davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19
Le%atherworkers Submit Cong. MarcantoniO Ar
to Montana rested As Cops Smash
Commission Here Gotham Relief Meeting

NEW "YORK-FP-Ignoring pro-
tests from scores of labor and liberal
organizations, New York Police Com
missioner Lewis Valentine has n
%nounced a stand-pat attitude on his
protective custody policy that led to
the arrest OF Congressman Vito Marc
antonio and eight others at an unem-
ployed demonstration February IS.
In a fierce attack on some 10000 un-
employed, relief workers and social
workers that turned their peaceful
meeting into a bloody SUGGEST, the cops
arrested nine occupants Of the speak
ers stand and knocked scores Of
demonstrators to icy pavements with
serious head wounds. Police had given
permission for two meetings, one at
Madison Square Park, the other at
WPA headquarters, but refused to al
low a parade from one point to the
other.
M|arcantonio was seized as he moved
TO head the line of march. Previously
he had told the crowd Il came here
from Washington not only to speak
but to exercise my constitutional rights.
I am going to march. We are not go
ing to annoy anyone. We are going to
exercise our constitutional rights as
American citizens and march"
Arrested with him were David Las
ser of the Workers Alliance. Michael
Davidow of the Unemployment Coun-
ellis leaders OF relief and social work
ers unions and two heads Of the Kni-
ckerbocker Democrats.
All nine men were released not long
after their arrival at a police station.
The cops tested for the first time their
new policy OF removing leaders from
workers demonstrations. breaking lip
the meetings and then freeing the lead
ers. New York liberal organizations
have assailed the policy as one Dor
rowed directly from Hitler.
In his speech Marcantonio hit the
relief policies Of Mayor F. H. LaGuar-
dia, his former law partner and prede-
cessor in Congress from the lower
Harlem district in which they reside,
and termed them comparable to those
Of Mussolini. Before returning to
Washington he stated so far as |
am concerned, this incident is closed.
But | am going to insist on the civil
rights of the unemployed and battle for
them as a legislator. When they need
me, / am going to 60"
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19
Transfers Demand
Justice From the Oil
Distributing Companies

The gas station-teamsters' contro-
versy is at a deadlock. Since the last
issue OF this paper a meeting was held
by officials OF the teamsters, clerks and
representatives of the oil companies.
At this meeting hot words were ex-
changed but no concessions were
granted by the company to the union
wage demands. The company repre-
sentatives wanted to set the tank
wagon price Of gas, then have the
lessee set the retail price OF gas. This
was 10 relieve the companies of any
responsibility in increasing the cost Of
gas to the consumer and throw it back
on the lessee, The representatives of
the unions would not agree on such a
proposition. 1t must be born in mind
that the anne practice is followed in
Silver Bow, as elsewhere throughout
the country by the oil companies,
namely, leasing the stations out to in
dividuals and making these l%essees, in
a way, small business men, but in re-
gard to Silver Bow County the stu
Continued to Page 9
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19

On Thursday, February II, a com
mittee from the Leather Workers
union went to Helena and met in con-
ference with the new Montana Relief
Commission pertaining to the c%ontinu-
alton of the tannery as a permanent
industry in order to, if possible, prove
that Silver Bow County, in order to
rehabilitate their relief clients, must
have another industry outside Of min
ing. The Leather Workers union
maintains it is the goal of the govern
ment to assist its relief clients. Prov
ing that during the entire depression,
private industry has failed t o absorb
the unemployed, the committee sub
mitted a proposition Of taking on their
shoulders the task of running the tan
merry.
The outcome of the conference was
a success insofar as the Relief Com
mission was concerned. They whole
heartedly agreed that the proposition
of the tannery union taking over the
~tannery on a cooperative basis was the
only solution. The leatherworkers are
now awaiting Washington's approval Of
whether the tannery survives or will
be buried along the end Of the Gene
terry where it is now situated.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19
NEW YORK BUILDING UN-
ION ACCUSES AL SMITH OF
STARVATION A C POLICY

NEW YORK-(FP)-Al Smith, top
hated spokesman for the reactionary
duPont-M rgan-American Liberty Lea
que, has been accused of paying his
employees starvation wages and Of re-
fusing to be a party to collective bar
gaining,
In a singing blast at the one-time
Happy Warrior, who now heads the
corporation which operates New York
City's lofty Empire State Bldg, Pres.
James J. Bambrick Of Local 32B of the
Building Service Employees Union char
ged that heads Of families getting less
than SIS a week have been forced to
take a Is per cent wage slash, and re-
peated attempts Of the union to deal
with the building owners have been
ignored.
A point-by-point answer to Smiths
recent attack on government reforms,
based on conditions in his own pro-
perty, featured Bambrick's letter. The
union published it in full-page ads in
metropolitan dailies.
Rugged individualism' would seem
to be the dominant note in your radio
address and I wish to say that each
and every one Of the men and women
working in the Empire State Bldg. has
a full right to express his desires
through his chosen representative -
a constitutional right, by the way"
Bambrick wrote to Smith. you speak
Of the poor Our records show that
quite a few men in the Empire State
Bldg, with large families are getting
wages that barely keep body and soul
together - $23 a week for a mar with
a family is hardly a middle class sal
airy II and these people work in the
Empire State Bldg, not in Oshkosh"
The union demands an agreement
with the Smith corporation, restoration
Of the rs per cent wage cut, a Is per
cent increase for all workers receiving
less than SIS a week and a 40-hour
week. The skyscraper, together with
scores Of other buildings throughout
the city, may be the scene of a build
ing service employees walkout early in
February unless agreements salts
factory to the union are signed before
the deadline.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19
CIaxtOn Principal
Orator al Townsend
G%et-TOgether Banquet

On March IS, Townsend Club No. l
held open house to the members OF the
various clubs Of Butte and friends. The
banquet hall at the Y. M. c. A. was
filled to Overlooking with members and
guests. Satisfying refreshments were
served, and a get-together spirit was
evidenced that is sure to result in CO.
operation and renewed effort on the
part of club members and friends of the
movement.
Attorney John Claxton gave the prin-
cipal address. In part he said You
remember the crash of 1929. You had
been told that certain investments in
stocks and bonds were safe. Wall
Street brought about the crash, in
which thousands Of our citizens were
made paupers. What you lost, went
right back to Wall Street,
The opponents Of the Townsend
Plan are the bankers and the moneyed
men Of the country, who are not willing
to pay their share OF the transaction
tax that would bring lasting benefit to
all our citizens.
THE investigation Congress is now
carrying on with $4,000 Of the tax
payers money, is but a smoke-screen
thrown up to delay action until Con-
gress adjourns and it is to late for a
vote that would show the citizens OF
the various states the attitude Of their
congressman on this question, SO vital
to the best interests of all.
Townsend people, take for your
motto: United we stand and stand
firm" If you continue to fight you will
surely win. There is no power on
earth hat can stem the tide OF more
than 80 millions of u citizens, de-
termined to get justice. If this country
has lost the distinction Of being the
land of the free, prove, by your united
efforts that it is still the home Of the
brave"
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19
Constitutional Rights
Only For The Rich

Constitution of the United States of
America Amendment No. 1;
Congress shall make no law res
pecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise there
Of or ~abridging the freedom Of speech
or Of the press; or of the right Of the
people peacefully to assemble and to
petition the government for a redress
OF grievances"
When the criminal syndicalism laws
Of California and certain dictatorial and
Fascist statutes of some Of the other
States come into the limelight they
show only too clearly that Consitiu-
tional rights, under our present gov
ernmental set up, are a complete farce
as far as the common masses are con-
cerned.
Those clauses in the Constitution Of
the United States of America, guaran-
teeing freedom Of speech, freedom from
religious persecution and the right to
choose les own religion and the right
to form ones own political opinions
do not apply to the common people
That IS ruling handed down by Robert
Grosman. advisory master in CHANGER
Court at Newark, New Jersey.
This legal highlight, who by his oath
Of office has sworn to deal out i'm
partial justice, has ruled that Mrs.
Mabel Eaton has forfeited custody to
her two children because she has "al-
lowed herself to become thoroughly
imbued with Communistic, Atheistic
and I. w. w. doctrines.
This is the first case on record in
the I. s. in which a parents right to
the custody Of his or her children has
been decided on the basis OF the par
ents religious and political belief. New
er has a more fragrant misuse OF Judi
cial authority or a more %unconstitu-
tional decision been perpetrated on any
of the people Of the United States.
The American civil liberties union
(not to be confused with the we'll
known Liberty League) are to be
commended on their prompt offer to
help Mrs. Eaton to combat this dan
gerous precedent.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19
A Be
TWEEN C-OOPERATIVES
SPEEDED BY CONFER
ENCES AT LONDON, WEN
MA AND BRUSSELS.
Coop League News Service.)

LONDON. r Regional International
Cooperative Wholesale Associations in
Southeastern, Western and Northern
Europe loomed as an immediate posi-
bility as a result of a recent series Of
conferences at Vienna, Brussels and
London. Wholesale c%ooperatives serv-
ing as clearing houses for trade be-
c%ooperatives in various countries
in Europe have long been advocated
by cooperative leaders as an important
method OF facilitating commerce on a
non-profit basis.
The first venture OF this type was or
gained by Scandinavian c~ooperatives
several years ago when national organ
izations in Denmark, Finland, Norway
and Sweden became joint owners Of the
Luna Cooperative Electric Lamp Fac
tory.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19

The Grievance Committee reported
that progress was being made in con-
n%ection with the declaration of unfair
ness that had been made by the Vel
lowstone Trades and Labor Council
against the Bruce Cook Transfer Com
pany, Independent Motor Carriers, and
the Ryan Fruit Company.
After the report of the chairman of
the committee had been made, the
transfers delegate announced that ef-
forts were being made by that organi
cation to perfect the Transfers union
in Billings. He also announced that
according to the contract with that
union and the employers local members
of the Teamsters were not required to
load or unload cargoes coming in on
trucks which had been driven by a
man not a member of the Transfers
organization.
The Transfers union had notified
a driver coming in from Billings, who
was not a member, that it was neces-
sary for him to belong to the organi.
zation in order to deliver produce in
Silver Bow County. II wa explained
that not only would such an action to
the benefit Of the union itself, but that
it would raise the compensation of the
driver.
Along with the efforts to perfect the
Transfers union in Billing state
ments we're made that the manager of
the Ryan Fruit Company in that city
had not objected to the employees
joining the organization.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19
FINDINGS OF CoMMITTEF
Visitor Gives Stirring
Talk on Industrial Union

Mr., Fred Hoffman, a visiting bar
tender from Yellowstone County gave
the delegates Of the Silver Bow Trades
and Labor Council something to think
about when he came out definitely and
vehemently for industrial type Of or
ganization in an address before the
Central Labor Body last Tuesday.
In the preliminary remarks Of MIR.
Hoffman, he described the general
apathy Of the Billings labor movement
after 1908 and its remarkable revival
in the last few years. According to the
speaker, Billings has at the present time
at least twenty-five trades union or
CARNATIONS who are militantly striving
for the recognition of better conditions
and who are taking an active part in
the political and industrial activities of
the state Of Montana. Mr.. Hoffman
pointed out the value Of industrial
u%nionism and how solidarity accom-
panying this type of formation could
lead to brilliant victories on the indus
trial field. He wa loudly ~applauded at
the end Of his address.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19
Union Committee to
Investigate the Low
Wages to DOmestics

Stating that government relief agen-
cies were attempting to break down
union conditions and wages, a commit
tee from the Public Works and Unem-
ployed Union composed OF Albert
F~redrickson, Paddy King, and H.
Wurst, appeared before the delegates
OF the Silver Bow Trades and Labor
Council last Tuesday evening and asked
for the cooperation OF that body in
their opposition to forced work at al
legged starvation wages.
According to the committee the To-
cal relief setup is attempting to force
individuals to accept jobs in private in
dustry at extremely low wages or be
compelled to relinquish federal relief.
The statements made by the committee
were challenged by both Delegate Dun
can and Delegate Ryan.
From the arguments adduced dur
ing the discussion the impression was
left that domestic homework is being
miserably underpaid. 1t was brought
out that neither the w. P. A. nor the
Relief Administration has any power
in controlling wages paid in this type
Of work, and that the labor movement
should investigate the exploitation OF
women who are hired as domestic
servants in the homes Of supposedly
well-to-do people.
President Paul Erler instructed the
standing relief committee Of the Cen
trail Labor Council to make a thorough
investigation of charges Of exploitation
OF workers in homes and also to visit
the local federal relief agencies.
4 + +
FINDINGS OF COMMITTEE
On Wednesday the special relief com
mittee appointed by Paul Erler to visit
the Silver Bow County Relief Admins
~tration in regard to charges OF forcing
people to take jobs or abandon relief
Continued to Page O.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19
Butte Street Car Men
Request Endorsement
of I. R. MorgaI

Requesting the endorsement OF Al
derman T. K. Morgan OF the Seventh
Ward, a member OF their organization,
the Street Car Mems union, in a com
munication to the Silver Bow Trades
and Labor Council last Tuesday, re-
quested that he be endorsed by that
organization for the position Of alder
mar in the coming city election.
The letter r~ecounted the history Of
Morgan and praised him very highly
for his loyalty to the interest of or
gained labor in the City Council.
Morgan's record is very good. He has
no competition in the primaries.
The request of the Street Car Men
was referred to the Legislative Com
mittee.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19
BUTTE BOY WINS
APPOINTMENT TO
NAVAL ACADEMY

William Newton Dunstan, Is, of this
city, has been appointed to the U. S.
Naval Academy at Annapolis by Con-
gresham J.. P. Monaghan, his parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. William H. Dunstan, l2S
West Broadway, were informed today
Young Dunstan, who graduated from
Butte high school in 1885, is now at
tending the Bryan-Cochrane prepare
tory school in Annapolis. He will re-
turn to Butte in April for a two-month
visit with parents and friends before
going TO the naval academy on June
2S. He expects to specialize in areo-
nautical engineering. His father is a
former constable of South Butte town
ship.-Daily Post.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19
842 EMPLOYED
ON RESETTLEMENT LAND
PROJECTS

DENVER, Colo, March l9.-More
than 900 men have been taken off Mon
tana relief rolls and employed on the
three Resettlement Administration prof.
ects in the Treasure state since Janu-
airy 10, Regional Director z, A. Starch
announced today, There are now 842
men employed on the Montana RIA
projects, he said.
Complete reports from the three
project managers-the Phillips County,
Lower Yellowstone and Musselshell
land conservation projects-according
to Starch, showed that 626 lei had
been employed since January 10.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19
ELECTRICIAN DELEGATE
OPPOSES

Objection was raised to the endorse
ment of Bert Replogle for the position
of Lieutenant Governor Of the state of
Montana by the delegate Of the Elec-
tricians' union,
This member Of the Trades and La
Dor Council alleges that in a session of
that body, that he opposed safety legis-
lation affecting that organization.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19
Officer of Ladies
Union Pleads For
Union Label Buying

In This Letter From Mrs. Edna
H. Reyes of Missoula, She Asks
Many Pertinent and, to Some
Unionists, Embarrassing Cues
tons About Demanding Union
Goods-Mrs. Reyes Suggests,
Also, That Organizations Be
Represented at National Con-
ference of Ladies Auxiliaries.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19
Lewistown Unions
Endorse Ayers for
Governor of Montana

Notice was received by the Silver
Bow Trades and Labor Council from
the Lewistown Trades and Labor
Council stating the unions in that COM
munity had endorsed Congressman
Roy Ayers for the position of COVER
nor Of the State Of Montana. The re-
quest OF Lewistown for similar action
by the Silver Bow Trades Council was
referred to the Legislative Committee.
Another request for endorsements was
sent in by Mr.. Ayers himself, this also
being referred to the committee.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19

WHEREAS, during the past three
years, and under the present admin
istration, Labor has secured more
recognition, adjustments and consid-
Grafton than ever before, and
WHEREAS, these results have been
attained through the efforts OF Organ
lied Labor in cooperation with Sena-
tors and Representatives in Congress
who are truly friendly to the cause Of
Labor, and
WHEREAS, most highly satisfactory
results have been secured through the
efforts and cooperation Of our Junior
Senator, the Honorable James E. Muir
ray, who by his every vote and effort
has proven his sincere friendship to the
cause of Labor, and
WHEREAS, during the forthcoming
primary and subsequent fall election,
Senator Murray is a candidate for Sen
ator to succeed himself, and
WHEREAS, in view of Senator
Murray's most satisfactory record in all
Labor matters and his untiring effort
in our behalf, as well as for the entire
citizenship Of the State OF Montana,
we feel it imperative that he be re-
nominated and reelected.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,
by the Yellowstone Trades and Labor
Assembly Of Billings, Montana, in reg
ular meeting assembled this sixth day
OF March, 1886, do hereby endorse the
candidacy Of James f. Murray for the
United States Senate, for both re-
nomination and reelection, and urge
upon all members of this organization
their active support OF Senator Murray,
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that this resolution shall be recognized
as a public endorsement of Senator
Murray's candidacy; that copies hereof
be sen at once to Senator Murray to
all principal Trades and Labor Assem-
blies in this State, and that all possible
publicity be given to this said resolu-
ton of endorsement.
Adopted in regular session, March 6
1886.
L. G. DeNAYER, President
R. f. MORHOUS,
Vice President
F. H. HELTERBRAN,
Secretary.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19
BILLINGS UNIONS
PLEDGE SUPPORT
TO JAMES MURRAY

Powerful Yellowstone Contra
Union Endorses and Pledge
Support to Montana's Juni
Senator-Asks Concurrence
Silver Bow Trades and La
Council.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19
Murray Introduces
SiiCOsiS Resolution
in Federal Congress

The following resolution was intro
duced by Senator James Murray in
the Senate on February "a, dealing
with investigation Of conditions in
Mines which would tend to produce
s~ilicosis and the means to correct such
conditions. The Butte Miners Union
took official recognition Of this resolu-
ton at its last meeting.
All Montana labor is urged to support
the effort Of Senator Murray to curb
the menance Of silicosis. 1t has been
brought by the Bureau OF Mines that
fourteen hundred times the amount Of
s%ilicosis dust per man per cubic meter
of air is allowed in United States
mines as contrasted with South Africa.
Mr.. Murray submitted the following
concurrent resolution; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Education
and Labor:
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the metal miners oc-
cupation, under present conditions, ex-
poses them to rock dust, powder fumes,
foul air and extreme heat, which condi-
tons make it certain that, sooner or
later, they will contract silicosis or tu-
%berculosis, or both, complicated with
heart and stomach trouble; and
WHEREAS, it is well known that
the average useful and total life
time of metal miners is far shorter than
that of persons engaged in other oc-
equations and that the latter days Of
such miners are generally spent in ter
rible agony from the aforementioned
diseases and complications of diseases
as a result OF the prevailing conditions
of their employment; and
WHEREAS, the conditions which
bring about this shortening of life and
Continued to Page o.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19

The Trades and Labor Council do
mated $500 to the organization for the
rehabilitation of crippled children.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19

The Trades and Labor Council went
on record as favoring House Resolu-
ton 1910 which provides for r%estric-
ton of immigration and especially re-
fers to the influx of aliens along the
Canadian border. A request for the
endorsement OF this piece of legislation
came from the Detroit Central Labor
Union,
Communication stated that the union
members Of that city were continually
embarrassed by alien laborers coming
across the border and taking the jobs
OF people who were legally residing in
that community.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19

Communications were received from
both Senator Murray and Senator
Wheeler in regard to a request that had
been made of them to secure their as
~sistance for U. S. Anderson in the
Works Progress Administration at
Helena. Both senators felt that the
appointment of Anderson should be
handled through the state office.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19

An important document was re
from the Billings Unions at the
day evening meeting OF the
Labor Council and was read by
tary Grimes. The request c
in the letter was referred to t
lative Committee which is cor
Charles Malloy, Stage L..
Union; James Gwinn, Bartende4
Union; Harry O'Leary, Engineers
Union; Frank Krabler, Painters
Union; Elizabeth Mcdonald, Librari-
ans Union, George Mcintosh Work
ingmen's Union; James Leary, Miners
Union and w. A. Kane, Machinists
Union.
Both the letter and the endorsement
OF the Yellowstone Trades Council are
reproduced in full
YELLOWSTONE
COUNTY TRADES AND LABOR
ASSEMBLY
Billings, Montana
March IL, 1880.
Silver Bow Trades & Labor Assembly
Butte, Montana
Dear Sir and Brothers:
Enclosed is copy of resolution
adopted by our Council, endors-
ing the candidacy OF Honorable
James z. Murray for nomination and
reelection as United States Senator.
Our Council feels strongly that in
the interest of Organized Labor, the re-
nomination of Senator Murray is i'm
perative if we are to hold the ground
we have gained and further improve
our position, as well as to support the
present administration.
May we suggest and urge, in oui
mutual interest, like action on your
part, promptly?
Fraternally yours,
L. G. DeNAYER,
President Yellowstone
Trades and Labor
Assembly.
GRADES COUNCIL SEkL)
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19

There can be no prosperity
without justly high
Earnings of working people
are the basis and index of
progress in any community.
Montana labor news., 1936-03-19

The American standard Of
living must be maintained
in order that American in
stitutions may not be sub
jet to perils of discomfort.