The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1934-03-23
BIZ JOHN L. SPIVAK

cestry. Having no homes to defend
but plenty of hunger in their fam
lilies, they talked of Selling ware
houses, food stores, clothing stores.
At first this was accepted as just
talk, letting-off steam, but the
talk developed into plans. When
leading financial and politicallights
in Tulsa learned that only days
separated the unemployed from
Selling the town they became fran
tic and sent for Wildcat Williams.
Wildcat had been a sort of town
character since he came back from
the war. He had opened a law Of
flee and closed it. He had worked
in a refinery and finally opened
one of his own, but business con-
ditions ruined him. During these
wears he had assiduously devel-
oped the reputation of being a gun
man. He liked to pack a .S8 Smith
and Wesson, let out wild whoop
and start shooting in the air. 1t
may have been an earnest desire
to prove his Indian blood or it may
have been just too many movies.
But whatever the reason, the town
tolerated him because he hurt no
one and-one never knew what a
type like Wildcat might do if
someone crossed him while he was
engaged on his life-work of DEM
onstrating that he was a shooting
son-of-a-gun.
The leading citizens suggested
that he organize the unemployed
and keep them from Selling the
city.
With this clear, let's step into
Wildcats bullet-punctured office
and have little chat with him:
eyes, sir!" he greets US with q
broad and rather pleasant smile
"Sit right down. Make yourselves
comfortable"
You notice the brown Leather
holster stuck in his hip pocket anC
the butt sticking out.
81 understand you kept this town
from a rebellion"
Wildcat grinned.
WELL" he began modestly. %
was employed by leading citizenI
to keep down riots so / started tht
unemployed racket before some o.
the Reds got to them and caused
a lot of trouble. The leading citi
zens were pretty much worried. NJ
one will ever know how close W,
were to armed rebellion except
those of US who used to meet an'
confer on plans to keep then
. down."
"What did you get for this?"
asked.
ooh. l didn't get anv salary.
just drew what l needed. If
needed 500 or $500 I'd just asl
for it and hell! were they glad t
, give it to me! must have draw
about $4,000 in cash, I guess.
never did keep track of hiw much
, But we kept the unemployed iron
getting out of hand all right"
Since his activity in keeping
the unemployed in line" he has
been given the full time job Of
representing the international AS
ISOLATION of Oil Field, Gas Wei
and Refinery Workers of Americ
by the American Federation O
: Labor and all the munition h
needs for his .38.
81 speak for Mr.. Green" h,
! says proudly, twirling the blue pts
: toll dexterously on a forefingel
: land also for the oil field worker
and we're organizing them fast
: We got to organize them if we'r
to keep them down-keep ther
from getting out of hand and 20
ing haywire.
"You see, there's one thing abou
these oil workers. Just organizin,
them amt nothing. If you don
! give them something to fight abou
they'll get out of hand and t1r
: radical so as soon as we organic
! them we maneuver fight will
/ storekeepers or, somebody else an
: that keeps them occupied; other
: wise they'd go haywire on u.s."
Just what is your job here ?"
| "I'm organizer for the oil work
ers, sheriff and dollar-a-year
man for the CITY hall. But tn
workers are organizing themselve
and applying for charters so mos
of my job is keeping down riot
when the unemployed get hot an
bothered"
"I see," l said.
"Now don't get me wrong abou
this unemployed racket though. ,
he said quickly. "I'm for the star
and stripes. Pm patriotic, l am
- just had to organize the unem
ployed because they were about
ready to break loose and take owe
things themselvs.
"Why, some of these unempIove,