Montana labor news., 1935-09-19

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made TO substantiate the actions of the
union included the advocacy, by this
concern, of fascism in the United
States, the attempt to precipitate war
and to glorify war and also its general
tendency against organized labor. The
Hearst Publishing Company, according
to the report, also produces what IS
known as the Metrotone News, fire.
quently shown in the motion picture
play house. The matter was referred
to the Grievance Committee for inves-
tigation.
= 4 =
Representation from the Trades and
Labor Council was requested to be
present at the Townsend meeting at the
High School. This meeting was held
Tuesday the 18th, the same night as
the Council was in session. The dele
gates seemed to be in a quandry as to
what to do. The sentiment was to send
a committee to the meeting and have
the committee seated on the platform.
The communication asked that the
Trades and Labor Council adjourn and
attend en- masse. From the sentiment
expressed by individual delegates and
from previous action of the Trades and
Labor Council, organized labor has
shown that it is much interested in the
Townsend Plan. An expression Of
some of the feelings OF the delegates
has been printed in this paper before
to the effect that while it is an altruas-
tic movement, it nevertheless serves to
perpetuate the capitalist system. From
this angle, while the labor movement
is interested in it, they are not solidly
behind it. Quite a number Of indi-
vidual members favor the plan. No
movement is so sympathetic to the des-
titute as the unions and none would go
down the line further for these people.
Some regrets were expressed after the
meeting that the Trades and Labor
Council had not complied with either Of
the requests. However, much business
OF importance was pending and the
delegates hesitated to absent them
selves from the hall. Many Of the dele
gates desired to hear Congressman
Monaghan in his address before the
Townsend meeting. and to possibly
welcome him back to his home city.
Reverend Anderson, the director Of the
movement here, also announced that
Harry F~reebourn would talk. It had
already been announced that Mr.. Ur-
line, the official representative, would
speak at the meeting. These three men
presented an attractive reason why the
members desired to 60. 1t was unfor-
%tunate, indeed, that the parent organi-
cation OF the unions of Butte should
have been in session at the same time
as the Townsend meeting was being
held.
= T. +
Under good and welfare OF the
Trades Council, the topic of the high
cost OF living came up for discussion.
The Blacksmiths' Union had raised
this question at their meeting. The
matter of the high cost OF living has de-
veloped into a very serious situation.
The efforts Of the national Democratic
Administration to raise the price of
commodities apparently has exceeded
all expectations, but the increase in
wages which should accompany this in
creased cost has not m~aterialized. Only
one result can emanate from a condi-
ton of this character and that is that
there will be serious strikes and riots
within the next year unless adjust
ment takes place between living costs
and wages. The result of this trouble
are already being heard, notably the
strikes of the housekeepers in the
eastern part of the country and also
action by numerous unions in placing
boycotts upon certain products until
prices are reduced. Opinion held by
some Of the delegates was that Butte
was suffering from exploitation in the
matter Of food and other prices.
Chairman Erler requested that investi-
cation be made of this subject and that
a report be issued to the delegates in
the near future. 1t is hoped in this
report that an exhaustive analysis will
be shown Of the comparative costs in
regards to Butte and other cities.
Chairman Duncan of the Educational
Committee reported that the program
was going ahead in regards to the edu-
c%ational classes, including welding,
Diesel engineering, machine shop prac-
tice, mechanical drawing and some
electrical subjects. From his report,
much interest is being shown in the
Diesel engineering course. He prom
ised that when the school opened that
two models OF Diesel engines will be at
hand and that they will be assembled
and dissembled. Last year the course
consisted of purely theoretical discus
sion. Enthusiasm also centers around
the welding course. Mr.. Duncan stated
that in view of the expenses attached
in the establishment of these two
courses, that a small tuition would be
charged the students. The school
board and the city superintendent Of
schools, Mr.. Gold, is cooperating in
getting these classes started.
4 4 4
Paul Peterson, a young progressive
has been elected head of the Utah
State Federation of Labor.
q 4
Reid Robinson has been elected as
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