Montana labor news., 1938-04-28
UNION MOVEMENT OF
STATE WATCHING The
|KALISPELL SITUATION

Representatives of the labor move
ment who have been in Kalispell
recently took note of many little
things, one, that the Kalispell News
is trying to play ball with the Asso-
ciated Industries, and incidentally is
the only sheet in town that is not
carrying the union label. By the
way, there is one daily and two
weekly newspapers in Kalispell, be-
sides the News referred to which is
not a legitimate paper but a give
away sheet published each Wednes-
day and Friday. 1t wrote an article
about the Transfers Butchers con-
troversy in Butte which was a mas
terpiece of garbling and misrepre-
sentation.
1t is strange, to say the least, how
little newspapers and newspaper
editors know of the labor movement.
They are willing and even eager at
times to know other facts of life, but
when they are asked to try and write
about organized labor rules and reg
ulations, they scott at the idea as
though it wasn't worth while.
The Kalispell News shows a dis
NAL ignorance of union rules and
union psychology. If a labor paper
should go to such extremes of writ
ing a version of capitalist activity,
they wuold be the laughing stock
of the entire community and that is
how the people of Kalispell should
treat the Kalispell News. It seems
that this type of backwoods editor
delights in disseminating misinfor-
nation. However there is a happier
side of the situation in Kalispell.
The general organizing work is
proceeding rapidly, thanks to a num-
Der of staunch friends in the COM
munity.
There is one item, however, that
we don't need to hide, that is that
the Bartenders Union of Kalispen is
making very fine progress. Most Of
the beer sellers have signed up with
this union and more union cards are
in evidence than ever before. In
fact, it would seem that the union
cards are a new experience in Kalis-
pell, at least it has been so long ago
since people have seen them they
have forgotten what they look like.
There is every reason to believe that
the active interest taken by the Sec
rotary of the Bartenders local has
been a large factor in the general
organization work. He is well liked
and has a magnetic personality.
Prospects also look very favorable
for the initiation of new members of
butchers, retail clerks and restaurant
workers. 1t is hoped that these I'M
ions will pave the way for additional
prestige and goodwill with the public.
Evidences of stability would tend to
boost the courage of many prospec-
tive members who, because of some
nameless fear, hesitate to expose
themselves. 1t seems that the big
gest problem in Kalispell is to prop
erly inform the weak sisters among
the workers so that they will be able
to more fully follow the tactics and
reasoning illustrated in the follow
ing story.
A certain restaurant manager
called its help together and said,
Nov, of course, you can join a
union if you want to, that is your
privilege. If you do, l will simply
have to close up the place"
Incidentally, this particular res
taurant is one of the oldest and best
establishments in Kalispell, but the
weak sisters, heretofore referred to
are still afraid that wearing a union
button will put them on the streets
or on relief. Of course, in the older
organized communities the unior
people pay no attention to such wail'
of the merchants. They are not 60
ing to close their business. Gen
orally in such cases the merchant
makes more money after the PLAN
is organized than before.
In order to help the union move.
ment in Kalispell, the rest of the
unions around the state should write
to members of organized labor il
Kalispell with whom they are &C
quainted and let them know jus
what benefits may be realized from
organized labor. The rest of thu
state is watching the situation in Kal
ispell very closely and is hoping tina
the men and women there will SHOW
the courage and initiative that tn,
rest of the state does.