Montana labor news., 1937-01-21
WHITM0RE REPORTS
TO CASCADE UNIONS
Brewery Pays High Wage Scale.

GREAT FALLS. - The Cascade
Trades and Labor Council had a very
busy session on January is, new
members being obligated and many
communications being read and act
ed upon.
Governor A. B. Chandler of Ken
lucky stated that he thought the
Harlan miners had been given fair
trial and that he did not feel free
to exercise executive clemency. This
is a case of miners charged with
murder growing out of a strike.
Jerry O'Connell notified the Great
Falls unions, as also did Senator
Wheeler, they were trying to get
increased appropriations for WPA
work,
Mr.. R. c. Lott and Lawrence Mel
son have been appointed chairmen
of the labor division of the Presi-
dents Birthday Ball.
A letter was also received from
the Maritime Workers of San Fran
cisco, requesting the assembly to
adopt a resolution requesting the
Legislative Committee of the A. F.
of L. to withdraw their support from
the ship subsidy act and the safety
at sea act. On motion this request
was granted.
In another resolution the Montana
Power Company was condemned. A
copy of this resolution was sent to
the Congressman and Senators at
Washington and to the members of
the Legislature at Helena. A news
paper item relating to the same SUBJ
ject was released by the Shelter
mems Union.
A committee that had been ap-
pointed to interview the city council
reported that this body had appoint
ed Mr.. Eustance, a member of the
Butchers union for the position of
alderman.
Chairman ~Steinmetz reported that
he had authority for WPA workers
to work Saturday and Sundays. This
order was issued due to former in
clement weather and because of loss
of time, and this order permits suf-
ficient days work to insure a full
check.
Chairman Steinmetz also reported
that 440 persons certified for WPA
work were unable to get work and
that the closing of the zinc plant
would place 400 additional men on
the market. At this time it was
ordered that the publicity committee
take a r of all correspondence and
resolutions relating to the matter for
increased WPA quotas and the pub
licizing of the lack of power caused
by improper planning on the part
of the local public utilities.
At this point, Mr.. Dunbar, presi-
dent of the Cereal Workers of Boze-
man, was introduced and gave a
vivid description of conditions in
Gallatin County. At the close of his
remarks he was informed by Mr..
Colwell, business agent Of the Clerks
Union that the Clerks International
Union. had put a full time organizer
in the state and that he would begin
his duties in Bozeman.
Homer Whitmore, who is lobbyist
at Helena in the interests of the
unions, made a report. His reports
hereafter will be made a part of the
assembly records. Whitmore re-
ceived compliments from the Engi-
neers and Teamsters on his report
of the Legislature.
Mr.. Dorm of the Workers Adult
Education was introduced and ex-
planned the aims and purposes of the
educational classes for adults, he also
stated that he would be pleased to
conduct afternoon classes at Carpen-
tiers Union Hall if sufficient persons
could be secured as students.
The brewery workers stated that
the Great Falls Brewery is paying
the highest scale of wages in the
United States.