Montana labor news., 1937-03-04

Several letters we're received by
the Trades and Labor Council last
Tuesday from Senators Wheeler and
Murray and Congressman Jerry ].
O'Connell. Most of them dealt with
President Roosevelt's reorganization
Of the Supreme Court. Senator
Wheeler expressed himself as vigor-
ously opposed to it. He seems to be
fearful that such a measure would
be the means of the Government
and its agencies and courts at some
time in the future crushing the rights
of the common people. Mr.. Wheeler
cited the hysteria that took place
during the war ana the suppression
or the attempted suppression of free
speech, free assmebly at that time,
and how the Senator himself was
assailed for his liberal ideas at that
time.
However the Trades and Labor
Council is still of the opinion that
they should go ahead and support
the President in his plan to unpack
the Supreme Court, as it was de-
scribed by Jerry O'Connell. The
unions are placing their faith in the
President. In the opinion of most
of the delegates, the Supreme Court
has always acted adversely to the
common people and that by %increas-
ing the judges no more harm can re-
suit than has resulted in the past.
An amendment which will perma-
nently strip the Supreme Court of
its power is also desired by labor.
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Petitions were received from
members of the Legislature accom-
panied by letters describing the petit
tons. The petitions relate to House
Bill SIS and Senate Bill II. These
measures were passed during the
session of the Legislature. One of
them was a reorganization of the
Liquor Control Board. It eliminated
the Board of Equalization from hav-
ing control over the operations of
the liquor traffic in Montana and
placed this control under another
board under the supervision of the
Governor.
The other measure related to the
power of the Governor to hire and
discharge appointive officers. Now
these petitions are for the purpose
of acquiring enough signatures in
order that they may be submitted
to the people for their vote at the
next General Elactis-A 1888. Both
the petitions and the letters were
referred to the Legislative Com
mittee of the Council.
The Chicago Federation of Labor
sent in a letter asking the unions if
they knew anything of the where
abouts Of E. G. Cornell, who it APP
pears had committed some irregular
tiles with that organization. The
from Chicago is published in
full elsewhere in the paper.
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The Silver Bow Trades and Labor
Council pledged its support to the
federal projects and relief organiza-
ion in their protest against any cuts
n wages, frightening of hours, or
contemplated dismissal of single men
single women from the WPA
projects.
MI. Paul Erler stated that he had
been notified to appear at the Will
ard Hotel at Washington, D. c., on
March 9th to attend a meeting of
Non-Partisan League.
This session of Labor's Non-Parti-
an League will be devoted almost
'ntirely to a proposition of endors-
ng R~oosevelt's Judicial Program.
Ir. Erler said that he will bring
Jack with him reports of the meet
ng and information for the dele
'ates in regard to this subject. How
'ver he asked all organizations affil
ated with the Silver Bow Trades
md Labor Council to write him
etters either at his home address,
.l8 South Jackson Street. or to hand