davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1937-07-04

done about the matter until May 6,
when a crowd Of some 5000 persons
assembled outside the factory. Most
of them were workers in Union shops
in the city who had been called out
for the demonstration. Leader sent a
police lieutenant to the head of the
company, William Meyer, demanding
an immediate conference. Meyer re-
fused to confer in the presence of the
crowd, but offered to meet Leader In
his attorneys office.
Leaders reply was to declare Sit
down strike. The ensuing events are
described as follows in the court S
opinion:
Immediately volley OF bricks,
stones and pipe was thrown through
the windows. breaking practically
every pane OF glass the sashes were
broken out and some OF Leader S
crowd were tossed in through the
windows the front door was bat
tered down and the crowd rushed in.
broke down partitions, dumped out
files. threw adding machines and
typewriters around and smashed lip
things generally. The Apex employees
sought refuge in the wareroom to
keep from being struck with bricks
and to avoid bodily harm, but they
were crowded out Of there and finally
forced up to the sixth floor"
Meyer, incidentally, was struck on
Evening star., 1937-07-04
"Burt" Wheeler Oils His Six-Sh00ter

over the expansive reaches Of Mon
tana.
OF course, he mixed in local politics,
and it wasn't long before the powers
that be were sizing him up as good
material and sent him of to the State
Legislature with their Endorsement,
which was no small boost in those
days. The youngest lawyer elected, he
was given one Of the important chair
manships-the Judiciary Committee.
But apparently he wasn't grateful
and it wasn't long before his conduct
was highly displeasing to the machine
that had picked him for what in these
days might be styled "stooge.' At
the next election it said 50 with votes.
Defeat by Vote and a Half.
Wheeler then began running for
Office and being defeated. For attor-
ney general Of the State he lost by just
one vote and a half; for Governor he
was soundly thrashed
From then on it was plain war
fare About this time the late Sena-
tor Walsh came into Wheelers ken,
and they soon found much in COM
mon
Wheeler was a Democrat and has
stuck to that label, but he didn't
please the Democrats in those early
days, and with the Endorsement Of the
Non-partisan League, both regular
parties joined in crying him down
However what he lost in votes he
made up in clients, and his steadily
growing law practice soon approached
the largest in the State.
When President Wilson was elected,
Wheeler's brand Of democracy was
appreciated In Washington If it wasn't
at home, and he received his first
national recognition. He WAS ap-
pointed United States district attor-
ney. The Harding landslide engulfed
him, but didn't stop him. When he
stepped out again, this time rs q
candidate for the United States Sen
ate. he got the largest majority ever
| given to 4 Democrat.
Evening star., 1937-07-04

When they were through there was
no use trying to catch the train
Burton Kendale Wheeler ought to
be grateful to that little group in
the back room Of the saloon who took
away his last nickel and forced him
to 60 back, at 8 O'Clock In the evening
and take the job he had passed up
earlier in the day.
Because from then on Monta ma be-
gan to be good to him, although some
Of the early gifts we're offered with
the reverse English, or perhaps at
least as blessings in heavy disguise.
He Came From Massac husetts.
When young Wheeler was gradu-
ated in 1900 from high school in
Hudson, Mass, where there have been
members Of that family ever since
the Pilgrims settled there, he prob
ably could bound the State of Mon
tana. But it isn't likely he ever
imagined he'd inhabit 1t.
He went into business, but he
dreamed of the law. A relative in
MlClAsAA SuBBcSCcu LLdL -lc COulu
work his way through the university
there. So after he had taken a mea-
ger harvest from the world Of busi-
ness he went to Ann Arbor.
There, during vacations, he en-
gagged in the traditional activities Of
the student Of the day-selling books.
Thus he finished his law course and
| set out toward the setting sun. He
covered good deal Of territory,
worked a few months in = law once
in Colorado, and then hit Butte as a
| footsore and foot-loose tenderfoot,
and encountered the adventure afore-
mentioned.
Admitted to Montana Bar.
1t wasn't long before he had out
grown his first job and passed his
State bar examina ton. Three years
later he was able to take trip back
to Illinois to follow up an important
prospect he had left there on one Of
Evening star., 1937-07-04

Se'Sibet. iinS toihC ~
4 the inevitable fork in the road
In the near future its leaders must
decide which path they are going to
take-Whether they will 60 to the right
or to the left. This Is a decision,
however 1t goes. that will affect inti-
mately the welfare of millions OF
Americans and determine whether the
leaders OF labor will destroy them
selves or lead their followers to the
benefits they justly deserve.
To the right lies q course OF mod
eration-an opportunity for effective
labor action which is not predica ted
on the assumption that Rome. after
! all, can be built In a day 1t en-
braces respect for law and the rights Of
| others. and recognizes that the people
as a whole have vital interest in
the preservation of these pillars of
our social stAlcture
So far, however. laboy as repre-
/ sented by John l.. Lewis and the
c. I. o. has shown q decided prefer
ence for the path leftward, which
| leads to violence, bloodshed and eco
nomic disaster. Its selection must
rest on the assumption that the end
1ustifles any means and that haste
is the all-important factor. 1t is
course that may lead to immediate
successes, but in the end it will
destroy the sympathy for the labor
| movement that has spread through
out the country in recent years.
New Menacins Factors.
At the present time 1t is difficult
to appraise with accuracy the serious
ness OF the condition revealed by the
steel strike and allied disorders. There
Is danger of being swayed by mass
hvsteria and failing to view the
facts in their proper perspective. 1t
has been said. and properly so, that
there have been serious labor troubles
In the past which did not permanently
disturb the progress OF industrial de-
velopment. Today, however, there are
new and menacing factors in the
industrial picture.
Chief among these is an amazing
trend away from the long "A ccepted
theory that democracy rests on re-
spect for established law. In many
labor disorders law has been treated
as an instrument OF convenience
to be used when 1t serves a desired
purpose and ignored when it does
not. And of greater significance. this
attitude has been encouraged. at
least tacitly, by public officials in
high places.
This is trend that cannot be
permitted to expand indefinitely with
out leading the Nation into chaos.
Unless it is checked voluntarily, re-
action will come and an effort will
be made to curb it with force.
That is a prospect many thoughtful
men view with the utmost concern.
Before considering suggested reme-
dies for labor excesses, such as the
proposal for compulsory incorpora-
ton Of labor unions, the evils that
are to be corrected should be ex-
amined with care
Incidents such as the sit-down
strikes. dynamiting of the water main
leading to the Bethlehem Steel plant
in Johnstown, Pa, open defiance Of
Evening star., 1937-07-04

No sooner had he arrived in Wash
ington than he began looking for
scalps He started the motion that
caused the trial of Attorney General
Daugherty and opened up the in
volved scandal that put Tom Miller
in prison. broke Warren Harding's
heart and extended after his death
into President Coolidges regime.
Naturally, he made plenty of enc
mics. and it wasn't long before Wheel
er found himself indicted. He was
charged with improper acceptance Of
fees and use Of his position in con-
nection with lottery. Senator
Walsh defended him and he was ac-
quilted. Another knock that proved
to be boost for his political stock
Then, as If he hadn't experienced
enough excitement already, he teamed
up with Senator La Toilette, the SEN
ior, In his vain dash for the White
House. Senator La Toilette came to
Senator Wheeler and asked him to
run for Vice President. Senator
Wheeler didn't think much of the
idea, less OF his chance for success.
But he agreed. There was one cres-
cendo of hope during the campaign
when both the other parties were a
little worried. But 1t was prema-
ture burst and didn't carry. The vote
was just about what Senator Wheeler
had predicted it would beat his
least optimistic moment.
Back in Senate Again.
In 1884, he came back to his Office
in the Senate Building with the pic
lures Of the high mountains and the
deep valleys Of his adopted State on
the walls, and victory measured in
the same magnificent dimensions.
His hair Is q little thinner than it
was, but he can wake the echoes with
the same thunder he released when he
first arrived. He is still up and at 'em.
And the higher they ny the more
anxious he Is to make them fall.
30, watch Thursday, next!
Evening star., 1937-07-04
BY H. r.. BAUKHAGE.
YANKEE from Montan

~ ucSIlllS llS Sduulc kL VI anu
~ oiling the old six-gun while
4 A you folks are preparing to
shoot of squibs and pinwheels.
He's Burton K Wheeler, Senator
from the Bonanza State, and he's rid
ing herd on the boys who are going
to fight the administration court bill
if it takes the last syllable In the I'M
abridged dictionary.
Not SO long ago." this writer re-
marked to Senator Wheeler, on the
eve of the battle, you and the New
Deal were pretty we'll in step. How
goes it now?"
His Views the Same.
A little breathlessly, for he had been
riding pretty hard, politically speak
ing, for the past few hours, the Sem
ator responded in approximately these
words:
Il have the same views on economic
questions as I did. am going along
with the administration in that re-
gard, just about as I did before. But
there is nothing either liberal or pro-
gressive in the Presidents court pro-
posal.
Il feel that the Constitution belongs
to the people. If they want to change
it they should do it by constitutional
amendment"
He doesn't usually turn back He
did once, though, and if he hadn't
well, the story would have been quite
different anyhow.
Lost His Last Nickel.
This Is how it happened:
Some three decades ago solicitous,
self-appointed Reception Committee
looked over a lad in his early 20s
waiting for train out of Butte. They
were moved to provide him some en-
tertainment. They offered him drink,
which he refused; proffered a cigar,
which he accepted. and then induced
him to take his first lesson in poker.
Evening star., 1937-07-04

the shoulder with a brick and pum-
meled. but stood firm in his refusal
to sign the contract.
Then, the opinion continued, 'the
mob which had taken possession Of
the plant began violently to attack
one that it produced a fracture OF the
skull, fracture OF the jaw; both eyes
were closed and he was black and blue
from his shoulders up. He was con-
fined to the Episcopal Hospital for
! three weeks. They beat another en-
ploye with fists and a piece of pipe
until he was unconscious bruising his
eyes and body, and breaking Ave Of his
ribs, so that he was confined in the
hospital for considerable time. They
broke two ribs Of Elwood Struve. plain
tltfs general manager. Others were
knocked down, beaten. and kicked
after they were down and otherwise
injured.
Employees Sign In Fear.
While this violence was taking
place and the employees were in fear
OF more serious injury, they were
forced to sign union pledge cards, Of
which the following is copy:
"'Pledge Card.
American Federation Of Hosiery
Workers. Branch No. /,
Affiliated with the C. I. O. COMMITTEE
for Industrial Organization).
81 hereby accept membership in
the American Federation of Hosiery
Workers Union and of my free will
authorize its representatives to act
for me as collective bargaining
agency in all matters of wages, hours
Of employment, single machine sys-
tenn on leggers, union agreement
closed shop and check-of1 system OF
dues and assessments.
II pledge myself If called upon tC
go on a sit-down strike with other
workers Of the Apex Silk Hosiery Co
to bring about full recognition of our
demands and the union.'"
The outside strikers then took pos
session of the plant and refused to
/ permit the shipment Of 100000 OF
/ finished goods. nor would they permit
maintenance care of $50 delicate ma
chimes worth about $4,000 each.
( Wagner Act Invoked.
/ The lower court dismissed the suit
for injunction on the ground that
| the actions did not constitute inter-
| ference with interstate commerce Re-
versing this ruling, the Court of Ap-
peals relied on the Supreme Court.
ruling in the Wagner cases, pointing
! out for the first time that the Wagner
ruling brings workers engaged in
manufacturing, as we'll as the en-
ployers, within the reach of the Fed
eral Government.
The appellate court then held thai
the employer was entitled to an in.
junction compelling the strikers te
leave his plant under the provisions
Of the Sherman act. This act. if the
employer desires to press a claim, also
authorizes assessment Of triple dam
ages against the union and the in.
dividual members and officers.
"Underlying this case" the opinion
added, "is the question OF whether 8
few lawless individuals. ignoring the
Wagner act and in defiance OF al
law and order should be permitted
Continued on Page D-3)
Evening star., 1937-07-04
Soap Found Inside Catfish.

SCHUYLER, Nebr. LR-Tom Dam
lei of Schuyler said he found bar
Of soap In 5-pound catfish he caught
in . lake near here, but the fish still
needed cleaning.
Evening star., 1937-07-04
Labor Unions and the Law

Kennedy
New
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-12-09

fund withdrawal proposal is the cur
tailment of the building program.
Road building in the state would be
slashed from a $9,70O,O0O program
this year to a meager 100000 pro-
gram for next year and that entire
bill will be paid by the state. Hun
dreds of communities throughout the
state will see their dreams of i'm
proved roads 60 aglimmering.
Minnesota needs good roads, not
only because of their convenience to
pleasure seekers, but from stand
point of necessity. Its winters are
such that its highways, if the people
are to adequately 60 about their
daily avocations, must be well i'm
proved in order to keep them free
from snow.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-12-09

point out, with our resources and
machinery and technical ability, we
could produce enough for the nation
so that we would all have as good or
better living than we now have by
working 31a hours per day; that is
providing interest, profit and rent
was eliminated and things were
handled at cost.
Coming back to our county COM
missioner's night dream, I would say
since the World war our Industrial
lists have invested in foreign lands the
sum of 100000 which they
took out of the toll of the American
people; according to the latest CEN
sus report it would mean over S123
per capita Under socialism that
money could have been used to build
roads with for the benefit of the ma
ton instead of investing it in for
eign lands. venture to say we would
all have better roads than we now
have. But as it is under a profit
system the $4,000, 100000 may get
us into trouble in case of war.
LAWRENCE V. UBL.
Hinckley, Mimi, Dec. S, 1887.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-12-09
URGES NEUTRALITY
.SkOV American:

EQ1tOr ASkOV American.
1 want to compliment our Farmer
Labor senators, Shipstead and Lun-
deem, on the courageous stand they
have taken on the question of Amer
lean neutrality 1 believe as they do,
that we can keep out of war only by
adopting a policy of absolute neu-
trality and keeping our hands off
Europe, Asia and Africa.
There are two entirely different
schools of thought in the Farmer
Labor party. Real American liberals
who have founded the Farmer-Labor
party agree with Shipstead and Lun-
deem, while extreme radicals led by
freshman John T. Bernard, Eveleth
Congressman, demand that we aid
the Spanish Reds and intervene in
the conflict between China and
Japan. 1 say, let us stay at home and
mind our own business, regardless
of Bernard and his radical followers
CARL E. DAVIDSON.
Kettle River, Mimi, Dec. 7, 1887.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-12-09
ready made by The Journal, that if

ready made by The Journal, that if
the federal government cuts down
aid and uses all these tax revenues
for other purposes, it will be doing
just what it penalties the states for
doing. The Bureau of Public Roads
cuts down federal aid to states that
divert gasoline taxes to other than
road uses. AS Mr.. Elsberg says if the
government is going to sin in this
respect, at least it should cease to
discipline the states for the same
offense
Senator Hayden, co-author of the
Act under which federal aid is dis
pensed, made the same point on the
Senate floor in discussing the Presi-
dents message. He showed that the
federal taxes in the motor industry
will amount to $50 million this year,
according to official estimates, while
only 238 million year goes back to
the states for highway improvement
Cut that to 1875 million, as proposed,
and Uncle Sam will be diverting
more than 60 per cent of the motor
ists's money to the general expenses
of the government.
Regardless of its outcome, the con-
troversy illustrates again the hard
road that must be travelled, once the
government has embarked on policy
of spending, when it attempts to re-
trace its steps. 1t is easy to spend
hard to stop.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-12-09
Argument For Road.
Funds

A wave of protest from through
out the nation has reached the ears
of congress since the proposal to dis
continue appropriation of federal
highway funds to the various states
in 1888 was given. Logically speak
ing from an unemployment stand
point a discontinuance of the funds
would be bad.
In regards to our states situation
it would mean that the most of ID,
900 men who had jobs in the con-
struction program of the Highway
Department during the past year
would be laid off and would either
be forced to find jobs elsewhere OF
90 on relief. Should the latter situa-
ton arise, the relief bill would rise
to an alarming figure which would
possibly reach near the figure saved
and that bill of course must be paio
by the state.
Furthermore Minnesota motorists
are paying 100000 per year ir
federal taxes and that money would
be just thrown ''out of the window
as far as the state is concerned. Ir
other words it appears that gas tas
money would be used for purpose:
other than building or maintaining
roads and that would not be fair tt
motorists.
Another angle which highway of.
ficials strike at when criticising the
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-12-09
MINNESOTA'S ROAD AID
(The Minneapolis Journal)


Highway Commissioner Elsberg has
ably stated the case against curtail-
ment of federal road aid, as proposed
by President Roosevelt Mr. Elsberg's
message to the Minnesota delegation
in Congress tells what this state is
doing now to help finance the federal
aid appropriations, and to what ex-
tent Minnesota is sharing in the dis
tribution
1t appears from the Commissioner S
statement that Minnesota motorists
are paying 3d. million dollars year
in federal taxes on gasoline and lubri-
eating oils, plus the excise taxes on
sales of cars and accessories. The
Highway Department is getting 35
million a year for road construction,
which has to be matched by state
funds. If the curtailment goes
through, this aid will be lost next
year. The state already has pledged
the expected funds for number of
construction projects, which would
have to be dropped. The state plan
ming survey under way, which prom
Uses considerable benefit, could not
be completed. Cancellation of build
ing plans would deprive ten thousand
men of jobs next year, and thus add
to the critical difficulties of unem-
ployment.
MIR. Elsberg stresses a point al
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-12-09
NIGHT DREAMS
Editor Askov American:

Editor ASkOv American:
Recently I talked with one of our
county commissioners and he told
me that he was lying awake nights
trying to figure out ways and means
how to build county roads so that
they will stand up under the heavy
traffic of trucks that are used nova
days and keep the county from going
into debt any further, or from going
broke I told him that it couldn't
be done under our capitalistic profit
system, because Pine county is prin-
cipally dependent upon the farmers.
And as long as the cost of produc-
ton is denied the farmers so that
we can't make both ends meet, he
couldn't expect anything else.
Medical care is denied the ma
jority of people and the future looks
very dark for the youth, and the
way the cards are stacked we are
only prolonging the hardship for the
majority of the people. Under our
profit system yesterday, as stock
holder in the Coop Telephone Co.,
l attended the annual meeting at
Hinckley. 1 could see by the report
that was given that the board tries
its best to make a success of the
Coop Telephone Co., for the benefit
of the community it serves.
While a cooperative institution is
organized for the benefit of the peo-
pie in the community it serves, which
is socialism on a small scale and
knowing the board as 1 do, know
they don't believe in the socialistic
principals, but nevertheless they are
faithfully working towards it. 1t
appears to me that the majority of
the people do like the good things
of life that we could enjoy under
socialism. AS our technical engineers
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-12-09

lowed to pile up. When the depres-
sion hit in 1929 these corporations
withheld the dividends, the small
common stockholders not receiving
dividends and being hard up for
ready cash had to sacrifice their
stock. For instance, one large cor
poration's stock dropped from 500
per share to SIS per share, at the same
time they had enough money in their
surplus to pay the stockholders more
than SIS per share. BY allowing the
earnings of business and industry
to pile up and not being distributed
back into the channels of trade the
depression was aggravated and pro-
longed.
The New Deal understood this and
hence the surplus profit tax you hear
so much about. BY taxing these huge
SURPRISES the tendency is to force
the corporations to declare dividends
to their common stockholders. I'm
less money is kept in constant cir
culation we are bound to have one
depression after another. No matter
how good business is the money
will not revert back in the channels
of trade, unless things are so regu-
lated that it is forced back There
is no use to expand any industry
unless there is a market for the re-
sultant expansion. The only way
the industries of the United States
can secure market is by keeping the
buying power of the people up. By
withholding dividends and allowing
huge SURPRISES to accumulate the buy
ing power of course recedeS.
S. J. SIMONSEN.
Pease, Mimi, Dec. 3, 1887.