Montana labor news., 1935-08-22
Commissioner Makes
A Splendid Record

In an exclusive interview with Mr.
Ed O'Byrne for the Montana Labor
News, Mr.. O'Byrne stated his plans
for the correction OF many OF the Ia
Dor abuses and violations OF the la
Dor laws that have existed in the State
of Montana for a great many years
past. He gave a history Of the De
partment under which he is now func-
tioning.
He said that during the past two
years the division Of labor and publ
city has been practically non-existent
because of the fact that the Legisla-
ture failed to make any appropriation
during the session of 1888 for this divi-
sion. The legislature was prompted to
take this action because since 1921
nearly all appropriations for this divi-
sion have been used almost exclusively
for advertising and publicity purposes
with very little being used for labor
purposes or the enforcement of the Ia
Dor laws that are on the statute books
of the state which it is their duty tc
enforce and with which this Depart
ment is charged.
The report made by Mr., Swendle-
hurst when he was Commissioner Of
Labor during the war years and which
are on file in the office of the Depart
ment of Agriculture, Labor, and In
dustry in Helena gives a picture Of
what this Department has attempted
in, the past years, prior to the con-
solicitation of these several depart
ments. These reports by Mr.. Swendle-
hurst are largely statistical and histor-
ical. They show in more or less de-
tail what led up to different labor dis
putes and strikes in the industrial cen
tiers of the state. They tell of the dur
alton of these strikes, of the attitude
of employees and employers, Of the
number Of employees involved in these
strikes, and in some cases, of the
amount of money lost by both sides tic
the controversy and in a general way
gives a more or less real picture OF
what actually happened during these
periods of industrial strife. What has
been difficult to find in these exports
any sincere attempt by the Labor Com
missioner's office to enforce or make
operative the labor laws of the State
The present labor Commissioner de-
clares that it be his purpose to enforce
or make operative all of the laws per
tanning to hours of labor and conditions
Of labor that are in the statute books
of the state of Montana. In order to do
this it is necessary to have the coopera-
ton of organized labor. MIR. O'Byrne
feels and the Montana Labor News ag-
ress with him that this was demonstrat-
ed during his recent trip to Great Falls,
Havre and the Fort Peck area. It was
Through the cooperation that he re-
ceived from the Central Labor Coun-
ellis, the individual unions and their re-
personalities, in his work, to compel
compliance with the eight hour law
that, he was able to accomplish as much
as he did.
In giving a story Of his investiga-
tions, Mr.. O'Byrne said that while in
Great Falls he attended a meeting of
the Smeltermen's Union. This union
promised 100 per cent cooperation. The
clerks union was having some difficulty
in enforcing some of its store rules.
These rules are also covered by state
laws. He contacted these different
stores accompanied by Mr. Gordon
Collwel, business agent of the Clerks
Union, and in every instance received
assurance from the managers or prop
rietors of these stores that they would
comply with the laws. He also ac-
companied Homer Whitmore, secre-
tary of the Cascade Trades and La
Dor Council, to several service stations
and found violations of the eight hour
law. These have not been as yet clear
ed up, but he is negotiating with all
of the large oil companies of the state
seeking their cooperation in having the
eight hour law and other laws compli-
ed with in service stations. With Mr..
Lefebre he visited some of the baker
les.
In Havre he contacted Frank Gum,
business agent Of the Bartenders IN
ion and got considerable information
about local labor conditions. Mr.. Gum
informed him that the store clerks in
Havre are anxious for organization and
are just hiding their time until some
one goes in there to start a clerks
union. While there, O'Byrne visited H.
Earl Clack, manager of the Clack Oil
Company. This company has service
stations scattered throughout the mort
hern and eastern part Of the state and
as far east as North Dakota. Mr..
Clack agreed to comply with the law
in every respect just as soon as the
larger oil companies had promised to
do so. 0Byrne informed Clack that
regardless Of what the other oil COM
panies might do that he was responsible
for any violations Of the eight hour law
in the Clack Service Station organiza-
ton and requested him to make i'm