davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montana labor news., 1934-06-21
Processing Tax Paid by
Consumer, Howe Shows

WASHINGTON (FP) How the
consumer is made to pay for the pro-
sssing taxes on farm products is
,to,; Town by DR.. F. c. Howe, con-
justmen%. LIBRARY, in a state
ment taking issu, airy Stude,
chairman Of the National Baking
Council. Stude had claimed that the
employing bakers were paying millions
of dollars in processing taxes and
could not collect from the consumer.
There isn't any evidence that the
trade is paying any of the processing
taxes, except possibly for brief peri
DDS the tax or hogs" Howe said. "All
the facts we have been able to collect
indicate that professors generally-and
this includes millers-have increased
their margins between what they pay
for their raw materials and what they
charge for their products enough to
fully cover the taxes.
"Millers have apparently passed the
wheat tax to the bakers, but bakers
and retailers in general have put up
their prices for bread to consumers
more than enough to cover the in
creased cost of flour.
"On May p consumers paid an
average of l.42 cents more for a pound
loaf of white bread than they paid in
the year ending June 80, 1888, before
the first processing tax went into eff
feet. Costs Of ingredients going into a
pound loaf of white bread increased
only an average Of 0.87 of a cent in
the same interval.
In other words, the bakers and re-
tailers Of bread have been able to
collect from the consumer all of their
increased ingredient costs and a half
cent a pound loaf more. This extra
half cent a loaf collected from CON
sumers has been available for paying
increased labor and other commodity
costs"
Montana labor news., 1934-06-21
Department Of Labor to Aid in Butte Settlement
Monaghan Wires Assurance Of Roosevelt Help

At the request OF a number OF the
Unions, Congressman Joseph p.
Monaghan went to President Roose-
welt asking that he do all in his power
to bring about a speedy settlement of
the Butte Strike. Monaghan went to
Roosevelt only after General John
sons Office turned a cold shoulder on
his requests. President Roosevelt
promised to take the matter up with
Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins
and stated that he would exert his
every influence toward a speedy set
Element. A late wire came to Butte
saying that the Secretary OF Labor
would send a representative to Butte
to aid in the settlement of the Strike.
Washington is interested in the
Butte situation and is seemingly doing
all in its power to help settle the criti-
cal situation in which we find our
selves at this time. The attitude Of
the Anaconda Officials in maintaining
the bull-headed position of refusing to
discuss any compromise settlement
shows that this strike will last for a
year unless the Federal Government
does step in and arbitrate.
Montana labor news., 1934-06-21
Sailors End Gulf Strike,
.Longshoremen Still Out

NEW ~ORLEANS-(FP)-The sail
ors have called their strike off in gulf
ports and the longshoremen are fight
ing an uphill battle, with freight being
loaded under police protection. A
striker has been killed in Houston,
Tex.
The Marine Transport Workers
union of the Industrial Workers of the
World announced that their fight for
better conditions would be transferred
to the job" and ordered their seamen
back on the ships. They had been
striking in support of the longshore-
men and for their own demands.
The fighting locals of the I%nterna-
tional Longshoremen's association in
New Orleans are being defeated be-
cause Mayor Walmsley( noted enemy
Of Senator Huey Long, has been rent
ing a portion OF the police department
to the, shipowners. The police, in
uniform and plainclothes, are paid
1874 a day by the bosses. This gives
the strikebreakers guards with full
authority to shoot, to arrest and to
club without molestation. Even those
who protested police brutality were ar
rested and dubbed.
Heretofore shipowners have been
compelled to hire their own guards,
arm and equip them, and then they
had no power to arrest. Under the
new arrangement the employers have
far greater effectiveness in strike
breaking and save considerable sums.
Shelter was furnished the strikebreak-
ers by the federal government, about
5000 being so aided.
Strikebreaking l%ongshoremen fired
Is shots into the picket line OF the
union, killing w. A. Swami, one of the
pickets, at Houston.
Montana labor news., 1934-06-21
Independent Party to
Hold Booster Picnic

The general committee Of the In
dependent School Ticket a
Booster Picnic, to be held Sunday,
July 1, at Ross Ranch, on the Basin
Reservoir road.
Plans are being perfected for a pro-
gram consisting Of speaking, musical
numbers, dancing, games, etc.
Further details will be announced
by the Labor News in next weeks
issue.
Committees in charge follow:
Committees.
General chairman, Mrs. Madge
O'Conner; Frank Reardon, co-chair-
man.
Keno-William Reome, Phil Sulli-
van, Thomas Ryan.
Speakers and Entertainment -
Thomas Ryan, chairman; Mrs. Eliza
beth Kennedy, Mrs. Nettleton, Mr.
O'Byrne, Mr.. Levingood, Mrs. M
Leahy, Mrs. X. Killoy, Mr.. Lehwalder.
Mr.. Harry Meyers, Thomas B. Nor
gan.
Dance and music ~ Mr.. Moran
chairman; Mr.. Reid Robinson, Mr.
Francis McKelvie, Mr.. Vim. Nc
Carthy, Mr.. Ray Bray, Mr.. Paul Err
Ter, Mr.. Frank Reardon, Mr.. Walter
Japp, Mr.. and Mrs. Adds McGrath.
Mr.. and Mrs. Kerr Beadle.
Games-Mr. Vic Grumpy, Mr.. Andy
Cunningham, Mr.. Tim O'Connor.
Decorations-Clem Burkhardt, chair
man; Mr.. and Mrs. McManus, John
Delaney, Mr.. McQuiston.
Ice Cream, Pop, Candy-Mrs. Nc
Kelvie, chairman; Mrs. M. LaForrest,
Mrs. Anna Peel, Mrs. Abbie Harring-
ton, Mrs. O'Neil.
Publicity-Mr. Paul Erler, chair
man; Mr.. Glen Burkard, Mrs. Chas.
Bessette, Mrs. Leo Prendergast, Mrs.
Clinch, Miss Margaret Loughrin, Mrs.
Johanna Lynch, Mr.. Clarence Hanley,
Mrs. McQuiston.
Refreshments-Mrs Kate Rockfel-
Ter, chairman; Mrs. Kate Savage, Mrs.
Shaughnessy, Ben Frazier, Mrs. Nc
Manus, James Keegan, Jerry Harring-
ton.
Transportation - Francis McKelyie.
chairman; Mr.. McManus, John Wick
ers, Judge Gardiner, Mr.. May, Mr..
Dubie, Mr.. VIM. Mccarthy, MI. Thos.
Morgan, MI. Nettleton.
Montana labor news., 1934-06-21
VIOLENCE REPORTS, POLITICAL PROPAGANDA
Ask Governor Horner
Enforce Bill Of Rights

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., (FP) Gov
ernor Horner, members Of the Illinois
legislature and all peace officers in
disturbed areas are about to receive
a demand that public officials read
and abide by the bill of rights and
a to interfere with free speech and
free assemblage." The demand is
signed by the Chicago Civil Liberties
committee.
Growing out Of the recent gassing
of a Norman Thomas meeting in Tay-
%lorville and Thomas arrest, as well as
the lawless acts Of the authorities Of
Montgomery county where castings Of
relief demonstration and the arrest Of
II men on charges of conspiracy to
overthrow the United States govern
ment took place last week. Two law
yers and the district representative Of
international Labor Defense were run
out of Nokomis by a mob led by the
police chief when they insisted on their
right to see the commital papers
against the prisoners, who are held on
total bail of $4,000 cash,
"The officials OF these communities
the committee tells Horner, have APP
parently adopted the idea that they are
above the constitution of state and ma
ton and that the guarantees of civil
liberties to all of the people are to be
ignored by them when they do not
agree with the ideas of the speakers,
They believe in civil rights for the
strong and powerful but not for the
weak and lowly."
Montana labor news., 1934-06-21
F. Of |. Survey
Points to NRA Failure

WASHINGTON OPP Produc-
ton has again outstripped buying
power this spring, declare the June
monthly survey Of business OF the
American Federation of Labor. The
survey notes the business decline
which began in May, the continuation
Of serious unemployment, with deplor-
able results on the health Of workers,
and concludes MIRA has failed in the
field of research and planning it has
not coordinated business activity to
achieve full rounded economic recov-
cry"
Although the drop in production
brought a certain adjustment as be-
tween buying power with an index Of
ll9 and production with an index Of
III, according to the A. F. of L. fig
ures, in April OF this year the buying
power index was at 128, and production
at 153.
The survey notes declines in auto and
steel production in May and refers to
the New York Times index Of produc-
ton and distribution which fell from
its peak Of S8.7 week Of April 28) to
$40 in the fourth week Of May. Twill
business decline more than the usual
seasonal amount" it asks, and an
swers: Business observers generally
feel that a decline slightly more than
seasonal may be expected, and that
it will last until late summer"
Looking for reasons for loss Of bust
ness confidence, the survey declares :
There is as yet no general recogni-
ton Of the fact that in this era of large
scale machine production regulation is
essential for the very existence OF our
present economic order. Present un-
certainties destroy confidence because
business men a see no coordinated
plan for the future"
The effects Of the continued crisis on
the health and living conditions Of the
workers are described as follows "As
a result of unemployment and lowered
income, sickness has increased 0
mously; from 1929 to 1888, visits Of
patients to clinics in hospitals increased
90 per cent, free care in hospitals 10
per cent, home visits OF city and coun-
try physicians 1886 per cent.
Living standards built up since the
beginning of the century have been
swept away, and millions are living in
worse conditions than those of half a
century ago"
American housing conditions are
summarized from a United States de-
partment Of Commerce study. "Of
$4,000 houses and apartments covered"
says the A. +. Of L. survey, "63 per
cent need repairs and 3 per cent are
unfit for habitation. The number OF
new residential buildings constructed
since 1929 is scarcely one-third the nor
NAL amount, Of 147,368 families living
in these homes, s per cent had doubled
up and 20 per cent we're living in
crowded conditions. OF the 1903
homes in these cities, II per cent had
no running water, Is per cent no light
electric or gas), p per cent no plumb
ing, 81 per cent no bath. To make
up this deficit would make jobs for
more than a million unemployed"
Montana labor news., 1934-06-21
QUINN HAS STOOD THE TEST
Maintained Wage Schedule on Road Work; Put
Money Into Labor Instead of Big
Contractors Profits.

Hugh Quinn, present County Sur
veyor and candidate for reelection is
one of the men in the County Court
house whose loyalty to Labor has been
put to the test time after time. In the
years that he has held the office he
has always been faithful to the inter
ests of the common worker.
To the Miners Union this review OF
Ouinn's record might be of special in
terest for it was with Quinn's coop
Grafton that organized labor was able
to keep the Miners pay from being
cut to $3.50 per day, some three years
ago, long before there was an active
Miners Union. AT that time the Ana
conda Company, no doubt wanted a
logical excuse for drastically reducing
the Miners then low wage. A tax
payers organization was formed
through the instigation of the
Chamber of Commerce and the
County Surveyors Office was the cen
ter of attack. He was asked to reduce
the wages Of men working on County
Road work. This he refused to do.
They then asked that the County Re-
lief Board be allowed to do all the hir-
ing for Road work and since Stivers
and Mcmahon were at the head OF
this Board it meant Anaconda Control
of the hiring Of these men. This
Quinn also refused to do. With yelled
threats the Anaconda Company hire
lings left his office and at the next
election put forth every effort to de-
feat him at the Polls. But Labor
stood united and Quinn was elected
When the wages of Common Laborers
were reduced to $500 per day in Butte
an attempt was again made to get
Quinn to reduce his wage rate to that
level. Quinn has refused to do this
and even today, the wage scale for
common labor on County Road work
is $500 per day. Had Quinn wavered
under their threats and reduced wages
in his department to a lower level the
opening wedge would have been driven
in and the wage in Silver Bow County
would have been $3.50 for an eight
hour day for common labor and for
the miner. Labor should never forget
this firm stand taken by the County
Surveyor.
Quinn again helped the worker by
doing his road work by day labor
rather than letting it out by contract
He took this stand because Of the
fact that the contractors were import
ing cheap labor from other sections OF
the state and even from outside the
Montana labor news., 1934-06-21

state. By hiring labor by the day for
this work he was sure that only men
from Silver Bow County were work.
ing on Silver Bow County Roads. II
also meant that the profits that would
have gone to the contractor could be
used to employ more men and allow
men to do the work usually done by
the Contractors labor displacing ma
chinery. The roads built by Quinn
with this method are the equal Of any
in the state and cost little if no more
than they would have cost had they
been let out to a contractor. But
most Of all they represent the employ
ment Of hundreds OF men from Silver
Bow County who would never have
been employed had this work been let
out to private contractors. For this
action in relieving to some extent the
unemployment in Silver Bow County.
Quinn was bitterly attacked by the
Montana Standard when he sought
reelection. Quinn has stood the test
he has withstood pressure, threats and
conjolings. He has used his office tc
relieve unemployment. He is again
seeking reelection and he is asking
his friends in the Labor movement to
support him. After the stand he has
taken he can expect no other support
and no one knows it better thar
Quinn. The only way he can be
elected is for Labor to rally to him as
it did two years ago.
The cry has been raised that Quinr
has served two terms. What of iii
What if he has served twenty term.
so long as he stands by those who
must toll for a living. As long as
man is your friend you should keer
him in the office in which he hal
served you. Why change to an un.
tried man? Why take a chance fol-
two years in learning whether or no
a mar is loyal to you? That has beer
labor's weakness in this county. L
has changed men every two year.
whether or not the men were loyal tt
the interests Of labor. Too often tn,
successor of the Loyal Man proved t.
be any enemy OF labor, being rich il
promises during the campaign perioC
but b~ertaying labor as soon as pres.
sure was brought to bear upon him
Let labor in Silver Bow County forge.
all its customs and traditions in poll
tics and remember only this slogan
ELECT YOUR FRIENDS AND DE.
FEAT YOUR ENEMIES AMI
KEEP INOFFICE MEN WHO
HAVE PROVEN FRIENDLY TIC
YOU.
Montana labor news., 1934-06-21
Steel Strike DeadIine
Is Getting Closer

CHICAGO (FP) -Searchlights or
steel plant walls, rolls of barbed wire
company gunner patroiling openly
with revolvers while shifts are at work
stocking Of cots and provisional
these are material evidence that the
Chicago-Ga section Of Americas
leading anti-union industry is prepared
to fight organization to the limit
Other means are also available to the
steel barons.
The Illinois Steel Co., and the Re
public Steel Corporation have permit
ted petitions to circulate in the plants
for workers to sign stating that they
are against a strike. In the Illinois
Steel mechanical department the vote
against a strike was announced as
79l to IS. Unionists also sign to keep
their jobs, organizers say, but that
won't stop them from walking out
when the union says the word.
#+4
When union leaflets were distributed
in the Republic plant, the company
police grabbed two men and beat them
up. The night shift rallied to the de-
Tense of their fellow unionists and beat
up the private cops and walked out
Over 90 skilled men downed their
tools and did not return until the
management promised to remove the
offending policemen and to take back
all who had quit.
The mills are rushing work on or
ders, partly because Of strike fear
among their customers, partly because
it is generally expected that steel
prices will go up July /, strike or nc
strike. The employment figures should
rise above the 431 1896 reported for the
nations steel plants in April and pay
rolls should also exceed the $45,471, SIS
of that month.
Denied by the sheriff's office in
Chicago the report is nevertheless
widely believed that the steel com
panies approached Sheriff Meyering OF
Cook county with a cash offer to him
personally to deputize their gunner in
case Of a strike. He was to get s.
per day per head from the steel inter-
ests, with a minimum OF 700 deputies
and at least four months, according to
the most commo version.
The International Ladies Garment
Workers union two-week convention
in Chicago adjourned without acting
on the request Of the Amalgamated
association of Iron, Steel and Tin
Workers for a reputation of General
Johnson attack on the steel union in
his radio-transmitted address to the
garment workers Friday night. One
story is that the steel unions telegram
OF protest was received. But
Federated Press was told Saturday af-
ernoon that action would be taken in
an hour or so. Soon after the garment
workers convention adjourned.
Montana labor news., 1934-06-21
Attempt to Get Wier.

In the second place this propaganda
regarding violence is being circulated
to put Larry Wier on the spot. For
the first time in many years there is
a sheriff in Silver Bow County that
refuses to do the dirty work OF the
Anaconda Company. The Company
no doubt longs for another Angus
Mcleod in the office and it is de-
termined to put another such sheriff
in office. Wier isn't a Sheriff that is
hiring gunner for the Company, he
refused to deputize their gunner and
his sympathies are with the workers.
At the Gale trial, the great Dan Kel-
ley tried to put both Wier and Free
bourne on the Spot. He could find
nothing to pin on them to show that
they ever violated the trust of their
offices. The only thing he did prove
was that neither we're owned or con-
trolled by the Anaconda Company.
Since neither were guilty Of any mis-
use of office, a desperate attempt is
now being made to discredit the sher-
ifs office through the daily press.
Neither Wier nor his deputies have
ever refused to perform their duties
but they have refused to arrest pickets
when 10 charges and evidence were
filed to warrant such arrest.
1t is also interesting to note that
now the Standard and Post seem to
realize that a strike is in progress and
the pages Of the press are being used
to fan a flame of violence.
Montana labor news., 1934-06-21
Oil Workers Vote for
Union.

WASHINGTON. II (FP) ~ Three
groups of oil workers were certified
June II by the Petroleum Labor Pol
icy Board as having voted for union
representations.
At the Louisiana Oil & Refinery Co.,
Shreveport, La, 213 out Of a total of
1874 employees voted to choose as their
representatives Local Union 245 of the
international Association OF Oil Field,
Gas Well & Refinery Workers Of Am
erica, according to the board.
Workers of the Empire Oil & Re
fining Co. also voted. At Okmulgee,
Okla, the board certifies that II out OF
a total of 90 eligible refinery work
ers have chosen Local 2l2 Of the
union as their representative. At Pom
ca City, Okla, ga out Of a total Of
284 workers choose Local 231.
Montana labor news., 1934-06-21
Want A. F. L. Charter
For Utility Workers

BOSTON (FP) With visitors
present from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
and Sweetland, Pa, delegates to the
New England Council Of Public Utility
Workers voted to send a delegation to
the next convention Of the American
Federation of Labor to secure an in
ternational union charter for gas, light
and power workers. If the request is
refused, the question Of Withdrawing
from the federation and establishing
an independent nationwide organiza-
ton will be considered
The method Of organization pursued
by the New England council was ex-
planned to the visitors and it was sug-
gested hat they return to their re-
spective cities and establish similar
councils.
Montana labor news., 1934-06-21
ATTEMPT TO PUT WIER ON SPOT;
REPORTS NOT GROUNDED UPON FACT

The reports of violence at the Bel
mont and Stewart Mines as report
ed in the daily press are political pro-
poganda circulated to put Sheriff Weir
and his office on the spot.
On Tuesday Night, after reading OF
the violence at the Belmont the Edi-
tor made a trip to investigate. He
found Police Officers stopping traffic
in front OF the mine. In talking to
the officers in charge it was learned
that women and children we're creating
the racket in front Of the mine and MOI
the pickets. The Editor Of the Labor
News was assured that the pickets
themselves had been orderly. The pol
ice made no effort to disband the pick
cts in front of the mine due to their
orderliness. Further conversation with
those about the mine disclosed the fact
that some OF the pickets had argued
with he women and others to be quiet
but they would not listen. No doubt
it was a big lark, especially to the kids,
and they weren't going to be stopped.
There was no evidence to show that
the Pickets were responsible for the
disturbance and there was no reason
why the Sheriff or Police should ar
rest any Of the pickets.
In an investigation OF the Stewart
case where pickets were aecrsed Of
stealing timber and the Sheriffs Of
flee was accused Of failing to arrest
the offending pickets it was learned
that one Of the timber wa stolen by
any one on the picket line. The theft
was committed by boys in the neigh
borhood and no pickets were near the
place where the timber was thrown
over the fence. Again there was no
evidence presented to show why a sh-
eriff should arrest a picket on charges
Of theft.
This propaganda shows that the Ana
conda Company is trying to do two
things. In the first place it wants to
see some form Of actual violence take
place. The orderliness of the pickets
does not give them the excuse to set
tie the strike via the tear gas and
bullet route. Butte Miners have had
too much experience with the methods
used by the Stivers gunner to throw
themselves open to a barrage of bull
lets and tear gas. The Miners and
other strikers know the arsenal Stiv-
ers has at hand. They know that the
Anaconda Company would welcome
violence at this time. For this reason
there has been little done to give the
Anaconda Company even an excuse to
tear loose with its gunner. This no
doubt has reused the Company to fury
and the propaganda spread in their
daily press is put there to draw large,
irresponsible crowds to the picket lines
with the hopes that something will
start.
Montana labor news., 1934-06-21

BRIDGEPORT, Conn-(FP)-Dri-
vers of the Hegeman Transfer Co. Of
Bridgeport are out on their second
strike within a month. They demand
the wages paid by all the other truck
ing firms in Connecticut instead Of the
code minimum Of 40c an hour which
is being paid by Hegeman. When they
settled their last strike, Hegeman a
greed to increase the rate to 55c and
the drivers returned to work. But
when their pay envelopes came around,
the increase was not there. Hageman
was indignant when the men walked
out a second time.
Montana labor news., 1934-06-21
INDEPENDENTS,
NOTICE.!
MEETING
HALL
MONDAY, JUNE rs, 8 P. M.
Charge As Miner Pickets
With Rioting.

ELLENSBURG, WASH. - (FP)-
Forty-five miner pickets, including
ome and children, are to go on trial
the end Of June on riot charges arising
out Of the Roslyn-Cle Elum strike. The
strike was led by the Western Miners
Union, an independent organization.
Company gunner and state police
broke up the picket lines with clubs,
guns and gas.
Montana labor news., 1934-06-21
Drop Two Charges
Against Farmers

SISSETTON, S. D.-(FP)-Two of
the four charges against % farmers
who helped resist an eviction last
spring were dropped when trial opened
June II. The remaining charges are
rioting. The courthouse was crowded
to capacity as friends OF the defend
ants rallied to see that justice will be
done, The trial is regarded as a test
case between the mortgage bankers
and the United Farmers league.