davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montana labor news., 1934-10-18
What About The
Butte Coal Prices?
Department of Labor Bulletin
Shows Butte Pays Highest
Prices.

This seems to be a period Of the year
when every one is talking OF reducing
costs of commodities in Butte. Even
a Candidate for Sheriff threatens to
cut phone, water, light and gas rates
if elected to office. The strange part
OF it is that all those who threaten to
cut prices never mention the prices they
charge for the commodities they handle.
The Consumers Council of Butte finds.
as it goes along that the prices Of most
things in Butte are too high. In re-
ports coming from 81 cities, Butte has
the third highest cost Of living in the
United States.
A study in Coal prices is extremely
interesting. No II will deny that the
majority of the homes in Butte are
heated by coal Gas is still a luxury
to most workers and will be until rates
are greatly reduced. But those who
must burn coal also pay a like tribute
to those who handle that product. A
bulletin from the Department Of La
Dor shows that Butte pays a higher
cost for coal than most Of the cities
in the United States. The report shows
about Is cities paying a lower price and
about IS paying a higher price. The
prices given for comparison are for
June IS, 1884, and for the best grade
Of Bituminous Coal, prepared sizes.
In Butte the price was $3.50 per ton,
this being an average for the prepared
sizes. For the same grade and same
average sizes compare these figures.
Atlanta, Ca, $6.52 per ton; Birming-
ham, Ala, S612; Chicago, ILL.,, $500;
Cincinnati, o., $3.50; Cleveland, O.,
S875; Columbus, O., $7.2l; Denver,
Colo, $50; Detroit, Mich, $8.52; In
dianapolis, Ind, sos; Kansas City, Mo.
$500; St. Louis, Mo, 5000 and Pitts
burgh, Pa, $4.54. These are just a few
of the cities listed but it gives one an
idea OF the rates we are paying for
coal. The prices for other grades and
types of coal will no doubt show a like
comparison.
1t is also interesting to note the COM
bine the coal dealers have formed, I'M
der the guise Of a fair code Of COM
petition. The bids offered the school
board were evidence enough to show
that the dealers have combined in fix
ing coal prices in order to keep the
price up. In this bidding, all dealers
offered the same price, to the penny.
Such practices are being condemned
lby the administration and all those in
terested in the welfare of the worker.
While coal has increased in price in
Butte, the drivers and workers who
handle it receive less than they made
before. The code OF fair competition
not only fixes the price for coal but
has also cut the wages of drivers by
working them shorter hours at less
pay. We know Of no dealer, who hires
a driver, who has cut hours and main
tanned the same weekly wage rate, /. e.,
a 40 hour week at 48 hours pay. If
there is such a coal dealer we would
like to know his name. The teamst-
ers report increasing numbers of their
members unemployed and a refusal on
the part OF employers to shorten hours,
maintain weekly rates and hire more
men.
Let us hear something about a re-
duction in coal rates or if not a re-
d%uction OF rates an increase in the pay
rolls Of teamsters, %shovelers, book
keepers and others.
Montana labor news., 1934-10-18

Patents on labor-saving machines
were not granted to throw men out
OF employment, but rather to tighten
their labors and give them more COM
forts and iuxuries. | do not believe
that a man should do the work Of a
horse, or do that which can be done by
machinery. We must go forward and
not backward. l do know that a big
ger share of what labor produces
should go to the producer. When /
say producer, | refer to the farmer as
we'll as the industrial worker.
| am not SO much interested in the
money wages paid for labor today, as
| am in the real wages paid. What |
mean by real wages is the amount Of
products you can buy back with the
wages received. After all if we are
ever to have a return OF prosperity in
this count the producer must have
enough to buy back the products Of
his labor.
l am referred to as an employer OF
labor. | am not an employer of la
Dor. The people who buy the products
of our factory are the real employers
Of labor. When people cease to buy
our products, or the products OF any
other factory, employment ceases in
the same proportion as purchasing pow
er ceases. After all labor is the larg-
est employer Of labor we have in this
ar any other country.
l only manage the factory - if | am
unable to manage that factory without
taking our profits out Of the pay en-
velopes of the workers, or chiseling
the consumer, then the sooner l get out
Of business the better. That's what
brought on this depression. There has
been too much take out" in business.
Some OF you have been in poker games
and know that when the keeper of the
kitty has too long an arm and keeps
reaching for the yellow chips, the game
soon breaks up. Monopolies have too
long been the keeper of the kitty" -
their long arms raking in the chips.
The problems we are facing today
is not one of over-production, but rath-
err one of under-consumption. There
can be no over-production of food when
people are hungry, no over-production
Of clothing with people in rags.
The coal miners, hungry and underfed,
sit in idleness upon untold millions Of
tons OF coal, while people in the cities
suffer from cold.
No, my friends, it is not a question
OF over-production, but one Of under
consumption. | honestly and sincerely
believe the best solution yet offered is
the one advanced by your worthy presi-
dent, - reduce the hours Of labor to
the point where all who desire to work
shall have that opportunity.
Montana labor news., 1934-10-18

ed consuming power could prosper
ity be restored. Approval of the
Black onnery bill wal then pro-
posed.
President Green Speaks
The vote was taken after President
William Green had declared that or
gained labor was "unalterable and un-
compromising" in its purpose to drive
forward until the six-hour day and
five-day week are universally accepted
and universally applied"
Asserting that labor would mobilize
all its efforts in the campaign hat will
begin with the ending of the conven-
ton, Mr.. Green said that the battle
would be fought on two fronts, econ
omic and legislative.
In supporting the committee report
Mr.. Green said that labor's first decla-
ration for the thirty-hour week was
received in some quarters with the be-
lief that it meant less work, but he
maintained that what it really aimed at
was to create additional work oppor-
~tunities for millions now idle.
Mr.. Green's fighting, speech was
received with an outburst of applause,
Continued to page a
Montana labor news., 1934-10-18
NOTICE!

All Crafts, employed by the Ana
conda Copper Mining Company are
asked to send delegates to meeting
to be held Friday, October 10, 1884,
at the Transfers Hal at 8 P. M.
At this meeting a grievance com
mittee will be chosen to represent
the crafts in all disputes arising from
the new agreement with the Com
pany. The choosing of this Commit
tee is in line with the program out
lined in the Strike Settlement. Rem
ember the date, place and time. Fri
day, October 10, Transfers Hall, s
P. M.
Montana labor news., 1934-10-18
INVENTORY OF
RECOVERY SHOWS
UPTURN LACS
BY Scott Nearing

In June and July, 1929, the great
business recession OF l929-l932 began
to make itself felt in the U. S. A. That
was five years ago.
Today the New York Times business
stands at 72.3, less than three-quarters
OF normal. Despite recovery pro-
grams and recovery ballyhoo, produc-
ton levels are now farther below nor
NAL than they were at the worst stages
OF such depressions as those of 1907,
1898 and 1873.
The business squirt OF March to July,
1888, was due to the attempt of the
business world to get out all the pro
duction possible before the codes went
into effect. There was a slight up
ward movement in 1884, but that has
spent itself, and business is sagging
to a point that would have been con-
sidered catastrophically low in 1907.
Exactly two years ago the business
recession became a depression n the
curve of business activity stopped fall
ing and moved along a horizontal line
for something less than a year. Then.
in the early spring Of 1888, depression
gave place to revival and the line of
business activity moved up irregularly
from its low point of 90 to its present
level OF 72.3.
What next? Will recovery con-
tinue? Yes, there is every indication
that the curve of business activity will
continue its irregular upward course.
If it was able to advance p points in
the past year and a half, it may ad-
vance 10 Of IS points during the next
year or two. If the recession covered
three years, the recovery period, under
normal conditions, would cover about
the same length of time.
Several very important factors have
thrust themselves into the foreground,
however, all tending to hold back re-
covery.
/. The drouth has wiped out a vast
amount OF purchasing power in the
farm areas. Even should this loss be
fully covered by. government relief, the
transaction involves an increase in the
public debt. That path leads to in
%flation, not to recovery.
2. Extensive introduction Of labor
replacing machinery is continually in
~creasing the amount of chronological
Unemployment at the same time that it
stimulates capital accumulation r pill
ing up surplus labor and surplus CAPT
tai and thus relatively decreasing pur-
chasing power among the industrial
masses.
3. The buying power OF the colonial
peoples is still low because of the con
tinued low prices of the raw materials
which they produce.
Continued to Page A
Montana labor news., 1934-10-18
MURRAY FOR
6-HOUR DAY

1t is interesting to note that James
Z. Murray, Democratic Nominee for
the short term in the Senate has not
hedged in taking a definite New Deal
stand, on his lecture tour. The fol-
lowing extract from a recent speech
tells in no uncertain terms where Muir
ray stands.
Senator Wheeler and | stand on the
platform of the Party adopted at the
State Convention, September 8 and
pledge ourselves to support President
Roosevelt in his new deal program as
well as the additional policies advocated
under the State platform. Among
other things we will sponsor and sup
port all measures looking to the i'm
provement Of the condition of Labor;
the right to collective bargaining throu-
gh representatives OF Labor's own
choosing without interference from any
source, and the shortening Of hours
to spread employment so as to provide
employment for all who desire work.
The platform calls for a 6-hour day
and a 30-hour week. We will work
for national legislation to this effect.
W. will favor the Presidents program
for economic security for the masses,
We will favor a national old-age pen
sion system, a method of unemploy-
ment insurance, and will support a leg
islative program for the relief and pro-
lection OF veterans and their families
as suggested in the State platform"
In showing such fearlessness in the
face Of the reactionary attitude and
record OF his opponent, James +. Muir
ray commands the respect and vote Of
every worker regardless Of his party
affiliations.
Montana labor news., 1934-10-18
House To House
Canvass Being Made
Against O'Connen
Power Company Determined To
Defeat Friend of Workers.

According to repoi . lde at the Sill
yer Bow Trades ant O. Dr. Council the
Montana Power Co 6 y is making a
determined effort t q eat O'Connell.
Members reported : hey had been
called upon by sol = OF the Mon
tana Power Compai ling them that
a vote for O'Conne g S against their
best interests. A < Der of council
members have bee. ted in the past
week. A house to e canvass is re
ported being made ne Power Com
pany.
It was also rept that the stock
holders were being TN uatened with the
stopping OF dividends on Montana Pow
err Stock if O'Connell were elected.
They were asked to work on their
friends to the end that Jerry might be
defeated.
With such a campaign being waged
against Jerry's election the workers
should feel like the man, a member Of
a club in Butte, who listened to a Pow
er Company Representative speak be-
fore his club against O'Connell. He
stated that "If O'Connell is such a
blankety blank to the Power Company
we had better all go out and vote for
him"
Ever since O'Connel took his anti
corporation stand in the last legislature
he was told by the corporations that
he was committing political suicide.
O'Connell kept on fighting the cause
OF the Common Worker, despite these
threats. When he ran for Mayor of
Butte a bitter campaign was waged to
defeat him. Even the Anti-saloon Lea
que joined in backing McTaggart be-
cause O'Connell voted wet in the Legis-
lature. The Anti-saloon league has
nothing to say about the %victor's pre-
sent stand on the wet-dry question to-
day. Every avenue was used to de-
feat O'Connell and defeated he was.
The corporate interests Of the State,
and especially the Power Company is
again seeking to kill O'Connell politi-
cally, not only in this race but in the
future. Even his own party hedges
about openly supporting him in this
campaign. 1t is a lone fight for Jerry
and every worker must be a booster for
O'Connell. If the Workers of Mon
tana don't elect O'Connell they deserve
to be robbed blind in the future by the
interests that have been stealing Mon
tana's wealth in the past because they
could threaten the masses into giving
them every office that sanctioned their
thieving.
Montana labor news., 1934-10-18
STREET CAR MEN
GET RAISE

The officers of the Street Car Mems
Union we're notified yesterday by the
manager MI. Z. j. Nash, that the Street
Car Men had been granted an increase
OF wages by the A.. c. NJ Co. OF Sc
an hour retroactive from the 1st Of
October. Prior to the depression the
Street Car Men were receiving 75c an
hour, along with other crafts they suf-
fered reductions in wages and number
of hours worked.
The Street Car Men have been re-
ceiving Csc an hour. The new raise
now makes their wages Zoe an hour.
Montana labor news., 1934-10-18
Con Lowney Is
Reported Improving

1t was reported to the Labor News,
that Con Lowney, Butte's silent barber,
who at Mayo's for a ANGER treat
ment is rapidly improving. 1t is re-
that he will be back within four
weeks. Cons main concern is for the
"Sheep-pen" on North Main and he
states he wants to be back to complete
the campaign for the New Deal
All Cons friends wish him a speedy
recovery and miss him for the down
town section has been extremely quite
since he left.
Montana labor news., 1934-10-18
Australia.


An important modification of the
property clause in the Australian Old
Age Pension Act was made recently.
Previously the Government could re-
cover the amount paid in pensions if
the pensioner became the owner Of
property worth more than 400 pounds
Exclusive Of his home). The new
regulation makes the pension allow
ance given after Dec. 81, 1882, a debt
due the Government but not a charge
on the pensioners estate. Personal
effects up to so pounds are exempted
from all liabilities. Property passed by
will to the widow, widower, father,
mother, child, brother or sister if these
are either pensioners, in need, or in
habitants OF the property in question,
is also exempted. Consent of the Pen
sion Commission for disposal Of prop
erty is no longer necessary.
Austria.
Latest reports from the Vienna
Workers Sick Fund disclose that
279,610 workers were covered at the
end OF 1888, a reduction of 81 per cent
from the previous year. The Fund
spent a total of 100000 shillings dur
ing the year.
Brazil.
By presidential decree, Brazilian
commercial workers have been pro-
vided with disability and retirement in
surance Appreciation of this decree
was expressed by the complete stop
page of work in the environs Of Rio
de Janeiro on May q, when the work
ers went en- masse to thank the Presi-
dent for his action. Several strikes
have recently been called to obtain the
extension of the plan to other groups.
Denmark.
A consolidation Of the Danish social
insurance system took place on Octo-
Der |, 1888. The recognized plans in
Montana labor news., 1934-10-18
Food Costs Continue to Soar

WASHINGTON.-(FP) "A further
jump in food prices has brought them
to a level OF 29.2 per cent higher than
in April, 1888, according to Commits
sioner Lubin of the U. S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics. During the two
weeks ending Sept. II, retail food
prices advanced 1.3 per cent.
This rise places the current index
at 1903 or at the highest point since
October, 1881" Lubin said. Two weeks
previously the index was at 1853, four
weeks before 111.8 and a year ago
1910 Food prices are 90 per cent
higher than on Sept. II, 1888, and
los per cent higher than two years
ago.
Montana labor news., 1934-10-18
COUNCIL ENDORSES
PORTER

On the recommendation Of the Legis-
lative Committee the Silver Bow Trades
and Labor Council endorsed A. T. Por-
ter for the office Of Clerk Of the
Supreme Court on the Democratic
Ticket.
Montana labor news., 1934-10-18

EASTON, Pa. - (FP) - Success Of
the recent one-day strike of union
labor in Hazleton, Pa, in sympathy
with striking textile workers, has led
labor leaders in other Pennsylvania
cities an. towns to consider the posi-
bility of spreading the idea throughout
the state.
Montana labor news., 1934-10-18

The American standard of
living must be maintained
in order that American in
stitutions may not be sub
ject to perils of discomfort.
La gaceta., 1934-02-17
LA VISTA DE LA CAUSA
CONTRA LOS ASESINONS
DE LOS HERMANOS FREY
RE Y DEL DIR. AGUILAR

Habana, Feb. ia pesaI
de que %anteayer hicier0U fue-
go contra ell canton que trans
portaba a los presuntos asesi-
nos de los hermanos Freyre de
Andrade y de, DR.. Miguel An
gel Aguiar, matando a uno de
ellos e hiriendo a tres, continue
aver la vista de la cuasa con-
ira esos criminales.
Ell fuego de ametralladora
hecho contra los "porristas''
cause tambien la muerte a dos
personals mas.
la opinion pdblica desea
que cuanto antes Sc condene a
esos individuos, estimando que
las pruebas presentadas son
formidables.
Con exception de uno 0 dos
de los acusados todos los de-
mas aparecen directamente
La gaceta., 1934-02-17
UNA CONW ER DEL
ESCRITOR ARGENTE

Madrid, Feb. 16.-El notable
escritor Don Baldomero Argen
tie di6 aqui una conferencia So
bre ell tema Eel Paro Forzoso,"
diciendo que este es ell problema
central de nuestra civilization
y que ell porvenir de la civiliza-
ci6n depende de la forma en- que
csc problema Sc resuelva.
"Ahora hay en- Espana-dijo
I-cerca de 100000 hombres pa
radios. La estadistica es incom-
pleta. No solo padecen los obre-
ros; las clases medias en- gene
raj estan sufriendo tambien no
rribles angustias. Ell paro no es
,problema transitorio; es perma-
nente, ahora exacerbado. Nj pc.
culiar de Espana: bajo todas
las diferencias politicas, religio
sas ETC., de los paises civiliza :
dos. Su causa primordial esta
mas honda que esas diferencias
Gel trabajo es solo un RENE
La gaceta., 1934-02-17

de la terra no es un problema
agrario unicamente. La indus
tria necesita terra en- que en-
plaZarse, materials primas que
vienen de la terra, fuerzas que
fluyen de la terra. La vivienda
Sc levanta sobre la terra y Sc
construye con materialeS que
proceden de la terra. La terra
urbana es hoy mas importante
q. la agricola; por ESQ tiene mas
npnas valor. ST ell aceso a la terra
fuera libre y ell estado cobrara
la renta social, no habria paros
nj impuestos. Hay ademas los
monopolios, la exclusive de los
grandes medios de production
valor. 81 ell acceso a la terra
nistrativas para ell trabajo Y el
consume. Els ell desarrollO de es-
tos elementos, que son priVile-
gio, false capital, y que crecen
apoyados en- ell Estado, 10 que
constitute la parte morbosa de
capitalismo.".
La gaceta., 1934-02-17
SOCIALES~ 4

eta Alicia Lopez, que cumpli6
los seis amos de edad.
Los j6veneS artistas Arturo
Pinero y Jarry Lopez recita :
ron Y cantaron preciosas can
clones criollas, acompanados
por ell conjunto musical que di
rige ell professor Miguel Ortiz,
Y que integran los senores Gui
llermo Diaz, Octavio Leiro, vi
cente Castaneda y la gentil Sc
norita Zenaida Pereda, que de-
leit6 a la concurrencia cantan-
do lindas canciones espanolas,
mexicanas y cubanas, recibien-
do muchos aplausos.
Asistieron las conocidas da-
mas Dolores Diaz, Elisa Leiro,
Candida Medero, Emelina L6-
peg, Feiisa Pereda y Asunci6n
Dfaz.
Senoritas Alicia Gomis, Ju-
liza Duran, Alicia Castaneda,
Maria Leiro y Rosita Marti-
nez.
Simpaticas ninos Norma Lo-
PEI, Lidia Diaz, Maria Diaz,
Dora Diaz, Benito Diaz, Jorge
! Diaz y Ricardo Diaz.
Toda la concurrencia fue
espl6ndidamente obsequiada
I con dulces y licores.
A. de la Pena.
La gaceta., 1934-02-17

dio para obtener la satisfaction
de nuestras necesidades y de :
secs. Por ESQ ell problema del
|paro Sc identified con ell de la
miseria. Dos paradojas salen al
paso: trabajador es sin6nimo de
pobre en- I'm mundo dOnde todas
las riquezas las produce ell ira
bajo; ell paro coincide con la ne
cesidad a pesar de que ell traba-
jo es ell que produce las cosas
que ~satisfacen aquellas necesi4
dades.
"Y la terra, necesaria para
todos los hombres, ha sido apro
piada por una minoria de esos
hombres, con derechos para dis
frutarla eXclusivamente y para
impedir a otros SUI disfrute, 81
no pagan ell precio exigido.
"Asi, esta minoria dispone de
la suerte del trabajo, Sc apro-
pia de los frutos de este y mo.
nopOliza los aumentos de pro
ducci6n, que Sc converter er
aumento de rentas. La ley de il
renta es la ley fundamental de
la dinamica social. FL problems
La gaceta., 1934-02-17
Sc HAN INICIADO VA LAS
N~EGOCIACIONES PARA UN
NUEVO TRATADO CONFER
CIAL CON LOS ESTADOS
UNIDOS

Habana, Feb. 17,-En la tar
de de aver cOmenzaron las ne
gociaciones para un nuevo ira
tado commercial con los Estados
Unidos, verificandose una con
ferencia en- ell edificio de lie Sc
cretaria de estado, antique CO.
legio de Bel6n, a la que concu-
rrieron ell DR.. osme de la To-
rriente, secretario de estado;
Mr.. Jfferson Caffery, embaja-
dor de los Estados Unidos, y
ell DR.. Joaquin Martinez SaenZ,
secretario de hacienda.
La gaceta., 1934-02-17
Bale de Carnival

Hoy a las nueve y media de
la noche comenzara ell bale so
cial de carnival en- TODD ell pa
lacio del Centre Espano], con
tres orquestas, las que estaran
tocando hasta las cinco de la
manana.
Los j6venes de la Secci6n
de Recreo, organizadores de
la fiesta carnavalesca, desean
que todos los muchachos con-
curran disfrazadas.
La gaceta., 1934-02-17
Reunion

Los viejos emigrados revo :
lucionarios cubanos Sc reunen
manana domingo, a las tres de
la tarde, en- ell salon de recep-
clones del Circulo para cam
biar impresiones y leer un
mensaje.
AL acto concurrira ell Sr.
Consul de Cuba, DR.. Jorge A.
Trelles y nuestro director Sr
Victoriano Manteiga.
La gaceta., 1934-02-17
Matinee bailable

Manana domingo, a las cua.
tro de la tarde, Sc v~erificara la
matinee bilable en- ell palacio
del Circulo, con la famosa or
questa de Chicago Los Vaga-
bundos."
Con antelaci6n la habian
anunciado los chicos de la Sec.
cion de Recreo, senalando pa
IA ella precios populares.
Sc terminara a las ocho de
la noche.
La gaceta., 1934-02-17

En- compania de Mr.. Caffe-
ry Intervene en- las delibera-
clones ell ST., Alberto J. Nufer,
attach6 comercial de la emba-
jada.
Las prin2eras conversaciOnes
tuvieron relaci6n con ell trata-
do de reciprocidad y que con-
diciones de6en ser incluidas en-
el nuevo tratado.
La gaceta., 1934-02-17
SUSPENDIDA LA Fedora,
CION MEDICA GUIANA

Habana, Feb. 17.-Por de-
creto del presidente Mendieta
fu6 suspendida hoy la Fedora
ci6n M6dica, a la que pertene-
cen cast todos los medicos de
Cuba.
La gaceta., 1934-02-17

Anoche Sc efectu6 un party
en- la Residential de los distin-
guides esposos Rosa y Manuel
Martinez, avenida D6cima nl-
nero 1902, para conmemorar
ell natalicio de su linda niete-
La gaceta., 1934-02-17
LA HUELGA DEL RAMO DE


MMadrid, Feb. 17.-Colo
resultado de la huelga del a.
mo de construction percci6 hoy
una persona y varias mas re-
cibieron heridas.
FL gobierno intensified sus
gestiones y espera obtener IN
pronto arreglo.
La gaceta., 1934-02-17
Centric Obrero

Los mismos artistas locales
que trabajaron ell pasado do
mingo en- Ell teatro del Centre
Obrero, volveran manana, a la
misma bora, en- una simpatica
obra bufa y un acto de varie-
dades.
Populares precios senalan
las carteleras.