Montana labor news., 1933-01-26
GREEN SCORES CONGRESS

President William Green of the A. F. of l.. continues
his hopeful trend toward a radical program for Labor, in
a ~scathing denunciation of the inactivity of Congress in
making provisions for immediate relief OF the unemployed.
Following are the choice bits from President Green's COM
munication to all Labor bodies:
Owing to the fact that unemployment has reached its
highest point and as a result more people are in need of
help, it seems incOnceivable that Congress would fail to
make an adequate appropriation of funds sufficient at
least to meeo minimum requirements, at this session. Be-
cause of the great emergency which exists, an emergency
characterized by Justice Brandeis as greater than war, it
would seem necessary that Congress would give first, fore
most and primary consideration to human needs, to the
cry for help and for relief which arises in every city, town
and community throughout the nation. But the facts are
that Congress has been In session for almost two months,
which means that almost twothirds of the time of this
short session has expired, without passing a single relief
measure.
UNLESS public opinion is crystalized in support of re-
lief legislation and is brought to bear upon Congress, it
is more than likely, incredible as it may seem, that Con-
gress will adjourn without appropriatng a single addition
al dollar for the purpose of relieving human distress.
Owing to the gravity of the situation, the widespread
distress which prevails, and the increasing need for relief
which is evident in every section of the nation, a confer
ence of representatives of the railroad organizations and
OF the American Federation of Labor was held at the
headquarters of the American Federation of Labor for
the purpose of devising plans and methods through which
Congress could be influenced to give immediate and ia
vorable consideration to the LaFollette-C ostigan measure,
characterized as the United States Exchange Corporation
bill, which provides for emergency financing facilities for
unemployed workers for the purpose Of relieving their
distress, and to increase their purchasing power, their OPP
po.runities for employment, and for other purposes. 1t
was decided at this conference to mobilize the strength
and support of both the railroad workers and the mem
bership of the American Federation Of Labor in an effort
to secure the enactment of the L~aFollette- Costigan meas
ue at this short session of Congress. These representa-
tives of railroad workers and of the American Federation
of Labor are appealing to Labor's friends and to all those
who appreciate fully the seriousness of the existing emer-
gency and the increasing need for relief, to unite and as
cCt / ahOr in 1c pffOrtc IN cno1ua q Yoaac1ro Of ra1iof az
least, for the unemployed Of the nation and those who
are dependent upon them, before Congress adjourns. No
other bill providing for relief is pending before Congress.
The LaFollette- Costigan bill is the only measure that Of
fers any hope for relief by the Federal government for the
unemployed of the nation at this session of Congress.
Labor is determined to do all that lies within it's power
to prevail upon Congress to rise to the needs of the oc-
casion, to face the existing emergency in mid -winter in a
broad and patriotic way, to respond to the cry for help
from those who have suffered from three years of unem-
%ployment, and to pass the LaFollette- Costigan measure
as quickly as possible"
In addition, the Central Council, at the request of Presi-
dent Green, asks all UNIONS as units and individuals to
communicate with Senators Wheeler and Walsh and
Congressman Evans and Leavitt, asking them to support
the Costgan-LaFolette emergency relief bill.