The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-09-27

ls concerned. Reports from n NORTH
west and Canada about the ravages Of
black rust on the wheat crop are alarm
ing. Some of the AAA experts are
fearful that wheat may touch $1.50.S
This would be fine for farmers not at
fected by rust but would bring the
same kind of clamor from housewives.
So a sharp soft pedaling of the wheat
reduction program, accompanied by a
reduction in the processing tax on
wheat, Is in order.
In fact 1t may be taken for granted
that regardless Of all past theories, the
administration will do its best to have
food prices down by next summer.
To Make Concessions s
President Roosevelt will make con-
cessions in the present labor val on
relief projects. The concession will
not be to pay union scale wages on
work relief projects. The Presidents
jaw is firmly set on this. It will be to
remove present restrictions which limit
jobs to people now on relief.
Very little has been heard from
union labor sources on this last phase,
but 1t has been vitality important to the
unions. Not only to the rank and file,
who need work in many instances,
though they may have had sufficient
pride and sufficient savings to stay off
relief, but to the leaders. For men
out Of work are not apt to be regular
in paying their dues, and thus the
union treasures get hurt. Especially
as union leaders have been forcing in
the check-off system wherever possible
for years now, with the result that
union workers, in more than a majority
of cases, are not used to paying dues
personally. They are educated up to
having their dues deducted from their
pay envelopes. Hence, no pay enve-
lopes, no dues.
Work relief jobs. under the original
formula to which the union leaders
object so strongly, were to be given
only to persons on relief rolls last
May. The job could not be obtained
unless the United States employment
service so certified.
In the near future orders will 60 out
from Washington that the employment
service must certify union men who
need jobs, whether they were on relief
last May or not.
This will meet a very important
point in the present controversy be-
tween the government and union labor,
but it will by no means leave a good
taste in the mouths of the union men.
May Cause Feeling
The situation makes for artificial
discriminations-likely to raise bitter
feeling. For example. two groups Of
bricklayers may be working across the
street from each other. One group will
be on a public works project-one ap-
proved by Ickes under the old "spend
our way out Of the depression" theory.
Those men will be drawing the prevail
ing wage. The other group will be
working under a work relief project
approved by Harry Hopkins. They
will be drawing relief wages. Under
the Hopkins schedules the highest rate
permitted at present is $94 a month !!
Obviously every man drawing the
lower wage will be sore for they will
be union men in each case; the admin
~istration may be fairly brave at times
but it is not going to employ many
non-union bricklayers in big city pro-
jects. The man drawing the lower
wage will have a crouch against the
government to start with.
But John Taxpayer also enters the
situation. He is being taxed for re-
lief. and knows 1t. The average middle
class taxpayer has more or less of a
fixed opinion that union wages in the
building trades are too high. He re-
sents the day wage rates for carpen-
tiers. bricklayers, plasterers and plumb
ers, though he thinks it fine that Henry
Ford has raised minimum wages in his
plant to Sc a day.
The answer to this prejudice is that
the average automobile buyer thinks
he gets his moneys worth when he
buys a car, but thinks he gets stuck
every time he has a tidy repair bill
on the home. He also thinks the price
Of building homes is too high and
blames it on high wages for the build
ing trades.
1t is not important for the moment
whether there is any justice in this
view or moi. But there is no doubt
whatever that it Is very widely held.
Hence it is politically important.
As to Huey Long
All this talk about Huey Long is
food and drink to conservative critics
| Of the administration. There is moth.
ing they would like better than for
Huey to be an independent candidate
for President, and to run in as many
states as possible. They figure he
would not get any electoral votes. save
| ~a.ofL1,, kh1eo 80 ~so~o .lo~1 IL