Montana labor news., 1937-10-14
.ST0RTz, WHEELER Sec,
Presents APPEAL TO
GREAT FALLS UNIONS

peared before the Assembly and in
comments relating to the wage and
hour bill pending before the national
Legislature stated that in his opinion
the bill contained dangerous provi-
sions to labor. He called to mind
that if Congress could establish mini
mum hours and wages they probably
could establish maximum wages and
hours.
The speaker sought to defend SEN
ator Wheeler's position on the Su-
preme Court bill He also mentioned
that Senator Wheeler had offered
an amendment which would allow
Congress to override a court veto.
It must be reflected that even if
Senator Wheeler did offer an amend
ment that many others were offered
at the same time and that it was a
habit of many senators and congress-
men to offer amendments which they
never hoped to see passed.
= = =
A resolution was adopted by the
Assembly putting a boycott on pur-
chase of japanese goods. Copies of
the resolution were ordered sent to
Secretary of State Corden Hull, also
to Montana senator's and congress-
men, the press and all of the central
labor councils in the state.
Delegates from the Workers Ali
ance submitted resolutions and a
written report urging that Messrs.
Wilson, Thurston, and Van Bonhorst
be removed from the local Public
Welfare Commission and further re-
questing that a member of the As
sembly accompany a delegation to
Helena to review the subject. The
chairman appointed Brother Lawr-
ence Nelson in place of Bernal Leary
who was unable to act on that com
mittee. The request of the Workers
Alliance was granted.
y =
The Carpenters Union has de-
clared the Fairfield Resettlement
Project unfair and any member of
their union who works there on
these contracts is subject to a fine
of $3.50. The Cascade Trades and
Labor Council has c~oncurred in the
action of the Carpenters.
= 3 =
The Montana Welfare Commission
notified the unions that the matter
Of %certification of youths under the
National Youth Administration had
been referred to Miss Lillian Jel-
strab for investigation. The COM
munication from the Welfare Com
mission was given to the Workers
Alliance.
That efforts have been made to
force youths into the Gee by politi-
cal bureaus is common knowledge.
1t is also alleged that the quota per-
mitted under the NYA has not been
filled. Some say counties wouldn't
permit certification because the
youths refused to join the CCC. It
has now been definitely a~scertained,
however, that if the Civilian Con
s%ervation Corps is aware that there
has been any coercion used from
any source in getting the youths to
join, they will be refused even if
the parents have coerced them to
join.
A letter was received from Mr..
Claire Flint, chairman of the YGB
Highway Committee in which he ex-
pressed his appreciation for the fine
cooperation of the Trades and Labor
Assembly and especially that of
President Bruce Steinmetz at the
Livingston meeting. The letter
further stated that it was the inten-
ton to use Mr.. Steinmetz on addi-
tional important committees in the
near future.
The business agent of the Clerks
reported that only one firm in Great
Falls was handling Curlee Clothes
and this firm has agreed not to order
more.
A rather interesting report was
made from a special committee
which had been appointed to in
vestigate the possibility of setting
up a central labor office. In this
report the committee gave as their
conviction that such an office was
possible and should be established.
= =
The committee in charge of char
tering a special train to Fort Peck
reported that the endeavor was a
huge success, $50 persons having
taken advantage of the trip. Vice
President Nelson thanked the AS
sembly and the delegates for their
assistance in making the venture a
success. He also mentioned that la
Dor was pleased and gratified at the
opportunity to extend the greeting
of labor to President Roosevelt. A
colloquy occurred between President
Roosevelt and Vice President Nelson
of the Assembly as follows: Presi-
dent Roosevelt, "How are your or