davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montana labor news., 1939-07-27
Shorter Work Day Needed
in Butte Mines
IAN Editorial from Miners Voice.

The present work day of the Butte miner, from nine to some
times nine and one-half hours, is much too long. According to
the State Constitution a man is only supposed to work eight hours
but by the time he checks on in the morning, gets his bits and
sometimes other tools, sees the shifter and gets the orders to muck,
timber and blast, etc, checks off again on coming up out of the
mine, returns his tools, lamps and other things, he puts in from
spent in changing when going on shift nor the time spent changing
and bathing when coming off In the case of many men, covered
with mud and grease and with OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES clothing to
wash, this last item itself often consumes half an hours time.
The miners have repeatedly endeavored to correct this unfair
condition, both in negotiations with the company and through
Legislative action, but so far have been unsuccessful. In the last
session of the Legislature when the miners colar-o-colar bill
was up for consideration it was argued by some company-influ-
enced representatives that the matter was a subject for collective
bargaining and should not be brought by the union to the legisla-
tive chambers. It was pointed out by the miners representatives
that the parties to collective bargaining often meet on very I'M
equal terms and that large corporations are able, through superior
economic power, to force workers to accept conditions which they
consider unjust. It was also pointed out to the Legislature that
one of the workers chief weapons, the strike, would entail if
entered into by the Butte miners, an almost complete tieup of
GLIDING Great Falls and Anaconda and the Butte Miners, with
their high sense of responsibility to the citizens of Montana were
reluctant to employ such a weapon, but if driven to desperation
might do so.
Most people not miners, have no conception of the actual
conditions under which the Butte miner works. They read re-
ports by Company officials of the immense quantities of air forced
down the shafts for the men to breathe, some of them take a
trip down the Leonard and see the visitors stope and they get
the impression that the Butte mines are pretty nice places to
Continued on Page g.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-27
WAGE NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN With A.C.M.
Editorial on Frank Little
From Miners Voice

Frank Little was murdered % years ago on August lt, 1917.
His memory will be commemorated this year by Butte Miners
Union and members of other organizations with the laying of a
wreath on his grave and a speech of tribute by representatives of
labor. The ceremony at Titles grave will be held at the Noun
tain View cemetery this August LIST at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
For an intimate description of the event which made of Frank
Little a martyr, we reprint the following editorial from the BUTTE
DAILY BULLETIN NJ of July 81, 1920:
"Three years ago tomorrow the mangled body of Frank Little
was found hanging from a Milwaukee railway trestle. He had
been set upon while he slept by the thugs of the Anaconda Mining
Company, dragged from his bed to his death. He was a cripple
and had no opportunity to defend himself from the murderers
who operated under cover of darkness.
"The miners of Butte were on strike. They had left their
employment en- masse when the Spectator disaster took the lives
of 1874 of their fellows. They had made demands for increased
wages upon the mining companies who were coming the misery
of war into gold; they asked that the mining laws of the state be
enforced, that the rusting card system be abolished, that they be
given some voice in determining their working conditions.
"The mining corporations were desperate. Their gunner
slugged and beat the miners without interference from the authori-
ties, but the strike remained unbroken. The miners were peaceful
but firm. They would not return under the old conditions.
can excuse was needed to call for troops. The strike was too
orderly to suit the companies, SO it was decided to murder some
one whom the strikers would try to avenge. The machine-guns
could then be turned loose, some killed and the rest driven back
into the mines. So Frank Little was hung by a band of hired
murderers and the keptpress a%pplauded.
Ellis funeral was the largest ever held in Butte, a silent protest
that slenced the jeers on the lips of the corporation hirehngs.
at is probable that the brutal murder of Little has done more
than any one thing to discredit for all time to come the copper
trust and its hireHngs. Alive, Little was merely one of the multi
Itude. Murdered by the agents of a proit-mad corporation, his
name and the manner in which he met his death is known wherever
workers gather, in whatever tongue they voice their thoughts. He
is remembered not because he lived, but because he died on the
altar of capitalism, a sacrifice to the god of profit.
"Long after the struggle between the workers and their
Ioppressors has been ended by a victory of the former, long after
the Anaconda Mining Company and the men connected Herewith
are forgotten, Titles name will be recalled as one of the great
number that were called upon to die that those who came after
them might find the path a little smoother, the way a little
'pleasanter the struggle less gruelling.
g.. August LIST is the anniversary of the murder Of
Frank Little. He rests peacefully, but his murderers do not"
Montana labor news., 1939-07-27
MANY WpA WORKERS
BACK AT JOBS UNDER
PROTEST

The week-long protest stoppage of
WPA in Silver Bow county ended
Monday of this week when a ma
jority of the 5000 project workers
returned to jobs protesting the con-
ditions imposed by the new WPA
bill. Members of the building trades
unions, however, were not accepting
work on jobs that did not pay the
scale called for by unions with juris-
diction. And in many instances they
remained off projects entirely.
Labor's Emergency Committee
composed of representatives from
unions involved in the WPA crisis
decided late last week to call for
special elections on the question of
returning to work temporarily under
protest. Their decision came after
receipt of a telegram from Senator
Murray, a leader in the congressional
fight to revise the vicious bill, urging
the return as a step in bolstering the
position of New Deal forces in both
houses. Some seventeen organiza-
tons participated in the balloting.
Its outcome, announced at a mass
meeting held in the Butte High sta
dunn on Saturday evening, July %,
was:
Montana labor news., 1939-07-27
Law viOIaiOYS
To Be Barred From
Government Conirads


of the National Labor Relations Act
will be barred from government con-
tracts for three years under the
terms of an amendment to the
Walsh-H ealey act adopted here,
without,a roll call, by the Senate.
Sent to the house for its approval,
the amendments, sponsored by Sen.
Walsh ID, Mass.), provide that
terms of the Walsh ealey act, set
ting forth the conditions Of labor to
which government contractors must
conform, will apply to holders of
contracts of $4,000 or more instead
of the present $4,000 OF o pro
vision.
Also included will be contracts for
services and the construction of ships
and floating equipment for the gov
eminent. After the court has found
the contractor guilty of labor act
violations, the amendment provides,
he will receive no government work
for three years.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-27
R00SEvELT-F0R-
PRESIDENT club

A group of progressive Democrats
met at Helena recently and decided
that in the interests of our common
liberties it is necessary to prepare
to take a positive stand in the com
ing election year. The forces of re-
action and Fascism are holder than
ever before. In view Of their sweep
ing victories in Congress and in some
Of the states they feel that their day
is at hand; they feel that because of
the unorganized condition of the
great masses of the people the pro-
tests of the latter will be ineffective
and unavailing; particularly so, if
they succeeded in placing a reaction
airy puppet in the White House.
This group Of p%rogressives saw and
understood the full meaning of this
picture; they believed that a large
majority of the common people Of
this state are in favor of continuing
the democratic form of government;
that they are opposed to any form
of autocracy or dictatorship such as
the Liberty League, the Coughlinites,
the Silver Shirts or any other form
of Fascism they might seek to impose
on us. They believed, furthermore,
that there is only n man who can
surely carry the banner of freedom
to victory in the next presidential
race. Therefore, they decided to
organize a statewide club to draft
President Roosevelt to succeed him
self.
A temporary organization was set
up with Daniel L. O'Hern, Miles City,
as temporary chairman, and Lee
Metcalf, Helena, temporary secre7
tary. Judge O'Hern is well known
to most people in the state; he is one
of the most staunch and consistent
supporters of President Roosevelt
and the New Deal program; his name
was mentioned quite frequently at
the Democratic state convention at
Billings last year as the logical sue
cessor to Grover Cisel for state chair
mar of the party, but the Wheeler
Ayers, Dan Kelly steamroller ma
chine had different plans. Lee Met
calf is too we'll known to need much
introduction: he was the outstand-
ing progressive lawyer member in
the 1887 session Of the Legislature.
During the past two years, or there
abouts, he has been serving the
people of the state with distinction
as assistant attorney general. We
are sure that under this sort of lead
the organization will be a
uccess.-Reprinted from Miners
Voice.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-27

Genuine prosperity is a
condition and situation
where all who so desire
may work and receive the
products of their labor"
Leslie Taylor.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-27

In white pants and white shoes,
tire-builders and mill-men at the
Firestone exhibit at the New York
Worlds Fair work at white enamel
machines.
Says The United Rubber Worker:
I'VE are sure Firestone employees
will be glad to hear the company's
plans for them in The World of To-
morrow
"Or perhaps the workers would
give up the hope of white pants for
a little human treatment right here
and now"
Montana labor news., 1939-07-27
$4,000 WPA Workers
Are To Be Dismissed

WASHINGTON, D. c. (AFLWNS)
Works Projects Commissioner F. c.
Harrington began the most drastic
dismissal program that has hit WPA
workers since the agency was estab-
lished in 1885.
According to the terms of the cur
rent WPA appropriation act, not only
is the prevailing wage rate killed,
but, in addition, every worker who
has been on the WPA rolls for Is
Continued on Page 81
Montana labor news., 1939-07-27
COMPANY OFFICIALS ARE
STUDYING DEMANDS
WILL ANSWER REQUEST FOR MODEST CHANGES
r IN AUGUST

On Monday, July 10Th, the joint committee representing Butte
Miners Union No. ], Great Falls Mill and Smeltermens Union No.
Is, Butte Stationary Engineers Union No. 83 and Anaconda Mill and
Smeltermen's Union No. III met with the officials of the A. C. M.
CO. and submitted to them the unions modest proposals for
changes in the present working agreements. These desired changes
were read by Thomas Murray, executive board member for Dis
trict No. l and a typewriter copy of same was presented to the
CompanyIs representatives.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-27

There can be no prosperity
without justly high wages.
Earnings of working people
are the basis and index of
progress in any community.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-27
Special Edition of Union Register
On KaIisnelI Convention

The Union Register, official weekly
paper of the Lumber and Sawmill
Workers organization in the North
west, published in Seattle and repre-
senting over $4,000 members, will
publish a special edition this week
to boost the Kalispell convention.
CONTINUED on Page 81
Montana labor news., 1939-07-27

Wy llBlll 0CClsAOllJ
At a session of Labor's Emergency
Committee held Saturday afternoon
the results of each unions poll was
recorded and a policy regarding the
return to jobs generally agreed on.
Unions voting Yes, it was under
stood, should be allowed to send its
members back to work but they were
not to usurp the jobs or jurisdiction
of organizations voting mo" Mem
bers of organizations voting mo"
might return to common labor
jobs. Plans were also made at the
meeting for the mass rally to take
place in the evening and other rou-
tine business was disposed of.
The stadium rally was attended
by about 1900 WPA workers who
received the announcements of vari-
Gus union spokesman with little en-
thusiasm, indicating that the fight is
far from over. Chairman of the
meeting was John Sloan, business
agent of General Laborers, No. 1853.
Each of the organizations p%artici-
pating in the poll announced their
stand through spokesman. Arvo
Fredrickson and Steve Harvey spoke
for the Miners Union; L. H. Bradley,
Transfers Union; Frank Basset,
Boilermakers Union; Glen Meyers,
Plumbers Union; Frank Crabbler,
Painters Union; and Scotty Forester
for the Hodcarriers Union.
Labor's Emergency Committee has
now resolved itself into a permanent
committee to work out ways and
means of continuing the protest I'M
til Congress changes the present
WPA "Wrecking' bill.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-27

? Mr.. Dan M. Kelly, vice president
in charge of Montana operations of
the Company, stated that the unions
proposition would ~necessitate careful
consideration and scrutiny and in
consideration of the fact that he ex-
pected to receive proposals of a
somewhat similar nature from the
representatives of the craft unions
about the first of August, he in
formed the committee that he would
meet with them again some time
after that date, at which time he
would have a complete picture of
the unions entire proposals before
MIN, and would be in a position to
reply to them. The union commit
tee suggested that the negotiations
be speeded up a little and that an
other meeting be held about a week
before the time designated by Mr..
Kelly, but Mr.. Kelly insisted that
some time after the first of August
was about the best he could do. When
asked by the committee if he could
assure them of another meeting at
some date during the first week of
August he stated that unless some
thing unforeseen should occur in the
meantime, he could do so. At this
the meeting adjourned.
Union Demands Brief and
Reasonable
The demands of the united organi-
cations were not discussed at any
length during the meeting with the
Company officials but Mr.. Kelly ex-
pressed pleasure at the unions ac-
ton in ~reopening their agreements
and stated that the Company had
also some changes to propose. He
did not disclose the nature of these
changes but in response to a question
by the committee he said it might be
possible to furnish the unions with
a copy of them in advance of the
next meeting.
There was nothing said at any
time TO indicate what Mr., Kelly has
in mind but in view of the brevity
and reasonableness of the unions
proposals and in view of the oft
repeated statements of the A. C. M.
Co. that they are always in the lead
in the Inauguration of changes of
any nature designed to benefit their
employees, there would seem to be
some ground for the opinion, held
by some, that the changes mentioned
by Mr.. Kelly are similar, perhaps
even identical with those suggested
by the unions.
Rasic Demand 20 Per Cent Increase
in Wages With 4O-HOur Week
The basic demand of all the unions
involved, CLIO and AFL, is a flat 20
per cent increase in wages. To
Continued on Page g.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-12-28

morrow. I've got to. Please don't
ask me to talk about it."
The days and nights on trans
continental train were monoto-
nous, but they gave Virginia
time for thought. Her first anger
at Lee dwindled and receded as
a clear little brook returns to its
banks after a freshet. She was
coming back, not to obey Lee
HOLSTERS high-handled COM
mands, but to show him that he
was wrong. After that she would
do as she pleased with her own
property.
At Saunders Lawler was there
to meet her, so was Curley, sun
burned and grinning, waiting to
take her checks and help pack
her hand baggage into the old
car that had been good enough
for Matt while Virginia was
away.
Only once did Lawler, a lank,
hig-boned man with pale eyes
and struggling mustache, prof
fer a remark of any moment.
They were jolting over a pecu-
liarily atrocious bit of road:
bad goin'," he jerked. 81 hope
the millionaire that's buyin your
place will fix up this road"
II haven't sold yet" she re-
piled coldly.
ooh, I thought you was goin'
to-" A glaze seemed to have come
over LAWYERS pale eyes. =
! She did not reply, and they
ratified and lurched on. The foot
hills were opening up before
them; they dived suddenly from
prismatic brilliance sinto shadow
then climbed again, through a
narrow defile . to suddenly
widening sweep, into the Val
ley of the Sun. Up there was the
old ranch house and, on the
porch, hobbling excitedly on
rheumatic feet, a little, wizened
old man.
II knowed ye'd- come back, Ho-
ney! I knowed it! There, therep
For a proud young head, that
bowed for no one had dropped
suddenly against Joey's deplor-
able flannel shirt. There, there,
Joey crooned. "You will be glad
ye've come. It's been awful lone
some without we. If that ornery
young nuisance of Lee Hollis.
ter hadn't come pesterin' around
again, I'd have gone plump out
of my head"
The moment of abandon was
brief. She raised her head.
ooh, is Lee here?"
well, he amt exactly here
but he drops in on me now and
then"
Joey shot shrewd glance al
her, but Virginia made no com
ment. Lawler, for the moment
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-12-28
+35 Retail Beer.
License Revoked
Part of Beer Industry's "Clean
Up or Close Up" Cam
paign i'm the State.

RALEIGH, Dec. 26. = Thirty
five retail beer licenses have
been revoked in. all parts of
North Carolina at the behest of
the Brewers and North Carolina
Beer Distributors Committee.
This means that IS proprietors
of anti-social beer outlets have
been forced by the local authori-
ties to get out of. the beer bust
ness. as a part of the beer indus
try's "clean up Or close up" cam
paign in North Carolina.
During the month of Deem
Der, nine licenses were revoked
by boards of commissioners in
Guilford, Buncombe, Lenoir,
Craven and Henderson counties
Three other licenses were re-
voked by authorities in Bun
combe and Cumberland counties
The nine licenses were revok-
ed on petition of Edgar H. Balm
of Goldsboro, State Director OF
the Brewers and North Caroline
Beer Distributors Committee
The charges ranged from illega
sale of whiskey to disorder anc
public nuisance which prompted
neighborhood complaints. Many
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-12-28

disregarded, had come up with
her bags and was evidently wait
ing to &c: in with her. She dis
missed him carelessly. Thanks,
Lawler. You may leave the bags
here; Ling will look after them. ~
She left him, glowering and
discounted, while she greeted
Ling. Joey followed the manager
with malicious glee.
"Pretty fine to have the boss
back, amt it," he asked slyly.
81
The afternoon had been long.
Virginia had worked energetical-
ly setting herself to unaccus-
toned tasks. In the midst of I'M
packing there had been an inter-
minable hour of going over
dreary details and bewildering
accounts with Lawler. The Cir
Gle V was not making enough to
cover operating expenses and the
interest on burden of debt.
This was the story again, leav-
ing Virginia depressed and dis
pirited, and glad to see Lawler
leave. She called back to Ling
that she was going to see Joey,
and walked slowly toward the
horse corral.
(TO Be Continued
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-12-28

two years of distribution will ex-
coed $4,000, 900, it is estimated
by Charles G. Powell chairman
of the State Unemployment Com
pensation Commission.
Benefits through December 20
amounted to $12,554, 13017, while
collections from liable workers
through that date reached $29,-
465, 1857. To this is added $751;
1898 credited in interest, to the
States balance on deposit in the
U. S. Treasury, which gives $780,
46,305.50 in receipts, and ba-
lance of $17,492,175.33 in the
States fund.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-12-28

All day long she had been rush.
ing from one thing to another,
riding, swimming, aquaplaning,
lunching with crowd at the
beach club, off to the country
club to watch the tennis try
outs, dancing, meeting new men,
off to somebody's house, and
more dancing, and everybody
drinking too much. In a little
while she would be dressing
again for dinner and a moonlight
cruise in Mr.. Bradish's new
\ yacht.
\ She tossed her hat on a chair,
kicked off her pumps, slid out of
her dress and left it in heap on
the floor and for the first time
relaxed with a long sigh of re-
lief.
What was the sense of tearing
around all day meeting a lot Of
people you only half liked and
never having a minute to your
self. She stared modify at the
floor.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-12-28

other proprietors were warned to
cease obnoxious practices or face
more drastic action.
While the committee pressed
against the few bad actors in the
beer business, it took time off to
congratulate the great majority
of law-abiding, respectable beer
retailers who have cooperated in
the purge of the bad element
forming the minority.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-12-28

nave SUSSSCu IL CIl1o was OAAS "
the grey days when everything
was flat and futile and there was
a sickening emptiness where one
part of her life had been.
On the table beside her bed
lay a little pile of papers. There
was a scrawled report from Law
Ter the new manager. There were
bewildering columns of figures
which represented Matt Blair's
confused affairs; there was let
ter urgently advising her to sell
before the deterioration of once
prosperous property became toe
evident. Beside them was me-
morandum of Milton Bradish's
offer, the whim of a rich man tc
lavish money on a show ranch ir
the place where he had once beer
poor.
There was a tap at the door
She said "Come!" and Anna ap'
peared, visibly flustered.
There's a gentleman down
stairs, Miss Virginia"
"But I said that I wouldn't see
anybody"
eyes, Miss Virginia, but" An
ma hesitated and looked worried
Callers at the Archer home po
litely accepted the dictum deliv
cred at the door, but this one, ir
spite of the fact that he had come
on foot instead of in the lates
model roadster, and wore gooc
! but undeniably ready-made sui
of clothes, had somehow an air Of
taking it for granted that hi:
wishes would be complied with.
''He said he hoped you woulc
be home pretty soon, because he
had come a long way to see you
He said to tell you it was Lee
HOLSTER.
"Oh-Lee!" Virginia sat ur
suddenly. "Why didn't you tel
me before? Tell him-no, hell
me, Anna, I'm in frightful hur
ry."
Downstairs Lee looked critical
! ly around the room into which
! the maid had reluctantly shown
him. Everything spoke eloquent
ly of well served ease and expen
sive idleness. Not at home! HI
was certain she was and he hae
meant to stay until he saw her
He stationed himself at win
dow looking out on the semi-cir
cular drive.
making sure that I don't rur
away?"
He swung about quickly. &c
wasn't taking chances" HI
drawled.
Outlined against the dull blue
hangings he saw a slim and love
ly figure, a girl with hair of bur
nished copper, dark-lsshed eye
of clearest grey and vivic
mouth.
She met him with both hand
out, impulsively.
II had just come in" she ex
planned confidentially, land tolc
Anna that I wouldn't see any
body" Her mouth dropped sud
emily. ooh, Lee, I haven't seer
you since-since it happened"
Il didn't know anything abou
it, or I'd have come before this
I've come to take you home, Vir
ginia."
"Oh, MOI" She looked family
startled and drew back.
why not?" he asked bluntly.
: 1T doesn't need mel" Sh,
shook her head vehemently. "I
needs father, and he's gone. Wha
do I know of ranches and csttle?'
you'll LEARN. andI you will
have friends to help you. I car
tell you some things about the
Circle V right now. I don't think
you can possibly know abour
them, or you would never LEI
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