Montana labor news., 1938-03-24
Merchants Attempt to Stem Murch
Of Progress in Billings

attitude of the Associated Industries of
Billings toward the working people and the union movement
reminds one of the feudalism of the middle ages, when the
baron with his castle on the hill extended his kind supervision
to the serfs gathered around the bottom. How kindly these
ministrations of these ancient lords were may be ascertaned
by a review OF history. AS IN all cases where one individual
dominates the economic and physical existence of another
group, there was very little kindness, very little mercy, it was
mostly harsh commands, s~elfishness, expansion of authority
and power and this is the history of the upper classes from
time immemorial.
Billings is still in a feudal state of mind. The Associated
Industries of Billings would still like the old days of injunction
against labor. They would still like to have the labor people
thrown in Jail and charged with conspiracy if they attempted
to form an organization.
The Midland Review decries the efforts of labor organiza-
ltions to have closed shop contracts. There is nothing terrible
about closed shop contracts. In most instances it is beneficial
Ito the industry. 1t is remarkable how propaganda and the
spreading of fear and uncertainty will abide in the minds and
hearts of people when there is no occasion for t~repidation.
Adults, when they don't know a subject, are like children afraid
of the dark. They see bugaboos, and h%obgoblns on every side,
all of which are imaginary and fictitious. It is a recognized
fact through economic and industrial surveys that a highly
and strongly organized community VI is the best town to live in,
best for the merchant, best for the people, best for the children.
It has long been demonstrated that where unions are active
the state of education in that community is higher than in
other communities, and the standard of the schools is higher.
Low wages make pitiful conditions.
Many outstanding corporations in the United States at
the present time are insisting that workers organize into trade
unions before they will have anything to do with them, be-
cause these corporations have long since learned that it is
easier and pleasanter to do business with a group of employees
who are organized than those that are not organized.
Neither the Associated Industries, the Chamber of Com
merce, nor the people of Billings have anything to fear from
the organization of trade unions. They have everything to gain.
The following article was clipped from the Midland Re-
view of Billings. 1t seems impossible that in this enlightened
age when the United States government and all of the demo-
cratic governments of the world have given the right, to the
working people, to organize that this newspaper or the Asso-
ciated Industries should take such a backward attitude as is
depicted in the following short editorial from that paper:
Why The Pickets?
Billings has been enjoying industrial peace for nearly two
months, during which time building operations have been re-
sumed, many men have returned to work, and with confidence
lin the future beginning to be restored, the outlook was that
the community would soon be going forward again under a
full head of steam.
But the labor organizers responsible for the strikes and
the picketing of recent months evidently do not accept the
unmistakable verdict of the community in favor of the con-
Itinuance of "open shop conditions in Billings. At any rate,
they have again placed pickets in front of the stores Of two of
our membership J. M. Sawyer Co. (South Side store) and
the Hart-Albin Co. The placards borne by these gentlemen
urge the public not to patronize these establishments. They
bear the name Of the yellowstone Trades and Labor AS
sembly."
We regret the consequent necessity of again calling the
attention of our members, and of all other citizens of the COM
munity, to the issue involved, if there still is any issue. We have
tried to ascertain from the labor officials responsible what the
reason for this picketing is. The most Illuminating reply comes
from one of the "picketers" themselves, who said: I'm picket
ling for SIS a day"
The only conclusion that can be drawn is that these labor
organizers still cling to the hope of forcing the business men
of Billings, by fair means or foul, to sign closed shop contracts,
and in so doing not only to turn their business over to the
tender mercies of these gentlemen but to force their own en-
|ployees to join a union or be denied the right to earn a living
lin this community.
The 400 members of the Associated Industries who en-
ploy at least IS per cent of the workers of Billings, stand to-
gether on this issue. Any attempt such as this to intimidate,
Icoerce and injure any one member is in effect an attack on
every other member. Likewise it is an attack not only on the
employees of the member or members against whom the
"sniping" tactics are at the moment being used, but on all the
lemplovees of all members who do not desire to be forced into
unions against their will. Likewise, it is an attack on the
community as a whole.
The answer-as we have said before-is up to the people
of Billings.
Associated Industries