Montana labor news., 1938-05-05
LABOR FEDERATION
APPOINTS BAKER
DISTRICT ORGANIZER
Continued From Page y

IL.
nue. from their meetings being held
in the Kalispell Hall. The Kalispell
Hall is the second story of The Palm
building, rentals being handled
through the American Legion. Ar
rangements are now being made for
all union meetings to be held else
where, in spite of the fact that the
Kalispell Hall is very desirable
meeting place, several rooms being
available most any evening. The
Council and local unions look for
ward to the establishment of full
time union hall in the near future, if
suitable quarters can be found.
Other reasons for non-patronage
of The Palm are Mr.. McMillan's
consistent request to deal with his
spokesmen" through the Associated
Industries and the fact that his
establishment is the only bar in Kali
ispell without the services of at least
one union bartender The lunch
counter in connection likewise has
no member of the Restaurant Work
ers local employed. 1t is interesting
to note that Mr.. Henry Jepson, presi-
dent Of Bartenders Local 312, for
many years an efficient employee of
The Palm, was discharged, supposed
ly for just and sufficient reason,
shortly after becoming member of
the Bartenders Union. Everything
considered, there seems to be plenty
of reason to inform laboring men
and friends of Montana that "The
Palm" is the first Kalispell business
house to be officially designated "We
do not patronizel"
Building tradesmen, through Off
cial action of their local unions, con-
Cured in by the Central Trades and
Labor Council, have placed Milton
Mercord, painting contractor and his
men on the unfair list, as well as
Mr.. Harry Conant, his building pro
gram and general real estate tran
sactions being sold to the public on
the installment plan Mr.. Conant is
employing the cheapest labor pos
sible in the construction of several
houses and as this type Of competi-
ton is definitely Objectionable to
union men and legitimate contrac-
tors, there seemed no alternative but
to advertise these facts to the public.
This is being done by the Kalispell
unions in every legitimate way pos
sible in the hope that the general
public will realize that fair trade
practices and fair competition are
very necessary to the constructive
promotion of employment, general
business and good will.
The Kalispell City Band is spon-
soring a dance to be held at Island
Park Saturday, April 80, to raise
funds for the purchase of additional
uniforms. Cooperation of high
school band students who plan to
practice and play with the city band
during the summer season is being
heartily endorsed by the Central
Trades and Labor Council. The old
er members of the band are mem
bers of Musicians Local Union No.
$50 and it has always been a part of
their general policy to encourage the
participation of students in band ac-
tivities at every opportunity. Flat
head County high school has one of
the finest musical organizations in
the state, under the direction of Sig
Wenas, and every encouragement is
given his efforts by the union musi-
clans and their friends in the com
munity.
The Columbia Falls Review, edit
ed under the liberal policy of Tom
Caverly, is the latest publication to
come into the fold of Typographical
Union, Local No. 723, and now car
ries the union label. Union men and
friends are indebted to Mr.. Caverly
for his timely editorials, especially
since organization activity in Kal-
ispell has aroused an element of
opposition which seems to be under
the definite influence of a few un-
scrupulous individuals, bent on
broadcasting erroneous and mislead-
ing information at every opportu-
nifty.
A potent argument in favor of the
construction of Hungry Horse dam
has been voiced by union men work
ing on the construction of a bridge
across the South Fork of the Flat
head River, a few miles east of Co.
lumbia Falls. Warm rains, wind
and sunshine brought on rapid
rise in the volume of the South Fork.
At risk of life and limb, the men
employed on the bridge construction,
worked to salvage as much as pos
sible, but the unusual flow of water
ripped away practically all of the
rip-rap and preliminary form work,
causing a loss of several thousand
dollars to the contractors
The high water has subsided con-
siderably at present, but there is
still sufficient snow in the noun
tains to bring another sudden rise or
two. Such variations in the force
and flow of water are quite common
in the mountain streams of Montana
and it is hoped that this incident in
the Flathead country will more for
chilly illustrate to everyone con-
cerned the necessity and advisability
of the construction of Hungry Horse
dam as soon as possible.