Montana labor news., 1938-04-14
Next Meeting to Be Held May
LIST; Farmer Elected Chairman.

At a meeting held in Great Falls,
Sunday, April 3rd, of a general rep
resentation of labor unions, city CEN
trail councils and farm groups, it was
decided to organize a conference
permanently and in order to accom-
plish this aim, the name, Montana
Council for Progressive Political Ac-
ton, was adopted, and the following
officers elected:
D.. l.. Manning, Farmers Union,
Great Falls, chairman.
Sam Spiegel, Labor's Non-Parti-
san League of Silver Bow County
and floor leader of Montana House
of Representatives, vice chairman,
First District.
Archie Mcleod, Great Falls Mine,
Mill and Smeltermen's Union and
representative from Cascade County,
vice chairman, Second District.
Board members - Sylvester Ora
ham, Butte president Montana c. I.
o. Council and member Butte Min
ers); H. H. Hess, Havre Farmers
Union); Frank A. Curtis, Lewistown
chairman state legislative commit
tee, Railway Brotherhood); Henry
Murray, Great Falls (Workers ALI
ance); H. S. Bruce Helena Farmers
Union and American Newspaper
Guild; Tom Caverly, Columbia
Falls publisher, weekly paper; B.
l. Steinmetz, Great Falls president
Cascade County Trades and Labor
Assembly,; Mrs. Britt Bentley, Hell
ena (member Cleaners and Dyers
Union).
Fred ]. Martin, Great Falls, secre-
tary-treasurer (Great Falls News
paper Guild.
The meeting adopted an outline of
principles embodying the following
proposals:
l. REIMBURSEMENT of the present tax
structure to the end that the main
burden of taxation will fall upon
those best able to pay and so de-
signed that there will be fair and
equitable taxes on corporations ex-
plotting our natural resources, en-
gaging in speculative profit ventures,
on idle wealth and monopoly, higher
income taxes in upper brackets and
lower in lower brackets, and in
creased gift and inheritance taxes.
The Montana Council for Progress
sive Political Action differentiates
sharply between the huge monopoly
corporations and trusts and legiti-
mate independent business. The
former evades taxes, take their
profits out of the state, and do not
contribute their share to the general
welfare of the people. The indie
pendent business man lives and pays
taxes in Montana, employs Montana
labor, buys Montana products, and
contributes to Montana's prosperity.
We propose to protect Montana bust
les against predatory monopolies to
the end that we may have a bal
anced prosperity among all the peo-
pie of Montana.
2. Unalterable opposition to any
form of sales tax.
3. Legislation beneficial to the
health and well being of all workers
to the end that they shall receive a
just return for the products of their
labor.
4. Prohibition of child labor and
necessary legislation to provide ade-
quate free educational facilities. We
favor national and state subsidies to
provide educational opportunities for
all children up to the age of IS who
r unable to continue their studies.
S. Revision of the state public well
fare act to insure a standard of liv-
ing compatible with decency and
health and provide severe penalties
and machinery for removal of any
official charged with the administra-
ton of the act who fails to comply
with its requirements.
6. Legislation for land utilization
and rehabilitation of the farm popu-
~lation, coupled with development of
our natural power resources through
the extension and expansion of ma
chinery now set up.
z. Provision for adequate old age
islation which restricts social, civil,