Montana labor news., 1935-11-14

jOSepI JIdBndn was III lHe CITY
of BIZ .Aving been called there to
the ie Of the subjects of Fed
eral On this occasion Con-
gre Z Monaghan was urgently
imp. ID to assist the people of Vel
lowstone County in securing additional
appropriations from the Federal Gov
eminent to lessen their sufferings.
caused by inadequate assistance.
Threats were made at the time that, if
something was not done, the people
would of necessity be compelled to
break into the warehouses to get food.
Congressman Monaghan realizing that
the situation was serious Immediately
telegraphed the National Relief Adj
ministration.
He sited, in one instance, a case
wherein a family had been given $500
which was all that they were allowed
for living purposes over a period of
fifteen days. Nothing was given for
clothing or medical services.
Aubrey Williams later on sent a
telegram to Mr.. Monaghan in which
he stated that IN additional 100000
had been made available for the gen.
eral relief situation.
Another case OF inadequate federal
assistance was brought to the atten-
ton of Congressman Monaghan from
Ravalli County. In this particular
case, Mr.. Monaghan again appealed to
Harry Hopkins, the Federal Admins
traitor, stating that supplementary re-
lief was imperative for large families,
to Immediately prevent intense suffer
ing. He also stated in his c%ommunica-
ton to Mr.. Hopkins that the people in
Ravalli County were without winter
clothing and had insufficient food. In
this case also one Of the case work
ers had threatened to resign rather than
to be placed in an embarrassing po-
sition where she couldn't be in a po-
sition to aid the destitute people. The
report from Washington which was re-
ceived stated: 1--WE have given the
state OF Montana plenty of money to
take care Of the situation. II people
are not getting assistance, it is the
fault OF the Commission or those in
charge. Ny advice is to see the Gov
ernor.'
Not having all the facts OF this stu
alton, particularly in Ravalli County,
the Montana Labor News does not
want to make any rash assertions, but
if the assistance given to Ravalli
County isn't more than that given to
Butte and other counties, it wasn't the
fault of the Commission or those in
charge and it won't do any good to see
the Governor. The fault lies with the
Federal Administration.
Getting down to home, Congressman
Monaghan sent a telegram to F. M.
Marvin, representative Of the Montana
Relief Commission on November 5,
1885, in which he stated that he was
advised that the workers of Silver Bow
County were sent to work in zero
weather with inadequate clothing, and
that he had been informed that the
local relief office wa not able to is
sue additional clothing, due to lack of
funds. He also stated in the telegram
that he had been advised by Aubrey
Williams that there was adequate
money for the clothing. He then de-
handed that these monies be released
in Silver Bow County and other coun-
ties. Another phase OF the relief in
which Mr.. Monaghan expressed him
self definitely to Mr.. Marvin was in
to social service. He stated in
the telegram that countless complaints
in regard to cruel treatment had been
made in Silver Bow County.
In regard to the Silver Bow County
situation Congressman Monaghan sent
another telegram to Aubrey Williams,
assistant administrator Of relief, in
which he informed Mr.. Williams that
he had wired Mr., Marvin about the
need Of the workers of Silver Bow
County for clothing.
In last weeks issue Of the Montana
Labor News an article was published in
which it stated that Senator Murray
had also interested himself in at
tempting to secure an appropriation Of
100000 for Montana. The telegram
which wa read in the Trades Council
stated that the 100000 had been made
available to Montana. As far as the
unions are able to learn only $2,500.00
OF that $100,000.00 is available to the
people Of Silver Bow County and this
is not enough. We wish to thank both
Murray and Monaghan. We are sure
that the people OF Ravalli County and
Billings also extend their gratitude to
the representatives of the people, but
we want them to keep on trying to
arouse the Government to the need OF
clothing for the workers in Montana
against the rigors OF the severe winter
weather.
On the seventh day Of November
Mr.. Monaghan received a telegram
by persons representing the
League Of United Workers Of Billings.
This dispatch stated that the people
OF Yellowstone County were in dire
need Of food, clothing, milk and medi-
cal supplies, hat the money had been
appropriated but no provision had been
made for its distribution. The Con-
Immediately wired the Ma
tional Relief Administration to solve
this puzzle.
Aside from the efforts Of Senator