of the two old parties,
whose mcompetency has brought this state and nation to the verge
of bankruptcy.
Realizing that a complete collapse of the economic system is i'm
minent we present the following as a partial plan for immediate
relief and reconstruction:
l. We favor a federal unemployment insurance law, to be met by a
federal tax on incomes in the higher brackets
2 We favor a sixhour work day and a fve-day week in all industry.
3 We favor a federal appropriation of five billion ($5 0OOO 100000
dollars for public works, roads, refoetation, Stun clearances and other
necessities for the relief of the workers, a portion of this appropriation
to be available to the states and cities of the nation.
4 We favor the doing of all highway and road work directly by the
state and counties, rather than by contractors.
s. We favor the state ownership and operation of cement plants for
the needs of the public works in the state, the operation and main
tenanee of these plants not to be by convict labor.
6 We favor the establishment of state oil refineries for the pr-
pose of refining the oil received by the state as royalties and the
products to be used by the public institutions and highway commission.
This refinery, Oh refneies, not to be operated by convict labor.
We favor the establishment of a state printing plant for the
publishing of the text books for the public schools and all other
state printing and publishing.
s. We favor the payment of the soldier bonus to the veterans of
the World war, in full, by the issue direct to them of United States
currency which shall be full legal tender for both public and private
debts, without any discount or drawback for such payment.
8 We favor the exemption of taxes on homes to the extent of two
thousand dollars $4,000, and on farms to the extent of three thousand
dollars ($aOOO), together with such personal property as is now exempt
from taxation.
TO- We favor stecply increased income and inheritance taxes o.
higher incomes and estates.
IL. We favor free medical care and disqualification in maternity
for the workers, to be paid for by the state.
H. We favor the amending of the state prevailing wage scale law"
so al to make it effective.
49, We favor further liberalization of the State Workmen's Com
pensation Law and the repeal of the infamous Plan Two.
Ia. We favor the repeal of the Primary Election Law of the state.
10. We demand the abolition of all convict labor when in con
petition with free labor.
16. We favor the continuation and are unalteraby opposed to the
repeal of the Federal Agricultural Marketing Act to promote the eff
fechve merchandising of agricultural commodities in interstate and
foreign commerce, and to place agriculture Of a basis of economic
equality with other industries.
After the adoption of the platform the following were nominated and
elected to be the representatives of the Socialist party on the state ticket:
Congress, first disuict-A. N. Brooks, Trout Greek, Montana.
Congress, second district. H. Matheson, Billings, Montana.
G~overnor-ChrBt Yeggen, Billings, Montana.
Lieut. Governor-Harry Hasehon.
Secretary of Stae-Chares Payat, BeInap, Montana.
Attorney General-John F. Duffy Kahpen, Montana.
State Treasurer-Geoge Lambert, Miles City, Montana.
State Audtor-Rose Bauman, Livingston, Montana.
Superintendent of Public Instruction-Daniel McCorkle, Conrad.
Railroad ommissoner-Charles Brown, Whitefish, Mont.
1t was then regularly moved, seconded and carried that a committee of
four be elected, who, with the state chairman, Earl Mcconnell of Mussel-
shell, Mont, will form the executive committee, and that they be M
powered to fill any and all vacancies that may occur o. the above ticket.
This committee to also be the campaign committee. !. L. Graham, Helena;
H. Schneider, Kaispel; A. C. Thomas, Butte, and S. H. IRWIN of Mkwoua
were elected as the executive committee.
After stirring addresses by Mas, IRWIN, Graham and others the CON
venton adjourned.