Montana labor news., 1935-11-14
Reid Robinson Covers
Federation Convention

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Federation of Labor at Atlantic City,
that held the undivided attention of a
large meeting of the Trades and Labor
Council for more than an hour. In
stead Of the usual s%tereoytped, unin-
teresting and abbreviated account of
each days technical proceedings, Rob
nson gave a great many personal i'm
.pressions which he received at this
famous gathering. Whether one feels
that the American Federation Of Labor
and its officialdom and tactics are the
best or not, the side lights, as pre-
scented by the president of the Miners
Union, did convey the impression that
labor's head organization is autocratic
and aristocratic in its behavior. Rob
%inson, prior to his trip, was working on
the twenty-eigh hundred level Of the
Badger mine. He said that upon the
arrival in the eastern metropolis, he
went to the Ambassador Hotel, which
was designated as the gathering place
of the unionists. He was told that
owing TO the reduced rates for union
delegates, that the charge per night
Tor the hotel room would be only $500.
Robinson said Imagine me, working
in the twenty-eight hundred level pay
ing $500 for a room" In describing a
little more in detail about the general
atmosphere OF the party, Robinson
commented upon the portly and dis
tinguished looking gentlemen who we're
gathered around the hotel. His at
tention was directed to these gentle
men, many OF whom were literally
supplied with jewelry and especially
diamonds. and adorned in sleekly
tailored garments. He was surprised,
he stated to the delegates, to find these
same gentlemen the next day seated as
delegates to the convention.
The ideas that some of the delegates
received from the report, confirmed
their former impressions that the CON
duct OF the meetings of the American
Federation Of Labor and the general
trend OF its policies is more %autocratic
than the administration Of the United
States Government, which they at times
pretend to fight. The International
Union Of Mine, Mill and Smeltermen,
which Robinson represented, along
with other delegates, made itself heard,
particularly, over the question of In
dustrial Unionism. Robinson should
consider himself fortunate in being
given the privilege Of attending a con
vention of the American Federation of
Labor. So few members Of organized
labor in the West have been able to
see this great institution at work.
Robinson is a young fellow, full Of en-
thusiasm and imbued with liberal
ideas. Undoubtedly the conservative
aspects of the convention was quite a
shock to him. One couldn't help pom
dering, after listening to his report,
whether the American Federation of
Labor could not be a more powerful
instruments in the hands of the work
ers OF this country than it is, or
whether, under the conservative lead
ership of its present officers, it is do
ing all that is humanity possible to
change the complexion Of modern So
ciety. 1t must be borne in mind that
in summing up the thoughts and emo
tons Of the people Of the United
States that that average will show a
very conservative trend if not a reac-
tinary me-. 1t is men like Robinson
and the Miners Union and other
groups of liberals within the union
movement that keep pushing the re-
luctant and reactionary elements of the
American Federation of Labor EDWARDS
to more progressive action.
A letter was received from the Terra
Haute Central Labor Council Of In
diana asking the assistance OF the
Trades and Labor Council here to stop
the sale of the products of the Colum-
bian Enameling and Stamping Com
pany. The letter was turned over to
the union label committee. This COM
mittee will visit the merchants and as
certain how much Of these products are
beingA handled in Butte and attempt to
stop the sale Of them, if possible.
Quite a discussion arose during the
latter part of the meeting over the oil
companies. One OF the delegates re-
marked that the oil companies are the
hardest group Of companies in Silver
Bow County to deal with. He ex-
planned the system under which the gas
filling stations operate and made a
comparison OF the operations OF these
stations to the contract system prevail
ing in the mines. These gas station
employees or l%easee's are not protected,
however, in the matter Of hours by the
state law as are many other workers.
Under the contract and lease system
which controls the functioning Of these
little business, the leases Of the sta
tons are compelled to perform long
hours OF labor, and in many instances,
receive pitifully small wages. The dele
gates were enlightened as to the
amount of profit allowed these atten-
dants by the oil companies on a gallon
Of gas. Some Of the oil companies
came in for severe condemnation, not
only in their efforts to exploit the
leases of the oil stations, but in their
efforts also to break down other union
rules. More on this subject will be
forthcoming in the Trades and Labor
Council in subsequent meetings.