Montana labor news., 1936-05-21
BILLINGS UNIONS
PROTEST INFLUX
OF CHEAP LABOR
(By Special Corresponden0

BILLINGS.=The sun is not making
the only heat out in Billings, Montana,
these days. There is a lot OF good red
hot news eminating from there at the
present time. Significant incidents are
multifarious. However, the situation in
Billings at present is the result of the
climax OF a series OF incidents, ex-
tending over a period OF about three
years. The outstanding industry in
the community is the Sugar Beet In
dustry. Conditions in that industry
are unbearable. Experienced resident
beet workers know this condition and
they have been taking considerable
measures to protect themselves in the
past three years.
Affairs in the Sugar Beet Industry
came to a startling climax this week in
Billings, when the Great Western
Sugar Co., assumed the most defiant
attitude and made the boldest gestures
in the entire history OF the industry.
The Great Western opened the flood
gates OF immigration and released a
deluge CT non-de-script workers into
Montana and the outlaying areas.
Eight passenger coaches Of "itene-
rant beet workers arrived in Billings,
via Northern Pacific on a special sec
ton OF an east bound train, Thurs
day night, at II 100 p. M. They were
chaperoned by A. J. Pacheco, labor
agent, and other officials of the G-W-S
Co., who had been in California since
early in April. They were brought
into the yards and held under guard
OF private detectives until early next
morning. Nor were they permitted to
communicate with citizens OF Billings
until the farmers came to get them
and take them out to the farms to
work.
Many unfavorable comments were
overheard. Organized labor, in the
main was amazed. Merchants were in
sensed when they learned that, in spite
Of the abundance Of local help avail
able, importations were being made.
While the newly organized Farmer
Labor Central Unity Committee, which
was recently holding its first executive
meeting, prepared a credible resolution,
defending the beet workers and de-
nouncing the Inscriptions policies of
the Sugar Industry.
We are informed that the majority OF
these prospective beet workers don't
even know how much they will get
for their work" It is also reported
that hundreds Of Philippine workers
came in from Colorado ard California
and other places chiefly via automobile
Scores of resident farmers from the
dry land areas OF the Dakotas, are tc
be found in the beet fields here. The
Philippines have a reputation for in
ferior workmanship, among the farm
ers, but the majority Of these fellows
were assured by the farmers this year
that if they would do a good job they
would be acceptable.
The Company has always controlled
flood gates Of immigration in this
country, particularly Of Mexico, and
in the old days Of the German-Rus-
sian element from Central Europe.
They have been able to raise and lower
these gates almost at will, very much
as the farmer manipulates the head
gates and regulates the flow OF water
onto his beets.
For this particular season, they did
not dare to even attempt such a thing.
The commonwealth OF Mexico or the
United States, neither, would tolerate
such a thing. There are over $4,000
qualified beet workers who have set
tied in the state of Montana alone, who
are weary from having been chased
around over these areas in the past.
They decided to settle down some
where. Most of them realize that they
will never have anything, except the
gracious opportunity to do a lot OF
hard work. A considerable percentage
Of these resident workers prefer idle
ness to drudgery without a chance to
say how much they shall receive for
their own work.
In previous seasons, this itinerant
labor has been permitted to drift for
themselves" after the season was over,
Before the naturalization Of relief
agencies, they would work from one to
three months, and drift hopelessly over
the country in an attempt to find other
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