Montana labor news., 1938-06-23
UNIONS Discuss WpA
SPONSORSHIP CRISIS
Other Council Notes.


Council devoted a considerable por-
ton of its time, at its last session, to
a discussion of the Works Progress
Administration. 1t was reported in
the Montana Labor News concerning
a committee appointed by the coun-
Gil to cooperate with the Works
Progress Administration, the city,
county and state in order to loosen
some money to sponsor meritorious
projects. All three of these govern
mental units-namely, the city, coun-
ty and state-came in for some criti-
cism through their apparent lack Of
willingness to spend money to put
men and women to work. In a
cursory analysis of their financial
condition, some very pertinent facts
stand out, the most important being
that all of these bodies have liqui-
dated considerable of their obliga-
tons since the panic. The general
Indebtedness of the county at the
present time is very little; while the
city has paid off about one million
dollars of its obligations. The state
of Montana is also apparently not
financially embarrassed, according
to the Governor.
The problem placed before the
delegates resolves itself into a ques-
ton as to whether it is the province
of these bodies to get out of debt, or
whether it is to have men and
women given something to eat. One
thousand men r waiting to go to
work on WPA projects. They are
prohibited from doing so owing to
the lack of sponsorship money. Is il
more virtuous for these bodies to
balance the budget, or feed the
people?
Perhaps a federal investigator will
be sent here from Washington. That
is the inference, at any rate. The
function of the Trades and Labor
Council is to protect its members
and prevent as much as possible any
suffering among the working peo-
pie, and that is what they intend
to do.
Listle's Cafe at Kalispell is unfair
to organized labor generally
throughout the state of Montana
Tourists, members of organized labor
and their friends are requested tc
avoid this place.
The Film Exchange organization
which is a unit Of the Theatrical ano
Stage Employees international, pre-
sented a proposed wage agreement
before the central labor union. Presi.
dent Jap referred the document tC
the organization committee.
Correspondence between the
Trades and Labor Council, Senator
Murray, Senator Wheeler, Congress.
men O'Connell and O'Connor, relat-
ing to the investigation of the cop
per, lead and zinc situation, was
brought out at the last meeting. Con.
gresham O'Connell stated that he
was in favor of an embargo, or else
a Scent tariff in order to restrict the
importation of these metals from
abroad.
Congressman O'Connell also men
toned that he had been instrumental.
in getting a two thousand increase ir
the WPA quota.
Senator Murray called attention tC
an address that he had made, en-
titled tom Mooney and American
Justice" over the radio. The Trade:
and Labor Council will distribute
copies of this address as soon a;
they arrive.
4 y
Senator Murray stated that he hao
been in conference with Hopkins ano
the President in regard to getting
immediate relief for the bad situa-
ton now prevailing in Butte.
Congressman O'Connell also stated
that he had had a conference ir
Washington in an effort to have the
federal government modify its regu-
lations in regard to sponsorship
money. Senator Murray in his re-
port to the council on this subject
also mentioned that he had taken
the seriousness of the present WPA
situation up with the officials in
Washington, but on the other hand
he notified the Trades and Labor
Council that the city, county and
state should do their share.
Mullaney, in a report for the relief
committee of the Trades and Labor
Council, said that SO single men had
been hired by the WPA on a project
to be operated in Yellowstone Park.
Donald Mundy of the Miners Union
delegation, in discussing the present
political situation and labor's par
ticipation therein, urged union mem
bers to stand behind men and women
who had been endorsed by labor for
political offices. The speaker men
toned that labor should recognize
the basic str1legle that is going ON.