davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
Munitions Disclosures
Become Too Hot For
Comfort In High Places


pressure to clamp down on the dis
closures made by the senate munitions
committee became evident on Sept. IA,
when Secretary Of State Hull and Sec
rotary OF Commerce Roper conferred
with the committee. Some Of the evil
dence produced has struck uncomfort-
ably close t. home, with its revelations
of close government connections with
the munitions barons.
Hull is believed in this private con-
ference to have complained to the
committee that the state department
was being swamped with protests from
foreign governments, which have also
been involved in the disclosures of the
international munitions racket. Roper
is understood to have intimated that
American business in foreign countries
would suffer, if the lid we're not
clamped down.
That the German Nazis, when they
seized power in 1888, were armed with
United States guns was indicated in
some of the correspondence of the Z.
/. Du Pont de Nemours company
which was placed on the record. It
intimated that the Nazis used small
arms shipped from the United States
and Struggled across the German Dor
der from Holland.
Brides, or so-called Commissions
paid to high Chinese military officials
by a Du Pont agent in 1882, were re-
yealed at the hearings. But following
the conference of the committee with
Hull and Roper, the names of the Off
Gals were withheld from the record.
Negotiations of the Du Pont company
for selling the rights to a secret
process to the big Mitsui company Of
Japan, in the same year, also figured
in the hearings.
Rumors that naturalization Of mu-
nitions manufacture might be an out
come OF the investigation have been
heavily discounted in informed quar-
tiers in Washington. State department
officials told Federated Press that
they would be absolutely astounded if
President Roosevelt took any action
in this direction, since it would be CON
trary 20 the whole policy which the
government has consistently followed
for some time. This policy is for SUI
pervision and control of arms manu-
~facture by international action n,
through licensing and other similar
means, and is being worked out at
successive Geneva arms conferences.
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
Miners Protest Boss
Controlled Relief

WASHINGTON (FP) - Charging
that relief administration in Greene
county, Pennsylvania is tied up with
the coal operators and has been used
to fight trade unionism, the Pennsyl-
vania Security League has asked the
Federal Emergency Relief Administra-
ton to investigate.
An earlier request was referred by
the federal administration to the Penn
sylvania Emergency Relief Board, but
the league states that it would be
s~ense1ess to ask the state board to in
vestigate itself, since it is involved in
the grievances against which complaint
is made. The league states further
that the state administration was party
to an investigation which was used TO
cripple the activities of a medical doc
tor friendly to the miners" The doc
tor in question is chairman of the
Greene county United Mine Workers
relief committee.
The Security League charges that
the executive director of Westmore-
land county, and former director of
relief in Greene county, Paul M. Kee-
nan, is a former coal company official,
and has used his relief office prestige
to urge striking miners to go back to
work"
1t also states that the state boards
relief agent in Greene county "is not
the proper person to hold the position,
as proved by the recent disclosure OF
starvation in Bobtown."
"The administration OF federal and
state relief by the Greene County
Emergency Relief Board has been
used to Illustrate the organization OF
miners into unions of their own choos-
ing" says the league statement, which
is also signed by seven presidents OF
u. M. w. local unions.
Questioned by Federated Press Sept.
II, Federal Emergency Relief Admin
istrator Harry l.. Hopkins said he
knew nothing of the case and had or
dered no investigation.
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
DRIFTS and RAISES
(This column contributed by Butte
Miners Union No. u

Thousands of miners will walk the
streets of Butte this approaching win
ter with no prospects of employment.
According to the best estimates that
can be obtained at the present time
not more than two thousand miners
can hope to obtain employment and
these only on a part time basis. The
restrictions placed by the copper code
on local production and the five day
week plan will decrease the number Of
men returning to work as one-sixth
less men will only be necessary under
this plan to complete the called for
tonnage which was produced previous
TO the strike.
Under these conditions which are
now facing the miners it would be well
for miners working in outside camps
to hold on to their present jobs rather
than to return here and be confronted
with a long period of idleness. The
men who were employed up to the
time of the strike are the men who
are to be first employed by the ON
pany. If all of these men cannot be
reinstated at once it is a foregone con
clusion that these men must be en-
ployed before it is possible to employ
the men who were not working at the
time of the strike. These conditions
are a serious problem and will call for
the better judgment of those involved.
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
Contributor to Labor News
Passes; "Jack Hammer" Laid
To Rest Last Tuesday

The Montana Labor News joins
other friends in mourning the loss OF
Walt Holiday, Butte writer and poet.
Holiday was a true artist and felt the
sufferings OF the working classes as
only an artist with a deep understand
ing Of the workers problems can feel
them. Since the beginning OF the
paper, Walt was a steady contributor
to its columns. The articles signed by
Jack Hammer" were written by Walt
for the Labor News. They touched
the problem Of poverty and suffering
in Butte as no other articles have.
During the last few years his contri-
buttons were largely verse enjoyed by
the thousands of readers Of the Labor
News. During the past year, due to
illness, Holiday did not do much
writing.
The Montana Labor News extends
to the bereaved family its sincerest
sympathy.
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
LITTLE TOWN
OF bethlehem

BETHLEHEM, Pa.-(FP)-Bethle-
hem's striking silk workers are ex-
~periencing the same ruthless suppress
sion in this domain Of the steel trust
as have steel workers in their strikes.
All the forces of reaction are being
used to restrain workers and to break
the strike.
At the beginning of the strike,
Mayor Robert Pfeifle, chief stock
holder OF the Sauquoit Silk Mills, is
sued an edict limiting pickets to four
at a plant. At the same time he placed
10 police on guard at each place.
When approached by Miss julie
Lesniak of the Amalgamated Clothing
Workers Of America in regard to a
strikers benefit tag day, he said
There is no strike in Bethlehem and
there will be no tag day for strikers.
| am protecting silk workers against
strikers because they are happy and
it is my duty to keep them happy"
Miss Lesniak volunteered to conduct
a survey to determine if the workers
were really happy. IF you try such a
stunt, I'll show you the bars. No skirt
is going to tell me how to run this
town." he replied.
Two strike leaders, Conrad Rheiner
and Arvin Jennings, were kidnapped by
the police and held incommunicado for
a day and a half before they we're
found. Numerous strikers have been
arrested for distributing handbills.
The local press has consistently re-
fused to publish statements of the
strikers. All halls in the city are
closed to strike meetings, and no street
meetings or other open air gatherings
are permitted.
Rev. Paul Cotton, pastor Of the
South Presbyterian church, wa dis
missed by his congregation because of
his activities in behalf Of strikers and
the unemployed. Among the charges
were "He has been active in strikes
and in the Unemployed League, a
group who would not work ever if
work were available" and "Contribu-
tons decreased 50 per cent since the
pastors career as leader of the con-
gregation."
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
Representative OF
Labor Board Rules
On Strikers Conduct
1MASHINGTON

WASHINGTON. - (FP) - Thou
81 g lot hit thy foreman when he
c : ace a liarl Thou shalt not hui
s e thine employerl Thou shalt
8 Oeat up scabsl Thou shalt not
k roughly Of thy boss
S. hese are some of the command
3 nts being laid down by government
Dor board machinery, so that en-
loyers may know on what grounds
hey may win approval for discrimina-
ton against strikers and active union
men.
Specifically they are drawn from a
decision made by D. A. Moscovitz,
counsel of the Petroleum Labor Policy
Board, acting as arbitrator on cases
arising from a strike at the Champlin
Refining Company, Enid, Okla,
Moscovitz denied reinstatement to
L. Z. Wickline, whose firing had been
one of the reasons why Local go of
the international Association of Oil
Field, Gas Well & Refinery Workers
went on strike. The labor board coun-
sci justified the company in refusing
a job to Wickline on grounds of his
action since the strike was called.
Wickline, he said, was "a leading par
ticipant in acts intended to harass and
humiliate his employer"
The bop's pride was also considered
in denying reinstatement to another
worker who, on the occasion of a visit
by Champlin to his plant during the
strike, removed the employer from the
premises mot with the idea OF protec-
ton but with the idea of humiliating
him." according to the decision.
A workers pride, however, does not
apparently count for SO much, for the
decision denies reinstatement to John
Denker on the grounds that he struck
his foreman after the latter called him
a liar.
Six workers were granted reinstate-
ment, four Of them on grounds that
they had not fought with scabs as
charged, three of them being con-
cerned in "a purely personal brawl I'M
related to the strike" One other was
reinstated on grounds that he had
committed the crime OF asking men to
join the union while on the job "in
ignorance" The sixth was indicated
for lack of evidence that he had used
an "unprintable epithet' in referring to
Champlin, his employer,
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
Miners Are Asked to Keep Out
of Butte District; Local Un-
employed to Have Preference
in Future Employment.

The settlement OF the strike in Butte
will leave thousands still unemployed
in this city. Unless new mines are
opened only about two thousand min
ers will be employed. If new mines
are opened employment will only be
provided for those who were employed
part-time before the strike. The agree
ment Of settlement calls for the re-
employment of all those who were m
ployed at the time Of the strike, first.
After this list is exhausted men will
be hired from the local Union lists.
There are over two thousand members
of the Miners Union who are unem-
ployed at the present time who will be
given preference over outsiders COM
ing into Butte.
From these figures M can readily
see where it will be useless for out
siders to come to Butte with the hope
of being employed. As o as the
strike was settled a number of miners
drifted in from other camps hoping to
find work in Butte. All that can be
provided them is transient relief
Members Of Miners Unions elsewhere
are asked to advise those they know,
who contemplate coming to Butte, to
stay where they are, to hold to the
jobs they have or stay in a community
where they have established residence,
in order that they may at least be af-
forded federal relief.
Labor in Butte would be grateful if
members Of organized labor elsewhere
in the country made this notice public
and other Labor papers gave it pub
licitY.
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
Communication

Saint Paul, MINI, Sept. %, 1884.
Mr.. Harry ]. Grimes,
Sec'y Trades and Labor Council,
Butte, Montana.
Dear Sir and Brother:
AT this time l wish to call the atten-
ton of organized labor in your district
hat felt hats and derbies bearing the
union label are now being manufac-
tured in the Twin Cities.
Statesmen with this new union prod
uct from this locality will be or are
covering your territory now.
Please urge your delegates at the
meeting to call upon their members to
be sure and demand the union label
when buying a hat or cap.
Help us create a stronger demand
for union made goods.
F~raternally yours,
J. G. SNOW, Sec'y.
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
La Follettes, Unopposed,
Draw Big Vote

MADISON, Wis.-FP)-The newly
organized Progressive party Of Wis
consin made an excellent showing in
the Sept, IS primaries. Ex-Gov. Philip
F. La Toilette, running practically with
out opposition, got around 10000
votes while Gov. Schemedeman, Demo-
Graf, in a lively party contest, got only
about 10000 more.
U. S. Senator Robert M. La Toilette,
unopposed, also ran his vote we'll into
six figures.
The Progressive party was organized
last spring when most of the La Toilette
Republicans in Wisconsin seeded
from the COP. The Progressives
stand to the right of the Socialists,
with President Roosevelt when he is
on a leftward swing and to the left of
Roosevelt when he is on a compensat-
ing rightward swing in netionaL policy.
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27

COUNCIL
CANDIDATES

At the last regular meeting the
following candidates were endorsed
by the Silver Bow Trades and
Labor Council:
U. S. Senator e year term)-B.
K. Wheeler, Democrat.
U. S. Senator z year term)-
James Murray, Democrat.
U. S. Congressman-Jos. P. Mon
oghan, Democrat.
Chief Justice, Supreme Court
w. B. Sands, Democrat.
Associate Justice, Supreme Cour
"A, ]. Angstman, Republican.
Railroad Commissioner-Jerry
O'Connell, Democrat.
State Senator - Harry Me,
Democrat.
State Representative II Demo-
crats-Sam Spiegel Mike Mulhol-
land, Ed O'Byrne, Tom Ryan, Vim.
Neary, Harry Mitchell, Cane Con
nors. Republicans-Fred Langdon,
Garfield Harris, E. J. Holman.
Sheriff-Larry Weir, Democrat
County Attorney - Harry Free
bourn, Democrat.
County Treasurer-Mervin Demp-
sey, Democrat.
County Assessor John Malta,
Democrat.
County Clerk and Recorder -
John Holland, Democrat.
County Superintendent OF Schools
-Maybelle Hogan, Democrat.
County Auditor-Hazel B%ourquin,
Democrat.
Public Administrator nary
Gavigan, Democrat.
Coroner-Mike Duff, Democrat.
County Surveyor - Jack Healy,
Democrat.
Justice OF the Peace, Silver Bow
John Mcnamara and John Cor
bitt, Democrats.
Justice of the Peace, South Butte
Rudy KLINE, Democrat, and Ar
thur Dubie, Republican.
Constables, Silver Bow-James
Butch" Lester and Eddie Nc
earthly, Democrats.
County Commissioner II Council
endorsed both Merkle, Democrat,
and Nankervis, Republican.
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
Board Ruling Describes
Prize Specimen OF
Company Uniomsm

WASHINGTON. -(FP) ~ Company
unionism SO raw that it is dubbed as
doing violence to any concept of
freedom of choice or action" is re
vealed in the story Of the Ames Bald
win Wyoming Company Of Parkers-
burg, w. Va, as %recounted by the
National Labor Relations Board in a
decision calling for an election among
its employees. The company manufac-
lures shovels and other implements.
When the workers started to or
ganize into an American Federation of
Labor union, the company ordered all
OF them to attend a meeting at which
the president denounced trade union
ism and urged a company union. Each
man wa then handed a ballot asking
if he wished to be represented by a
company union. As the men left their
marked ballots, they were checked off
by a company official against a pay
roll list.
No tabulation Of the votes was ever
given, but the company posted a no
tice that 80 per cent of the men had
approved the plan, and the very next
day all of the employees received a
printed constitution Of the company
union, which none Of them had ever
seen before. No later vote was ever
held on this constitution.
For election Of company union rep
resentatives the men were forced to
vote by order of the %company's presi-
dent, who repeatedly had the power
shut off in one department, when the
men refused to vote in any such
dummy election. Finally a strike was
called against the company union.
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
Miners Gun Runner Dies

DENVER. - FP) - Sadie Adney,
long a leader in the United Garment
Workers and in the Denver and Colo
RADIO labor movements, is dead. She
collapsed during the Labor Day parade,
where she was leading her union, and
never recovered.
This much was published in Denver,
But the real story is not told-that
when she was a girl in her teens,
Sadie Adney repeatedly drove a car
loaded with ammunition for the strik-
ing coal miners through the militia
lines and thus helped the miners to
defend themselves against the Rookie
Teller gunner. She risked her life for
the miners and they have never for
gotten.
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
AUXILIARY
OFFICERS

The Carpenters Auxiliary held their
regular business meeting at Carpenters
Hall Thursday, Sept, 20, with Nora
McBroom presiding.
Fall activities were planned.
Mrs. Marie Walsh was installed as
vice-president Mrs. Viola jacobson,
elected as chairman on Board Of Trus-
tees, and Mrs. Hazel Lotneit elected as
conductor.
Next social meeting at the home of
Mrs. Hazel Lotneit, 1919 Cobban, with
Mrs. Davies and Mrs. jacobson as as
sisting hostesses, Oct. a..
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
STARTS
LABOR PAPER

WAUKEGAN, III. - (FP) II The
Lake County Peoples Press, Endorsed
by the Waukegan labor and co-opera-
tive movement, has started publication
as a weekly tabloid, with Federated
Press news and pictures. VIM. B..
Lloyd, Jr., is managing editor OF the
Press, which is published from 2l8 w.
Washington ST., Waukegan, at 81 a
year.
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27

WASHINGTON. - (FP) II Pointing
out that "the mill-owners are depend
ing upon hunger, tear gas and guns to
drive the workers back to the mills"
the National Women's Trade Union
League has issued a call for support
Of the textile strike.
As against the low wages and dc
creasing employment Of the workers
under the code, the league points to
employers profits. 1t cites figures
presented by the National City Bank
of New York. These show for Is tex
tile firms a deficit Of $l4,000,000 in
1882 and 1888, whereas under the
code, in the first six months OF 1884,
these mill-owners not only wiped out
the deficit but reported net profits OF
$l3,000,000.
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
Editor Finds Difference
Between Insult and DilIinger

ST. PAUL-(FP)-The Minnesota
Union Advocate, American Federation
of Labor central body journal in St.
Paul, declares editorially that "the
only difference between the Dillingers
and the insults is a mere matter of
method. The former uses a gun and
takes a chance at having his body rid
died with hot steel The insults use a
stock market ticket, a brokerage con
nection and a political pull that gives
them immunity from such %embarrass-
ments as prison numbers, steel bars
and bighouse stew"
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
STRIKE

When this appears in print the
strike settlement will be one week old.
The men who were on strike are slow
ly returning to work in and around the
mines and smelters of Butte, Anaconda
and Great Falls. 1t will probably be
the middle of October or later before
the mines can approximate the amount
of production they had before the
strike. The Miners and Engineers
Unions voted to work a five day week
in preference to a four day week,
which was the other alternative. II
the latter program had been adopted,
the mines that were operating at the
time the strike started could have re-
employed all the men who went out,
but on a five day week program, they
will be unable to do so unless other
mines are opened up; and this does
not seem very probable, because of the
fact that the A. c. M. Co.'S production
is very definitely restricted under the
provisions of the copper code.
Before the strike the company was
producing all the copper it was per
mitted under the code provisions. At
that time it was employing approx
mately 2,400 men on two-thirds time.
Now that the men are going to work
five-sixths time, it stands to reason
that one-sixth fewer men will be re-
CURED to produce the same amount Of
copper. Consequently, the number Of
men who are likely to be re-employed
will approximate two thousand.
4 4 4
If the foregoing summary and prog
nostication is anywhere nearly correct,
and we believe it is, the outlook for
the coming winter does not look very
promising. Before the strike there
were about seventeen thousand people
on relief in Silver Bow county. The
strike added five or six thousand more
to that number, which is considerably
more than half the population of the
county. When the mines get back to
pre-strike production there will still be
approximately half the population Of
the county on the relief rolls. What
is the answer to this condition? The
immediate answer lies in: Shorter
hours. Higher wages. Unemployment
insurance. Old age pensions and prob
ably other remedial measures, and it
is the job Of the working class Of
Montana as well as every other state
in the Union to supply that answer in
the coming November elections.
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
Butte, Montana,
September Is, 1884.

GNRNNAAAbNA @Jt A<OTs
Hon. F. H. Cooney,
Of the State of Montana,
Capitol Building,
Helena, Montana.
Dear Sir:
We have concluded one of the long
est strikes in the history of Montana.
We review the situation and find that
some OF the reasons why a struggle of
such long duration could be conducted
so peacefully and with the least
amount OF violence recorded in any Of
the entire country was due to the fair
and impartial manner in which state
and local officers dispatched their Of
fetal duties.
We are very cognizant of the part
that you played and take this means
to thank you for your fair and I'M
biased attitude toward the whole situa-
ton.
Respectfully yours,
T. ]. HARRINGTON,
Chairman
REID ROBINSON,
Secretary.
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27

WASHINGTON.-(FP) ~ Wartime
business of the Du Points, munitions
manufacturers brought a quarter OF a
billion in profits, Irenee Du Pont tes-
titled before the senate munitions in
vestigating committee.
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
Communication


To the Officers and Delegates of the
Silver Bow Trades and Labor
Council.
Greetings
We wish to take this occasion to
thank your body as a whole, and each
and every delegate individually, for
the splendid support which was given
to Brother Sam Spiegel, our Business
Agent, in his candidacy for the State
Legislature. Brother Spiegel has been
a member of our organization for %
years and enjoys the confidence and
esteem of this body.
We feel that the election Of Brother
Spiegel and the rest Of the candidates
who were Endorsed by organized labor
to the State Legislature would be high
ly beneficial to labor throughout the
state. Again thanking you for your
support and soliciting your continued
cooperation, | am,
Sincerely and fraternally yours,
ED. CURRAN,
Secretary Local No. "a,
l. A. T. s. +. & NJ. P. MO.
(Seal attached)
Montana labor news., 1934-09-27
Butte, Montana,

buAlS3 MLOlldlld5
September Is, 1884.
Mr.. Lawrence Weir,
Sheriff Silver Bow County,
Court House,
Butte, Montana.
Dear Sir:
At all times during the late strike
you and your deputies have shown a
deep understanding of the cause Of
labor and we believe the fair attitude
shown by your office has been Of the
greatest assistance to the Union men
of Silver Bow County in their struggle
for their rights.
Organized labor takes great pleasure
in extending its appreciation and graf
itude for the fair and impartial execu-
ton of the duties Of your office.
Respectfully yours,
T. ]. HARRINGTON,
Chairman.
REID ROBINSON,
Secretary.