Montana labor news., 1936-07-09
LABOR SUFFERED in
LAST CONGRESS
By ION
lEederated Press

h104 y \ "a - nv a. OEA6'N~ $500
last session" Thus writes Nations
Business, magazine published by the
u. S. Chamber OF Commerce and sent
to the tat boys.
If Nations Business says that labor
got a raw deal IRON this session Of
Congress it's a sure bet its so. For if
this outfit, which regards unions as a
debuntante regards onions before a
date, and cries that the child labor
amendment is a radical piece OF legis-
lation, can admit hat it was not a
good year Tor labor American workers
can well know that they got right roy
ally kicked in the teeth.
Congress opened this year with an
address by the President. To them
and 10 the battery OF microphones fac
ing him, the President declared once
again his "unalterable' opposition to
the vested interests, to the financial
autocrats," and challenged the opposi-
ton to go backward if they did not
like his steps forward. He asked for
peace and talked OF his good neigh
Dor policy"
That opposition, if it was smart.
could rightly answer that there is no
need for them to go backward. Con-
gress has done the job for them. For
peace it has provided the record op-
preparation for war in peacetime. Over
a billion dollars this year has been pro-
vided by Congress almost without de-
bate, for the purpose of war.
To the financial autocrats who domi-
nate small business it has replied by
failing to pass the Guffey act. That
act, which over IS per cent of the Goa
industry regarded as vital if it were
not to die because OF a deadly price
cutting war, and which a small minor
ity, well-equipped with fine mechanical.
equipment and new mines, opposed be-
cause OF its advantageous position, was
shuffled into the discard. Had the adj
ministration sincerely wanted the act
passed it would have passed, come he'll
or high water.
Again to the financial autocrats Con-
gress replied by failing to pass the
housing bill. To small business that
bill would have meant a building boom
adding greatly, for a time, to its pros
perity. To big business that bill was
anathema, cutting into their profitable
loans to the building industry and en-
aiding the small contractor to compete
on terms nearly equal with the big con
tractor. The Senate chopped the
money out of the bill and the House
refused to allow even a start by killing
the technical setup. Again, had the
administration sincerely designed pas
sage Of the bill, it would have passed
come hell or high water.
To the Supreme Court, impenetrable
fortress of the financial autocrats, and
its deadly breath, Congress replied by
making humble obesiance. The NRA,
the AAA, the Guffey act, minimum
wages for women, as we'll as minor
measures went down the drain with
only a mumur from the administration
that the decisions were educational
Getting kicked in the teeth once may
be educational" but becomes some
thing else when it happens four or
five times.
To the American Federation OF La
Dor Congress gave the Byrnes bill and
the Walsh-Healey bill. Under the
Byrnes bill, prohibiting the interstate
shipment OF strike breakers, it be-
comes necessary to prove first thai
peaceful picketing" was going on be-
fore the strike-breakers arrive. Il
then becomes necessary to show thai
the strike-breakers were knowingly
transported and were for the express
purpose Of breaking the strike. Under
the Walsh-Healey bill contractors for
services or goods to the government
can hire persons over 10, need moi
obey the provisions if the contract Is
under $4,000, and need not obey it Il
they work through another contractor
Congress started with a great bang
to get" the lobbyists and when the
lobbyists, by throwing the Senate
and House at each others threats
killed the bill, Congress dropped the
matter and turned to DR.. Townsend
With $4,000 and a police court lawyer
from Kansas City all they got from
Townsend was a handful Of trouble.
Through this Congress ran the
thread OF evasion and backsliding
When a Strong neutrality bill
threatened the scrap iron and oil in
t@erests, the strong" neutrality bill be-
came a weak renewal of the existing
law, providing merely for a neutrality
proclamation by the President
Against the financial autocrats" moi
one Measure was passed. Against la
Dor, the farmer, the consumer, anc
small business many measures passed
by Congress and the administration
stand as an example.
As the wheels of the economic sys-
TEN grind, turning more wealth fol
L tha ,traa 1tLrr ,..I 80 .-....4.. e. A..