Montana labor news., 1937-08-05
LABOR MOURNS BEADLE

1t seems particularly unfortunate that M. Kerr Beadle
should die at this time. One cannot help but recoDect that the
late Senator Walsh of Montana died shortly after he had been
appointed to the Presidents cabinet. There is a parallel be-
tween these two cases. M. Kerr Beade had just been elevated
to the official family of Harrison J. F~reebourn, Attorney Gen
.eral of Montana, but never lived to see the day he was to take
up his official duties.
Many of the labor organizations in Montana and many
individuals sincerely devoted to the labor cause, had asked
MIR. Freebourn to put M. Kerr Beadle in this position.
The unions of the state of Montana held a convention at
|Bozeman the week of June %, 1887. MI. Beadle was invited
to address that convention. The writer of this article stood
in the back of the hall and listened to MI. Beadles talk. He
will retain that picture as long as he lives. The speaker was
tracing the developments of the last several legislative sessions
and the efforts of the labor unions to pass remedial legislation
MIR. Beadle described his efforts in assisting the unions to get
some Of these measures enacted. President James Graham of
the Montana Federation of Labor complimented Mr.. Beadle.
in his Introductory remarks and characterized him as one of
the best friends of labor that Montana had ever produced. 1t
is difficult in a few lines to describe and to convey to the people
how the labor unions feel about this man and all the services
he has rendered, but if all else is omitted reference should be
made to the time he was Mayor and to the time that the Team
sters went out on strike.
In the ordinary course of events in the United States, May
ors, Sheriffs, County Attorneys, and other officials of govern
ment usually favor the corporations; usually deputize en-
ployees of these corporations to break strikes or to embarrass
as much as possible the aspirations and aims OF the striking
unions, but not Mr.. Beadle. He depulzed members OF the
Transfers Union. Not that he wanted to favor this union; not
that he wanted to favor organized labor, but ne just wanted
to be fair. He placed the responsibility of maintaining law and
order, as the capitalists describe II, upon he snoudeIs OIL the
Transfers organization. He seemed to want to invest the or
ganization with an obligation of its duties. There wasn't any
strife in this strike. There wasn't any turmoil or violence.
The Transfers Union won the strike, it is true, but the pro-
cedure of a Mayor of a city recognizing the responsibility of
a union to maintain order in the community was something
new in the industrial economy Of the nation. Kerr Beadle did
that. He was fair. The unions have never asked anything
other than fairness. The Federal Government and nearly all
of its subordinate units including the states, counties, town
ships. are all enemies of the common people. This is not say
ing TOO much. Governments do not function in the interest
of the common people. Beade seemed to realize this funda-
mental fact SO rare in politicians. That is why labor loved
him. That is why labor will revere him. His death presents
Ia loss that may not be fulfilled in a generation. One man like
IBeadle in a community of the strife-torn middle west and
eastern states would stand glorifed in the eyes of the entire
world. We mourn his loss.