Montana labor news., 1935-01-10

Lakes. Greatest strike OF all was the
drouth, most devastating in U. S. his
tory.
3. NUMBER UNEMPLOYED at
least II million as year ended, 100000
more than 1888. Relief rolls reached
all-time high at 100000. Minimum
pay of 30 cents an hour eliminated at
R~oosevelt's order; cut to 10 cents in
south.
Unemployed organizations demon
strated November "A in "a states, ESQ.,
900 participating. Especially powerful
Illinois-20,0OO in Chicago rally; Ohio
$4,000 in IA counties struck for So
cents an hour in May; New York City
5000 in April protest on being
dropped from CWA; Wisconsin
picket lines and demonstrations by
thousands Of jobless a major factor in
strike victory over Milwaukee Electric
Railway & Light Co.
4. ANNUAL A.. F. OF L. CONVEN-
TION showed a new ag%gressiveness
rejecting rank and file unrest. Two
steps: l.. Convention enlarged execu-
tive council to IS, gave it more power.
2. Voted compromise on industrial
unions, allowing their formation in
mass production industries, mention
ing auto, cement, aluminium. Failed to
solve building trades and transfers
brewery workers jurisdictional disputes.
Metal trades compromise outcome Of
successful Butte copper strike, craft
setup being retained but industrial
form established in single plants so as
to deal with employer in united body.
S. THE ELECTIONS showed red
scares had no effect. A New Deal
landslide, except victories of Wiscon-
sin Progressiyes, Minnesota Farmer
Laborites, Senator Cutting in New
Mexico, Senator Schwellenbach run
ming on a municipal ownership plat
form in Washington, reelection of So
cialist legislators in Wisconsin and
Pennsylvania, and election Of five So
cialists to Connecticut legislature. Cali
fornia labor backed Upton Sinclair,
who polled almost 100000 votes against
a 81, 100000 slush fund. Nevertheless
progressives in federal administration
grow more conservative, arousing pro-
tests everywhere.
6. DISILLUSIONMiENT with NRA
strated with ineffectiveness against
Weirton Steel and Budd Manufactur-
ing Co.; was furthered by emascula-
ton Of the Wagner labor bill and the
auto settlement spread when Blue
Eagle was returned to Hartman Hosi-
cry Mills was completed with textile
strike agreement"
Labor is disguised with code au-
thorities and labor boards, feels that
NRA enforcement machinery is a joke.
The A. F. of L. reports; Codes have
failed to bring an increase in real pur-
chasing power, chiseling is prevalent,
wage rates are so low that
the NRA purpose has been completely
nullified, and there have been actual
wage decreases among skilled workers.
The year ended with the Houde En-
cheering Corporation Haunting the
National Labor Relations Board ma
jority rule decision and cotton garment
firms fighting the presidential 10 per
cent hour-cut ruling, which is totally
ignored.
7. RECOVERY DID NOT happen
in 1884, falling far short of govern
ment hopes. Compared with 1888, end
Of 1884 showed unemployment greater,
industrial production smaller, building
less; incomes above $4,000 a year
growing, those below falling; interest
and dividends up, real wages down; re-
covery's 1888 plans abandoned, more
elaborate 1885 plans touted.
Denial Of constitutional liberties be-
came more frequent. Glaring ex-
amples; Georgia concentration camps
for textile workers; San Francisco vigil
lante raids; increase in lynchings; kid
naping Of union organizers in Cali
%fornia, Florida, Ohio and Tennessee.
Legislation for unemployment insur-
ance lags; the 30-hour week bill will
be re-introduced; a specific definition
of collective bargaining will be de-
handed.
Labor is stronger, more aggressive,
more confident, less confused than a
year ago. The New Year, 1885, looks
RI -.