Montana labor news., 1934-06-21
Strike Committee Asks Government
to Confiscate Mines; Urges Federal Funds
for Mine Operation Rather Than Relief
Ask That Profits Go Into Wages
Rather Than Fat Salaries for
Just a Few.

At a meeting held by the strike COM
mittee last week a resolution was
adopted and sent to President Roose-
welt asking that the government c.
fiscate the Butte mines and opei n,
them on a non-profit basis
idea Of confiscating not only the Butte
mines but other industries is n that
will confront the Federal Government
in the near future. If the Presidents
ideal OF a regulated industry fails con-
fiscation will be the only alternative.
The wave of desperate strikes sweep
ing the country is a sigh of the failure
of the NRA to regulate industry in
such a way that workers will be in
sured a decent wage and unemploy-
ment be reduced. The resolution
adopted by the committee reads as
follows:
Whereas, the Anaconda Copper
Mining Co. did refuse to treat with its
employees on the demands presented
by them April 9, 1884;
And Whereas, since the calling OF
the general strike of all its employees
in Butte, Anaconda and Great Falls
the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. has
resfused to consider the demands OF
its employees or to show any indica-
ton of considering said demands;
Therefore, be it resolved by The
General Strike Committee, represent
ing all crafts and unions involved in
said general strike, that we call upon
Franklin d. Roosevelt, executive head
Of the Federal Government of these
United States, to confiscate all the
Montana properties of the said Ana
conda Copper Mining Co. and operate
the same for the benefit Of the people
of these United States; guaranteeing
to the workers a six-hour day, a
thirty-hour work week, good working
conditions and an American standard
OF living, thereby taking these workers
off the relief rolls, where they are
merely wards Of the government, and
placing them on a self-respecting, self
supporting basis,the only basis of civil
and economic liberty
Thereby guaranteeing to the Gov
eminent and people of these United
States an adequate supply Of copper
and zinc so necessary to the National
Defense and making the Government
and people independent of profiteer-
ing capitalists as a source OF supply for
this absolutely necessary material in
such a vital National emergency as
war.
In urging this upon the President,
we wish to point out that this would
not be a difficult problem as the Mon
tana properties of this company are,
taken together, an independent pro-
ducing and fabricating unit with re-
fined copper, refined zinc, sheet cop
per and copper wire and cable IS the
final finished products OF its plants.
We further point out that with the
installation of a few comparatively in
expensive units, the Great Falls plant
could be made a producer and fabrica-
tor of brass, with a plentiful supply of
DOli SOPPOi anu IIhS NtiN nCNNoodly
raw materials for such products) in
the Butte mihes of this company.
We further urge that such confisca-
ton would return to the people,
through their government, a valuable
naturalp resource, which by and of
right belongs to them.
Also that it would result in a vast
saving of expense to both Federal and
State Governments by removing from
the relief rolls at least $4,000 workers
and their dependents in the state Of
Montana.
Finally, we urge consideration of this
fact: That it is only by the removal
Of the profit motive from production
that we can have unemployment of all
idle workers and an equitable and fair
distribution Of the products of their
labor.
In view of this fact we see no rea-
sonable basis for a denial of this most
reasonable demand.
NORMAN LIE FEVER.
Adopted June IL, 1884.