davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montana labor news., 1936-11-19
KNOW THY 5HIp0WNER!

In the United States there is small clique OF men who
are the most unprincipled, un-Amercan, selfish and greedy
group ever to receive the aid and succor OF this form OF
government.
1t is this group that is today responsible for the greatest
shipping tie-up in the history of the country.
1t is this group that is wreaking its vengeance on more
than $4,000 union men by forcing them INTO a light Tor
their simple rights as American citizens.
1t is this group that has taken at least So00O00,O0O
from the American taxpayers pockets during the last ten
years and used the money in unearned exhorbltant salaries,
corrupting expense accounts and other forms OF So-called
compensation for their own il~l-begotten gains.
1t is this group that is now trying to foist upon upright
union men blame for food shortage and spoilage when they
alone are at fault for the condition.
1t is this group that insists they alone have the right to
continue to take from the taxpayers pockets, money which
they insist should go directly into theirs with no value
returned for the transfer.
1t is this group that insists seafaring men have no rights
as human beings, that unwholesome food, vermin-infested
living quarters, long hours of work with no pay for over
time should continue to be their lot.
1t is this group that does not even have the respect of
their c~onfidants, because of their grasping, undetermined
conniving.
1t is this group whose philosophy was adequately sum
med up by one of their esteemed numbers, (now dead,
when he remarked to a confidant: Sure | give money to
Christianize the heather in China, for maybe they will
learn to wear shoes and my ships will carry them the
shoes"
1t is this group that is holding on with logged determi-
nation for more of the pie" as the subsidies have been
characterized.
1t is this group that insists on going further to the right
despite the overwhelming mandate of the people at the
Presidential election it is time to veer leftward a little.
1t is this group that has been labeled every uncompli-
mentary name men in business could be labeled by the
Senate investigating committee and still continue to take
the publics money.
They are the millionaire subsidized shipowners, clinging
with every bit OF their straining strength to the purse
strings of the United States treasury, trying to force their
hands deeper into the gold and even to the bottom of the
supply.
But who didn't know that!
Montana labor news., 1936-11-19
STATE OFFICES PRAISED

Heads of Montana's state offices
received compliments at the last ses-
sion of the unions of Butte.
Paul Erler, representing the Press
mems organization, reported that the
Fish and Game Commission had
written Frank Finnegan, secretary
of the State Typographical Confer
ence, informing him that the first
printed state job had just come off
the press. 1t related to game notes.
Heretofore these state publications
have been mimeographed or multi
graphed. Attempts were made to
justify the Monograph work by
stating that they cheaper than
printed material. The unions didn't
go into the question Of whether it
was cheaper to print these reports
or to mimeograph them. The ques-
ton uppermost in the minds of labor
organizations is whether these pub
locations should be done under union
conditions and regulations or not.
At any rate the news was received
with general satisfaction. Sec.
Grimes related his part in inducing
state officials to print their reports.
The State Federation Of Labor has
been assisting in this matter also and
a resolution was passed at the last
convention Of the Federation held at
Billings requesting all state offices
Continued to Page 81
Montana labor news., 1936-11-19
LOCAL GIRLS TAKE
OVER THE BOUNTY

The Bounty lunch stand On Rowe
Road in the Municipal Golf Course
and which has had such a checkered
career appears to be on the high
road to prosperity since Miss Claire
Berg and Miss Verle Guam have
taken over the management. Miss
Berg is a Butte girl, received her
education in our schools and was
also a former member of the Wom-
ems Protective and Clerks union.
The other young lady connected
with the enterprise is Verle Guam.
She formerly had a minor interest
in the house, when it was run under
the old management. Miss Guam,
although not eligible for the Pho
neers Club, has made a host of
friends during the time she has been
in Butte.
The girls intend to provide dainty
but substantial lunches, home made
cakes and pies, and dancing. The
public is invited and assured Of a
most hospitable welcome.
Montana labor news., 1936-11-19
Unions Invite Public
To Attend Adult
Education Classes

The Adult Education Program has
been expanded to offer opportuni-
ties in various fields.
For those wishing to improve their
knowledge of written and spoken
English classes for all grades are
offered in Reading, Writing, Ele-
mentary Grammar, Spelling and
Lettering.
Other grade courses include Arith-
metic, History and Geography.
These classes meet at the Garfield
School. in the 400 Block on Colorado
St. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday at 7 p. m.
The school for naturalization at
Y. M. c. A. already has an enroll
ment of SO, and has been commend
ed by the District Director of I'M
migration and Naturalization at Spo-
kane, Washington. In this school
every effort is made to help those
in need of special coaching and those
working on night shift. Enrollments
may be made any Monday evening
at 7.
Glasses for the advanced groups
include Public Speaking, Parlia-
mentary Rule, Sociology, Economics,
Psychology, Current Events and Ad-
vanced English.
A schedule of the classes already
established follows:
Acknowledgements Union in their
office; 1890 p. M, Public Speaking,
John Brennan: 1880 p. M, Public
Speaking, John Brennan; Ills p. M,
Parliamentary Procedure, w. A.
Bartlett; 8:l5 p. M, Parliamentary
Procedure, W. A. Bartlett.
Observation-Disclosures Union, their
small hall: 1880 p. M, Public Speak
ing, John Brennan; $40 p. M, Par
liamentary Procedure, George Rob
inson.
Wednesday-Clerks Union, Y. M.
c. A: TOO p. M, Parliamentary Pro-
cedure, w. A. Bartlett. Transfers
Union in their small hall: 7:30 p. M,
Labor Economics, Bill Robinson.
Thursday-Engineers Union, their
office: 1870 p. M, Labor Economics,
Bill Robinson; 1880 p. m, Labor Eco
Monies, Bill Robinson. Miners I'm
ion, their large Committee Room:
Ills p. M, Public Speaking, John
Brennan; tbs p. m, Public Speak
ing, John Brennan; 2:15 D.. M, Par
liamentary Procedure, George Rob-
inson; 8:15 p. M, Parliamentary Pro-
cedure, George Robinson.
The W. P. A. Railway and Com
mercial Telegraph School will re-
open Monday, November 10th, on
the third floor of the Court House
in the old quarters. Glass hours are
from seven to nine p. m. each eve
ming excepting Saturday and Sun
day. Elias ]. Seaman is the instruc-
tor.
Grace Anstice, w. P. A.. Adult
Education Supervisor.
Montana labor news., 1936-11-19
contract CONCLUDED
W INDEPENDENT
MOTOR CARRIERS co.

The various locals of the state
Transfers organization in Montana
working in conjunction with the
state committee of Transfers have
been trying to negotiate a satisfac-
tory contract with the Independent
Motor Carriers for some time, and
such a contract satisfactory to every
body was concluded on Monday, the
10th day of this month. The con-
tract provides good wages for the
men who drive for this company
and they also will work on an g.
hour basis.
This is the first time that the
Transfers organizations in this state
have been successful in signing up
any company on a state wide agree
ment. Now the Transfers organ
izations will, in the near future,
start negotiations with other COM
panies to place them under the same
kind of a contract that has been
signed by the Independent Motor
Carriers. This contract also has a
section that provides no franchises
will be granted by the Independent
Motors to any trucking company,
unless they agree to carry on opera
tons under union agreements.
We believe that this is the most
successful contract the Teamsters
have signed since they perfected the
organization.
Pete Connors,
Executive Secretary
Montana labor news., 1936-11-19
SHIPPERS EFFORT TO BREAK MARITIME Strike
BY u. 5. COURT ORDER IS FRU5TRATED
Labor-Baiting Tactics Used by
Employers Told Commission;
Probe Requested.
(By Maritime News Service)

As the nationwide maritime
strike moved into its third week
with more than 400 ships tied up
by unionists' just demands, shippers
sought unsuccessfully to break the
tieup by Federal Court intervention.
The attempt was made in the court
of Federal Judge Paul ]. Mccormick
in Los Angeles, who acquiesed in
their demands and ordered U. S.
Marshal Robert Clark to remove
APIS stems of bananas from the
Panama-Pacific liner California" at
San Pedro.
Just before this effort to break
the unions strength, joint policy
committees at the ports of Seattle,
Portland and San Francisco ap-
proved the removal of perishables
from the struck ships. But they
Immediately reversed their stand
with a decision to remove NO per-
ishables anywhere until the Federal
Court action was withdrawn.
Washington Acts
The hand of the labor-conscious
administration in Washington en-
tered the crisis at this point. At
torney-Genera Homer Cummings
instructed his subordinate in Los
Angeles not to proceed with en-
forcement of the order Immediately.
Fear of bloodshed if Clark at
tempted to take off the bananas,
stored under other cargo in the
ships hold, was expressed by deputy
United States marshals.
Shippers eountered the govern
ment move by having the marshal
and maritime union leaders cited to
show cause why they should not be
held in contempt of court for not
obeying the court order.
Otis McAllister Company was the
instrument through which shipown-
ers worked in their effort to split
open the solid union wall that ex-
tends from Seattle southwark and
Continued to Page q
Montana labor news., 1936-11-19
GROCERY STORE CHANGES
HANDS

1t was announced by the Clerks
that Mr.. Wells, a former miner, had
purchased the Hanratty Grocery at
425 N. jackson Street and will oper-
ate under union conditions.
Members of organized labor and
especially those who dwell in that
community are requested to make
their purchases at this store.
Montana labor news., 1936-11-19
MONTANA TRUCK AND
B US Assn. MEETING|
Is subject OF ATTACK

The October 18th issue of Truck
and Bus News carried a story of q
meeting at the Northern Hotel, Bill
lings, at which Bert L. Penn, dis
triet director of the motor carrier
division of the Interstate Commerct
Commission spoke and at which
meeting the Montana Highway Com
mission was represented by Mr.
lockwood Brown. The story in the
Bus News stated that Montana oper-
ators had travelled a long distance
to be present.
Following this phase of the mar
rative, the article continued with a
notice of a meeting Of the Montana
Truck and Bus Association. The
article stated: "a business session
was held late in the afternoon with
Jack Darlington presiding as presi-
dent of the Montana Truck and Bus
Association. A legislative commit
tee of five men were authorized to
formulate plans for the coming ses-
sion of the Montana Legislature. The
insurance problem was extensively
discussed"
1t isn't the news contained in the
dispatch that had any particular in
terest, but the fact that both the
Interstate Commerce Commission,
represented by Bert L. Penn, and
the Montana Highway Commission,
represented by lockwood Brown,
held their meetings in a scab hotel,
which the unions of Billings have
been trying desperately to organize.
The Montana Highway Commission
is well ware Or should be well
aware that the Northern Hotel at
Billings is unfair. Perhaps there is
some justification for Mr.. Brown and
Mr.. Penn being present, but there
is no justification for the Montana
Truck and Bus association holding
its business sessions in this institu-
ton.
Every politician and political
party, all high schools and colleges
have been notified not to hold any of
their sessions in the Northern Hotel
or to have this hotel as their host.
The Montana Truck and Bus asso-
citation apparently either through
ignorance or wilfulness is flouting
the avowed wishes of the organ
lied labor movement of Montana to
avoid the Northern Hotel. From
other sources comes the information
also that the Montana Truck and
Bus association sent out circulars in
the mail relating to the 8-hour
amendment and which sought to de-
feat this measure at the last election.
It might be well to publish the
membership of the Montana Truck
and Bus association and those who
do not belong so that the public may
know the operators that abide by
union rules and those who do not.
Montana labor news., 1936-11-19

The American standard Of
living must be maintained
in order that American in
situations may not be sub
ject to perils of discomfort.
Montana labor news., 1936-11-19

There can be no prosperity
without justly high wages.
Earnings Of working people
are the basis and index of
progress in any community.
Montana labor news., 1936-11-19
More Than $4,000 Seamen Join
$4,000 West Seaboard Union
lists in Drive for Fair Treat
ment.

AS the second week of the Pacific
Coast maritime strike that started
October 80 with the resultant walk
out of $4,000 men and the tieup Of
more than $50 vessels got under
way, widespread support came from
the East and Gulf Coasts with SINH
lar action there.
Forced to strike when shipowners
broke off negotiations and launched
a policy designed to tie up shipping
for at least four months, the men
have maintained a constant vigil
with strong picket lines stretching
from Alaska southwark to San Diego
and Honolulu.
Quick to seize an opportunity to
support their brothers cause was
the Seamen's Defense Committee on
the East Coast, led by Joseph Cur
ran, their chairman.
Officers Voted Down
At a regularly called meeting of
the international Seamen's Union in
New York at which reactionary
leaders presided, the men by an
overwhelmingly vote decided to
support the West Coast cause and
vociferously overwhelmed the pro-
testing officers who finally fled.
More than $4,000 men went out
in the first week and tied up more
than 200 ships from Boston to
Galveston.
Long repudiated by the rank and
file, union officials, Ivan Hunter,
secretary, and David E. Grange,
third international vice-president
led a movement to break the strike
by taking the unprecedented step
of hiring "strikebreakers."
In a few instances they were sue
cessful, forcing their followers
through union picket lines with the
aid Of clubs and guns. In the ma
jority of cases, rank and file strategy
proved victorious.
Called first as a sympathy strike
the East Coast and Gulf movement
was developing into a general strike
with demands for conditions similar
to those on the West Coast.
Conditions Revealed
Contrasting conditions between
the two coasts, Paul Rothman, sec
rotary of the Baltimore local, Ameri-
can Radio Telegraphists Associa-
ton, gave the longshoremen wage
and work hours as typical of the
entire set-up.
He showed:
Conditions of East Coast:
|. Longshoremen average be-
tween SIS and $18 a week.
Q. Thousands of l. LA. mem
bers employed and on relief
rolls.
3. Sling loads run between $500
and 5000 lbs.
4. Eight-hour day, 44-hour week.
S. Hiring through the slave
market" system of shaping
up (off the dock.)
Conditions on West Coast:
Montana labor news., 1936-11-19
MATTERS
Interest UNIONS OF
CASCADE ASSEMBLY

GREAT FALLS. - That other
places and other concerns are interr
ested in the union situation in Mon
tana was indicated at the last meet
ing of the Cascade Trades and Labor
Assembly by requests that came in
from the LaSalle Trades and Labor
Council of Illinois asking informa-
ton about the Royal Milling Com
pany. 1t should be borne in mind
that the Royal Milling Company and
its products are very fair to the
unions in Montana and members of
organized labor have been requested
to buy the products of this firm.
Cascade sent the requested informa-
ton to the LaSalle unions.
James F. O'Connor, who was elect
ed Congressman of the Eastern Dis
trict of Montana, sent his thanks to
the unions of Great Falls.
A movement seems to be in pro-
cess of advancement toward remov-
ing the deaf and blind to the Great
Falls school. A request for this ac-
ton came from Archie Handles of
Missoula. 1t was referred to the
Legislative committee. The women's
supervisor of the Works Progress
Administration, Mabel Laraway, told
the Great Falls unions in a letter
that she had recommended that the
hours of women workers be reduced
from 81 to 80 per month.
Edward O'Byrne, the state labor
commissioner, suggested to the Cas-
cade Trades and Labor Assembly
that Jerry O'Connell be retained on
The Railroad Commission until the
first of the year. In his communica-
ton he asked that the Cascade
unions make the request of Jerry
O'Connell.
The aims of the allied service
workers organization were read be-
fore the Assembly.
The Chamber of Commerce asked
the central labor body to cooperate
with the golden jubilee celebration
of Great Falls. No immediate ac-
ton was taken on the request, the
letter being retained for reference.
A rather important matter, re-
ferred to the Legislative Committee,
was a request from the National Ed
ucation Association asking that sup
port be given to the Harrison fetch
er bill, proposing federal aid to
schools.
The Assembly petitioned the
American Federation of Labor to
grant a state wide federal charter
to the Allied Service workers of
Montana.
The Assembly also decided to send
a letter to President Graham of the
Federation of Labor outlining bills
that the union proposes to present
to the coming Legislature and asked
that the state President visit the
next meeting of the Cascade Assem-
bly, to discuss this subject. The As
sembly also suggested that the Fed
Grafton of Labor call a state wide
conference for consideration of leg
islative matters.
The classes in adult education in
Great Falls are having very crafty
ing success.
The Workers Alliance reported
that their members were taking adj
vantage Of the opportunity to ac-
quire a better understanding of la
Dor economics and parliamentary
procedure taught in these classes.
The Coal Miners local at Stockett
reported that they had endorsed
President Steinmetz as a member of
the North Montana Fair Board.
In a general discussion concerning
the selection of a speaker for the
next House of Representatives the
impression seemed to prevail that
Herbert Rolph should be actively
supported.
Montana labor news., 1936-11-19
Observation-Disclosures


of tags Made in Germany" and
MADE in Japan from gloves and
thumbtacks imported from those
countries and sold here by the
Greenberg and Josefberg Co. of New
York was alleged in a complaint
issued by the Federal Trade Com
mission. The company also operates
under the name of American Mer-
chandise Co., G.. & J. Manufacturing
Co., and G.. & J. Products.
Montana labor news., 1936-11-19
What Is Happening in
The Unions
UTAH WOODEN MILLS UNFAIR

UTAH WOODEN MILLS UNFAIR
The products of the Utah Wooden
Mills, which have been extensively
sold in Butte a good many years, are
unfair.
The company has been operating
a notorious open shop. This is the
information that was conveyed to
| the Silver Bow Trades and Labor
Council from the Utah Federation
of Labor. Furthermore the Utah
unions are under the impression that
the products of the Utah Wooden
Mills are being sold in Montana by
statesmen and others who allege that
the clothing is carrying the union
label when it is not or if there is a
label that it is not bona fide.
A letter was received from the
Local Chapter for the rehabilitation
of crippled children. The commu-
nication stated that the meeting
would be held on December 7th for
the purpose of electing officers and
any other necessary business, but
not to set any plans for the raising
of additional funds.
Secretary of the Trades and Labor
Council, Harry Grimes, was selected
to represent the central labor coun-
Gil at the meeting.
Jerry O'Connell promised to assist
the Trades and Labor Council in
their efforts to secure additional
wages on W. P. A. projects.
Senator Wheeler has taken the
question of continuance of study of
consumers purchases in Montana up
with the national administration, ac-
cording to word received from his
Washington secretary. A tentative
promise has been made that this
survey will be continued in Silver
Bow County.
It may be remembered that refer
ence had been made to this subject
before in this paper when it was
stated that an examination of min
ers' incomes and purchases had not
been comprehensive enough; that
the survey that had been made was
more or less fictitious owing to the
subjects of the survey being people
in the middle or upper classes and
hence giving an incorrect p~resenta-
ton of living costs and disburse-
ments here.
What the unions are trying to get
at in this matter is that the cost of
living exceeds the income. We want
to be able to prove it by Govern
ment figures.
The Social Security Board through
w. H. Hedges, formerly one of the
international officers of the Electro
clans union, informed the Trades and
Labor Council that registration of
all workers in industry coming I'M
der the National Security Act would
commence Immediately.
y
The Grievance Committee report
ed that the Bruce Cook Transfer
Company was fair to organized la
Dor. The Ryan Fruit Company of
Billings did not fare so well. This
firm operates independently from
the other Ryan concerns in the state
and the only solution the unions
could make in this matter was to try
and isolate them individually by
placing them on the Don't Patronize
List" The complaint against Ryan
Fruit came from Billings.
Montana labor news., 1936-11-19
ENTIRE U.s. SHIPPING HEADED FOR TIEUp
A5EA5T And GULF JOIN PACIFIC COAST STRIKE

/. Longshoremen average be-
tween $35 and S45 a week.
2. Not a single member of the
/. L. A. is unemployed or on
relief.
8. Sling loads average around
1900 lbs.
4. Six-hour day, 30-hour week.
5. Hiring through the l. L. A.
Hall, work is equally divided.
The above is typical of every
other craft represented in the mari
time industry, he declared. The East
Coast condition is entirely due to the
type of union leaders who have
played ball" with shipowners for
years without the consent and
against the wishes of the majority,
union rank and filters asserted.
Heavy Picketing
Meanwhile, on the West Coast
strong picket lines were maintained
in all ports with police and ship
owners cycling the men cautiously.
Seattle police and union leaders
conferred to work out a plan to pre-
vent any violence that might reflect
on the unions.
San Francisco maintained a strong
police force along the waterfront
with emergency headquarters in the
famed Ferry building.
San Pedro had nearly 800 addi-
tional police assigned to the port
and a request to the city council for
an additional $4,000 to feed, house
and equip them.
Evidence was uncovered to show
shipowners had a $3.50, 000, 900 war
chest, which they prepared to spend
at the rate of $1,000,0 900 daily to pro-
long the strike. This amount would
go to take care of the profits made
in normal times, the evidence indi-
Gated.
Disguised with the stubborn atti-
tude of shipowners, Assistant Sec
rotary of Labor McGrady, in San
Francisco from the start of the
trouble, prepared to head back to
Washington, certain he was wasting
his time on the coast"
Hints that President Roosevelt
was calling his cabinet into special
session to discuss the possibility of
manning the strike-bound ships with
navy and naval reserve personnel
were discounted throughout union
circles.
All agreed such a proposal would
never receive the approval of this
administration.
Owners Balk
Shipowners' Association of the
Pacific, operators of the coastwise
vessels, blasted an early hope for
peace after a reported readiness to
resume negotiations with Masters,
Mates and Pilots when they met and
turned thumbs down on the propo-
sition.
Longshoremen handled mail and
passengers baggage on incoming
struck ships and continued to handle
these commodities on foreign ships
leaving port.
That was the only sign of activity
in the struck Pacific ports.
CONTINUED to Page g.