Montana labor news., 1939-03-02
RIGHTS OF LABOR UNIONS ENDANGERED
HAPPENINGS OF THE
CENTRAL LABOR BODY

lENIkAL LADVk DVUI
The Montana State Federation of
Labor notified the Silver Bow
Trades and Labor Council that it
had been successful in having passed
a measure in the legislature which
would compensate miners and others
stricken with silicosis. The unions
have been fighting for such a law
in several sessions of the legislature.
Mr.. Graham, president of the Fed
Grafton, reminded the Trades and
Labor Council that no state at the
present time has a worthwhile law
regarding compensation for occupa-
tional diseases. He also stated that
a memorial passed in the Montana
legislature urging the national con-
gress to set up a uniform federal
law for compensation for sickness
contracted in industry. Mr. Graham
also mentioned that the Federation
of Labor had been successful in
passing a measure which would in
crease the rate of compensation for
injuries under the Montana COM
pensation law. He scolded the chair
man, Mr.. Clemments, of the Indus
trial Accident Board for an alleged
attempt to reduce compensation of
workers injured in industry.
3 =
The Trades and Labor Council
went on record supporting John
Quinn for the position of chief engi-
neer under the Works Progress Ad-
ministration. Mr.. Quinn is a mem
Der of the Technical Engineers
Union. The position which he seeks
was formerly held by Herbert Fay,
recently appointed to chief engineer
of the local Housing Authority. The
unions had asked that a member of
the Technical Engineers Union be
given this position. Senator Murray
reminded the unions that owing to
amendments placed in the a%ppropri-
alton act for the WPA that it is now
unlawful for anyone to interfere
politically in respect to jobs on WPA.
The letter from Senator Murray
mentioned that it is unlawful for
any official to oppose the applica-
ton of anyone asking employment
or to attempt to deprive him of work
for any reason or on account of
creed, color, or nationality. The
Trades and Labor Council wrote to
the national WPA headquarters to.
request that Mr.. Quinn be given the
position.
A request from John O'Brien of
222 West Gold street to be endorsed
as candidate for city treasurer on the
Democratic ticket was turned over
to the legislative committee.
A vigorous protest was drafted by
the Silver Bow Trades and Labor
Council at its meeting last Tuesday,
against the proposed impeachment
of Attorney General H. Freebourn.
The central labor body felt that the
attack on Mr.. Freebourn was being
made by the big corporations of the
state, as reprisal for the activities
of Mr.. Freebourn during the miners
and engineers strike in 1884. At
that time Mr.. Freebourn was county
attorney of Silver Bow county and
rendered very valiant service to the
unions. He protected the rights of
the labor organizations and along
with Sheriff Larry Weir compelled
the Anaconda Company to observe
the law and keep their private gum
men off the streets. Since having
been elected attorney general, Mr..
Freebourn has continued to follow
his friendly attitude to labor or
CARNATIONS. The Trades and Labor
Council is of the opinion that it is
not a question Of the acceptance of
money, but an attempt to eliminate
one of the champions Of labor from
political activities in Montana. All
labor organizations are requested to
send protests to the House and
Senate.