Montana labor news., 1935-07-11
Liberal Political League
Meets in Deer Lodge
Continued from Page y

political action called by the Liberal
Political League at Deer Lodge Friday
and Saturday, June 28-29.
Attending the conference were rep
resentatives Of the American Fedora
ton Of Labor, independent unions such
as the Butte Miners Union and the
Mine and Smeltermen's union of Ana
conda, delegates from the Farmers I'M
ion, progressive senators and repres-
entatives from both parties, delegates
representing the w. P. u. and the F.
E. r. A. OF Missoula, business men and
professional men OF liberal political
leanings.
Two committees were named to han
die the drawing up, printing and cir
c~ulation of initiative petitions, one pro-
viding for a tax Of three cents per
1000 cubic feet of gas produced in
the state and another for a two mill
per kilowatt hour tax on electric ener-
gy produced in Montana.
Both of these measures have been
repeatedly advocated by progressives
in the state legislature, have won par
tial victories and finally been defeated
by corrupt practices of the Power Trust
political racketeers.
In carrying this battle direct to the
people Of the state, the liberal political
groups at the conference believe that
their enactment into law is assured.
During the two day session approx
mately 100 delegates and visitors at
tended the sessions. A close spirit
of cooperation prevailed during all Of
the meetings. Both labor and farmer,
revealed a determination to bury sec.
tional and personal differences for The
common good of the state.
As a result of this spirit a minimum
program of legislation was adpoted re.
presenting the wishes of the group.
present. This is to be revised wher
the Farmers Union holds its big meet
ing in Lewistown in October when
second conference will be called anc
more definite and concrete plans will
be developed for electing progressiv,
senators and representatives in al
counties and for centering on a def
mite legislative program.
The meetings were presided over b,
Bernard Garrison, senator from Madi
son county and a director of the Far
mers' Union. Ed. O'Byrne OF Butt
was elected permanent secretary an,
= Sam Spiegel of Butte, his assistant.
The conference went on record a
favoring a six-hour day for industry, 70
minimum wages for women worker.
for operation of the workman's com
pensation act entirely under the state
for classification OF occupational dis
eases under the compensation act, 70
state and public ownership Of publ
utilities, and many other measure
such as the utility program advocate
J by progressives in the last legislature.
A strong recommendation for a tea
cher's pension act was endorsed by tn
r delegates. 1t is proposed to obtai
/, revenues for this fund from a percen
tage TT perhaps ten - of the tax o
electric energy, The convention ais
went on record as favoring the exemp
i, ton Of all homesteads up to $500 valu
from all real and school taxes. TIL
: deficiency thus created would be re
f plenished by the natural gas tax an
e the electric energy tax,
It was the sentiment of the con
. ference that the two proposed initia
t tive tax measures would replenish tn
e school funds for real estate tax eS
e emptions.
Two committees were named to pus
! the initiative measures. There was on
headed by Kerr Beadle to draw up til
t initiatives and one headed by J. "
+. Nelson to print and circulate the pet
a tons. Beadle has aiding him Harr
e F%reebourn Of Butte and Al Good c
the Farmers Union and representative
: of organized labor.
Nelson's committee includes Speak
er Pilgeram, ]. B, Love of Glendiv,
s. II. r. Ormsbee Of Mineral County, Maj
garet Patterson Of Butte, M. J. MI.
holland, R. A. Emmons and others.
All labor organizations, farmers OF
CARNATIONS and groups supporting tn
measures will be asked to circulate tn
petitions.
The conference went on record a
opposing the referendum being circu
lated against the state insurance Law
Senator Garrison was named head G
a committee to work against the ref
erendum.
While all delegates at the confer
ence were active in the d~eliberation
and expressions Of policy, organize
. labor's representatives generally eX
! planned that they were to take a re
. port back to their various locals wher
. final decision as to cooperation wit
. the program rests.
/ Indications are that the Octobe
! meeting in Lewistown will be bigges
and most important conference of pre-
I gressives ever scheduled in Montana.
An Oklahoma oil boss says that h
\ won't give a Job to ANYBODY who's eve