Montana labor news., 1938-12-22
SESSION OF CASCADE
ASSEMBLY, TAKES UP
PROPOSED STATUTES

GREAT + a l. l. Sine WORKS
Progress Administrator notified the
unions that in all probability there
will be a reduction in work. The
excuse given was shortage Of state
funds. The central labor assembly
is of the opinion that the whole sub
ject should be cleared up and in
formation given to the delegates,
hence a letter was sent to Mr.. Fred
Black inviting him to appear before
the next session of the central labor
body to explain especially the
method of certification of relief
workers in Cascade county.
The Central Labor Council con-
Cured in a request from the coal
dealers of Great Falls asking the
unions to protest the granting of a
franchise to allow importation OF
natural gas from Canada. Letters
were sent to the Public Service Com
mission and also a committee APP
pointed consisting of Thompson,
Clark and Shepard, to carry out the
wishes of the unions.
A matter relating to the establish
ment of parks and recreation areas,
wayside camps, and picnic grounds
was referred to the legislative COM
mittee. The state forester gave ar
outline of plans for projects.
The Cascade Trades and Labor
Assembly concurred in the action Of
the Missoula County Trades and La
Dor Council in declaring the Missouls
Mercantile Company unfair.
The American Federation of Labor
notified the unions that the Mon
tana State Federation of Labor was
clothed with authority to represent
labor in all Legislative matters. The
same letter asked the labor union;
to refrain from giving any assistance
whatsoever to the Montana Progress
sive Council. There appears to be
a concerted effort to stifle this or
g%anization.
The unions here have sent a letter
to the American Federation of La
Dor inquiring as to the fairness anc
u~nfairness of Italian Swiss Colony
wines.
Mr.. Leo Smith, vice principal Of
the Great Falls high school, gave {
very interesting talk on current
economics relating on the youth
problem at the last session. He calico
attention that only one out of eigh'
high school students were able t.
take a college course. He mentioned
also that budget allowances fol
school was $110 per student pei
year. His address brought to ligh'
that from one to five years elapst
between the time a boy or girl fin.
ishes high school and when they
start to work. In reference Il
machine production, the speaker
mentioned a worker and modern
machinery is able to perform in ont
day the amount of work that coulC
be performed by $4,000 on hanC
looms. Professor Smith feels tina.
very few high school children have
any conception of the aims and prin.
ciples of labor unions. At the con.
clusion of his talk the speaker wa.
invited to be a guest of the assembly
for the balance of the evening.
A committee consisting of FREQ
Martin, A. V. Biallas, Leroy South
mayd, Harry Stevens and Don Rip
ley were appointed to work witt
Mr.. Leo Smith to forward vocational
guidance of young people under thu
Smith Hughes act.
Il 4 4
The assembly adopted a report O.
its legislative committee which sub
mitted a draft of proposed bill
limiting the use of injunctions, pro
viding for civil service and drafting
a state labor relations act. Othel
central labor bodies will be asked