Montana labor news., 1935-04-04


tory of the Recent Legislative
Session.
The Delegates to the Trades and
Labor Council, at Tuesday nights
meeting, were treated to one of the
most brilliant and thrilling ~discourses
heard here in a decade by Jimmie Ora
ham, President of the Montana Fed
Grafton of Labor. Mr.. Graham de-
scribed what has been done by the
Federation in assisting the beet work
ers OF Billings in their strike against
the Great Western Sugar Company, in
opposing the attempted reduction of
wages for common laborers at Deer
Lodge, and in the creation of new or
CARNATIONS in various communities Of
the state. Labor Unions are growing.
Federation of Labor is being strength
ened by new affiliations. Mr.. Graham
stated that the Montana Federation
of Labor followed the mandates of
the convention Of the Federation
which was held at Helena last August
in its Legislative program. He said
that the Federation of Labor is the
parent body. 1t is the recognized
agency through which the unions and
central councils should operate in their
attempt to acquire new liberal legisla-
ton.
Graham Is Experienced.
The Federation President stated that
he had attended thirteen sessions Of
the Montana Legislature, the first one
being in 1908, and through this vast
experience, he had learned how to pre-
sent measures that would stand up I'M
der the attacks of the corporations
seeking to challenge their constitu-
tionality. He had learned the intrigues
and tactics of the corporations and
the corporation lobbyists. One OF the
most important measures sponsored
and supported by the Montana Fede-
ration of Labor was the measure per-
hitting the Legislature to establish the
number of hours that would constitute
a days work. This Measure provides
for an amendment to the Montana
Constitution, and will be indicated on
the ballots in the next general election.
Should the people adopt, by their vote,
this amendment to the constitution the
Legislature in the future, will have
power to reduce the hours Of Labor
constituting a days work to any point
below eight hours. Several measures
we're introduced calling for a six-hour
day at the recent Legislature but the
amendment supported by the Fedora
ton of Labor far surpasses any of the
measures submitted providing for a
specific six-hour day. President Ora
ham stated that he went before the
Senate and stated that House Bill No.
IA (the n just referred toy must pass.
He said he told the Senator that Labor
wanted this bill and unless it was
passed by the Senate he would see
that labor unions throughout the state
of Montana defeated any Senator who
voted against it. It passed both
Houses and was signed by the Cover
nor. Mr.. Graham said that the six
hour law for miners that was intro
duced in the Legislature would have
been declared unconstitutional. He re-
cited numerous court decisions to prove
his point.
In speaking concerning the Depart
ment of Labor of the State Govern
ment Mr. Graham said that the Depart
ment of Agriculture, Labor and Indus
try had been established at the Con-
stitutional convention of 1889, and that
in order to create a separate Labor
Department, it would be necessary to
have an amendment to the Constitu-
ton. Some Of the labor unions wanted
this Department created. At the ses-
sion of the Legislature Of 1888 no ap-
preparation was made to carry on the
work of the Labor Bureau of this De-
partment. Much agitation developed
in the recent session for an appropria-
ton for this Bureau and the appoint
ing of a Labor Commissioner. Ten
thousand dollars was set aside for this
work.
Graham Very Able.
More and more the unions are be-
coming cognizant of the depth and
breath of Mr.. Graham's learning. He
has a prodigious memory. This re-
markable trait permits him to recall
incidents, names, and the minutest de-
tails of events that transpired twenty
or thirty years ago. His extensive
knowledge Of everything that has oc-
Cured not only in Montana but
throughout the country in relation to
Labor is phenomenal.
Measures Passed by the Federation
of Labor.
Bills were introduced in the House to
repeal the Criminal S%ynicalist Law
and to prohibit judges issuing i%njunc-
tons in labor disputes. Both bills
were defeated. Mr.. Graham stated that
the Synicalist Law is a dead letter in
Montana. There has been no case in
the courts Of Montana for violation of
this law for fourteen years.
Referring to the bill to prohibit in
functions during strikes, he stated,
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