Montana labor news., 1939-03-16
Address by Rep. Frank
Sullivan Over KGIR on
Sunday. February 12fh
and Gentlemen:


Ladies and Gentlemen.
1 came to Helena on a platform
Of Progressive Legislation" To me,
that meant that I was pledged to
vote and work for any measure
which would add to, or provide Sc
curity for the people who need it.
I wanted a revision in the old age
pension laws that would place the
older people of this state on an in
dependent and secure basis without
the necessity of shopping investiga-
tions, and in a sum, sufficient to
maintain their self respect. l want
ed to provide some security for the
WPA worker and for those on relief.
I was willing to do anything that
would tend to restore this state to a
normal condition.
On the threshold I was met with
the statement that it was mor i'm
portant that Montana have a bal
anced budget than that she provide
for her needy. Since that time the
whole trend of our legislation has
been the crying need of economy
and more economy without a single
word about the subject that seems
most important to me. The present
legislature has spent more time
squabbling about a few jobs for
attaches than they have on the well
fare of the needy people of the en-
tire state. I predict that We will
adjourn without having done a
single thing for the distressed people
of the state and without providing
a single new source of revenue with
the possible exception of a few
nuisance taxes of very doubtful
value to the state and with a few
more regulations on already over
regulated business.
This was done by splitting farmer,
labor and business men into small
groups and setting each to watch
the other. The scheme worked fine.
Some representatives of the farmers
were convinced that labor was
making unreasonable demands and
lost sight of their own interests in
looking for a niger in the wood
pile. Others refused to be led astray
and the progressive group is still
Farmer-Labor. Men who had en-
ployed labor and paid higher wages
than those asked in the Wages and
Hours Bill were convinced that such
a minimum as 40 cents would ruin
the business structure of the state.
Regulatory bills were poured in
regulating the hours of closing of
saloons beyond the limits of in
corporated towns, attempting to
regulate marriage, attempting to
regulate Indian religious ceremonies
shortening the time of residence for
divorce actions, some, clarifying legal
procedure, etc, but nothing to re-
lieve the suffering of a large part
of our population. 1 am unable to
fix the blame for this condition. This
is my first term, and 1 am n of
those described by a previous speak
er over this station as dazed. l would
now add, many not included at that
time, to this description. 1t appears
to me that most of the people of the
state are overburdened by taxation
and over-regulation. That new
sources of revenue must be found,
that the people are not willing to be
supported by funds derived from any
form of vice, though in this connec-
ton I want to say that l was one of
the labor bloc who voted for legal
lied gambling believing that one
starved and cold family in the state
is more immoral than any form of
gambling.
However, there is no increase in
the tax for exploiting natural re-
sources. There is no increase in the
electrical energy tax. The metal
mines tax is not disturbed. There
have been no taxes levied that can
not be passed on to the consumer.
On the other hand, if we have done
no particular good, / do not believe
we have done any particular harm.
We have begged the question Of well
fare and relief but we have pro-
vided some funds which will be ade-
quate to maintain the present
standard if the Federal government
continues to help us as they have in
the past but if this source should
fail, we will be forced to face reali-
ties and l have no doubt that we can
do so, because, after all, we repre-
sent the people of the whole state
of Montana, and if the people r not
satisfied they can tell their repre-
~sentatives and I believe they will be
obeyed. On the part of a majority
of the people of Silver Bow county,
1 can state that we want better old
age pension laws, less Investigations,
more work for the unemployed and
more equitable taxation on natural
resources to supply the funds, and
we are willing to work with the rest
of the state to this end. If you agree
with us, and are dissatisfied with
present results, tell your representa-
tives in no uncertain terms and tell
them in addition, that there is no
particular difference between the
farmer, small business man or the
laborer. We all have the same prob
lem. If labor gets good wages, it