Montana labor news., 1937-04-01
What's Happening
in the Unions
ERLER RECEIVES
GOVERNMENT PLACE

Paul Erler has been appointed
United States Deputy Marshal to
succeed James Batchoff who was re-
Gently appointed chief enforcement
officer in the State Liquor Division.
MI. Erler has been an employee of
the Oates and Roberts printing estab-
lishment as a presSman and belongs
to the Printing Pressmen's Union.
He has been state organizer for the
pressmen for a number of years and
has assisted in the consummation of
contracts between his organization
and employers. Mr.. Erler has served
as president of the Silver Bow
Trades and Labor Council for a
number of terms and is state presi-
dent of the Non-Partisan League,
chairman of the Roosevelt birthday
balls, has served as chairman of the
Independent School Ticket, and is a
prominent Democrat. Senator
Wheeler recommended Mr.. Erler for
his new position.
c. J. johnson, a member of the
Electricians Union and one of the
most progressive men in the ranks
of organized labor in Montana, was
endorsed for the position of State
Electrical Inspector by the Silver
Bow Trades and Labor Council upon
a request sent in by the Butte Local
No. IS of the Electricians Union, to
which he belongs.
Mr.. Johnson was largely instru-
mental in having the last session of
the Legislature pass an electrical in
spection bill providing for an inspec-
tor of all overhead wires. The Cas-
cade County Trades and Labor As
sembly has also endorsed Mr.. John
son for this position. The secretary
was instructed to notify the three
members of the Railway Commits
sion of the action taken by the Butte
central labor council.
= . q
Another matter that was submit
ted by the Electrical Workers last
Tuesday and which was also en-
dorsed by the central labor council
related to a request that had been
made by the Electrical Workers upon
the City Council to increase the pay
of the city electricians from 5000 to
$225 per month and to also increase
the electrician of the Fire Depart
ment from $185 a month to 5000 a
month. The secretary of the Trades
Council was instructed to notify the
City Council of the action taken by
the Trades and Labor Council.
The Electrical Workers are staging
a benefit dance for Joe O'Donnell, a
member of their organization who
was struck by a hit-and-run driver
and is now confined to the hospital.
The dance will be held at the Car
penters Union hall Friday evening,
April 8.
A report was made of the meeting
of the National Youth Administra-
ton at Helena Thursday, March %.
After everyone had got through
talking about it and after the groups
at the closing of the meeting had
finished their discussion, the atti-
tude of organized labor could hardly
be said to be in favor of the opera
tons of the NYA, although in accord
with its purposes. Some of the ideas
brought out suggested that organized
labor should take a more active part
in NYA work and conferences in or
der to expand the good features OF
it and to at least attempt to elm
mate some of its worst features.
1t can be said in all truthfulness
that the general rank and file OF
organized labor doesn't understand
the question. In fact the instruc-
ton in the high schools, the CCC
camps, and the National Youth Ad-
ministration are all more or less tied
up in their purposes. Organized Ia
Dor is rather suspicious of some OF
the work of the NYA, especially in
communities that are unorganized
The merchants in these towns, and
Bozeman was one of the places re-
ferred to, degrade a very worthy and
idealistic enterprise in order to make
more profits by driving down wages