Montana labor news., 1937-07-01
LABOR'S PRESIDENT
SUBMITS BRILLIANT
CONVENTION SPEECH
Graham Covers Field of Events
for the Past Year; Predicts
Bright Future for Organized
Labor.
This Message to Be Run Serially
in the Montana Labor News
Until Completed.

Ontll competed.
Our fortieth convention finds the
country in a much more improved
condition than has existed during the
previous seven years, but with the
problem of unemployment unsolved.
During the past year labor has
made great gains in organizing, Sc
curing better working conditions,
higher wages and shorter hours.
However, to hold the gains made
our organization must be extended
and a vigorous campaign of trade
union education launched.
State Legislation
The recent session of the State
Legislature witnessed a senate very
hostile to labor; in fact, the senate
was the most reactionary and sub
servient in the history of Montana.
Labor legislation was given scant
consideration and treated with con-
tempt by the great majority of the
senator's, many of whom proved
themselves to be economic ignor-
amuses. Senators Drumheller of
Glacier County and Robinson of
Phillips were the outstanding I'M
compromising opponents of labor
legislation. Nevertheless we made
some gains in spite of all opposition.
Among the laws enacted was the
Teachers Retirement Fund, provid-
ing for approximation of teachers
or old age pension for teachers; also
the eight hour day for firefighters
with the three platoon system and
a minimum wage; some amendments
to the Workmen's Compensation act,
and minor Improvements to existing
labor laws. However, the great ma
jority of labor bills was slaughtered
in the senate.
A bill to guarantee the payment
of wages to miners, oil and gas well
workers was passed by both houses,
after considerable opposition, but
was vetoed by the governor after the
legislature had adjourned. The gov
ernor in his veto intimated that the
bill was unconstitutional and class
legislation. 1t would have been much
fairer had the governor allowed the
Supreme Court to pass upon the con-
stitutionality of the law. Then labor
would have had a chance to be heard
by council as to its merits. Thou
sands Of workers are defrauded out
of their hard-earned wages each year
in Montana by INSCRIPTIONS employ
ers. To attempt to secure justice by
legislation for the unpaid workers
who are defrauded of their hard
earned wages by dead-beat COM
panies surely should not be termed
class legislation.
Since the governor vetoed the
wage guarantee bill a group of coal
miners in Bear Creek have been left
with unpaid wage claims to the
amount to $1,700. We hope that in the
future the governor will make an ex-
tended investigation before he vetoes
bills in the interest of labor which
may be passed by the legislature.
The Shorter Work Day Amendment
The greatest gain we have secured
in labor legislation iii many years
was the constitutional amendment
adopted by the voters at the last
election. This amendment gives the
legislature power to reduce the hours
of labor to any number of hours
whenever it is for the general well
fare. A heavy and extensive cam
paign was waged against the amend
ment by the opponents of the short
er work day. The amendment was
defeated in thirty-three counties,
while twenty-three counties gave it
a sufficient majority to overcome the
adverse vote in the other counties,
and a majority of three thousand in
the state.
The vote of labor on the constitu-
tional amendment proves that when
labor is united on any referendum
measure in this state the measure
will be passed, as organized labor
has the votes to enact any legisla-
ton desired.
Social Security
The Social Security measure
enacted by the recent legislature is
not just what was hoped for. The
old age pension provides for a miser-
able pittance to its recipients for the
next two years. This old age pen
sion will average around the measly
sum of S16 a month. Some study
should be made of this act, so that
voters may be acquainted with the
provisions of the law, and amend
ments made which would prevent
the county commissioners from max
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