The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1939-08-03
Over 400 AT
Union Convention
tKalispell Inter Lake,


The election of officers to head
the Inland Empire District Council
of Lumber and Sawmill Workers
for the next year was held at the
close of the convention in Kalis-
pell Sunday afternoon, local lead
ers being elected to the offices of
president and vice president
Nelson Weaver, president of the
Somers LSW Union was elected
president and R. r. Ricketts, of Kal-
lspell was chosen as vice president.
f. L. Terlson of Lewiston, Ida, local
was unanimously chosen to continue
as secretary. Other officers elected
were as follows: Otto Griep, Libby,
conductor; Perry Decker, Troy, war
den: Norbert Rossignol Headquar-
Z. L. Terlson was elected to repre-
sent the district council at the Ore
gon- Washington Council at Spokane
in December.
The next meeting of the Inland
Empire District Council will be held
IN January at Lewiston, Idaho.
More than 400 delegates and Wis
itors were registered from points
IN Montana Idaho, Washington and
Oregon and in the limited time
available for business sessions,
many matters of concern to the
lumber industry were taken up by
smaller group of official delegates
meeting in Carpenters hall Satur-
day afternoon and Sunday. Details
of program to bring about uni
form working conditions and wages
IN the various numbering operations
of the Inland Empire territory were
considered, the fact being brought
out that at the present time there
is wide variation in the wage
scales being paid and in the condi-
tons under which men are en-
ployed.
Standard Policy Discussed
One of the main topics of dis
cussion was the proposed drawing
up and adoption of standard pol
icy of all L. S. W. district councils
in the northwest to follow in CO.
operation with employers to elimi-
nate unfair competition sub-stand-
ard safety measures, working con
AAhAotiof WoEI oSdt@ot 1@At
To better bring about these re-
suits the Oregon Washington coun-
ell of the Lumber and SaWmll
Workers, mother organization of
the district councils in five states
of Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Wash
ington and California, with head
quarters in Seattle, is now work
ing on further program to present
to the convention of that body at
Spokane in December. Preliminary
consideration of various phases of
the program will be given by the
other district council meetings be-
fore the Spokane convention.
Labelling 'of lumber and wood
produced under fair labor standards
with the union label of the United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners of America of which the
Lumber and Sawmill Workers
Union is "a branch, is to be the
major point in the program and
the label was reported by several
delegates as already being used III
several plants in Washington and
Oregon. Several delegates also |
stressed the fact that the label is
used, together with the manufac-
turers' name on stamp to positive
ly identity lumber produced in the
United States and in a certain To-
cality. 1t is expected that this plan
through cooperation with employers
will do much to promote the par
chase of lumber produced in the I
~ eFf
cooperation in the program was
James D. Graham, president of the
Montana State Federation of Labor, /
who stated that the matter would
be brought before the coming con-
ventions of the Idaho and North
and South Dakota state Fedora
ton conventions and appropriate
action and publicity urged. Also
speaking in the support of the plan
were Charles 0. Heximer repre-
senting the Building and Construc-
ton Trades Council of Great Falls,
George w. Yeager, president of the
Montana Council of Carpenters;
Paul Elliott, representing the Mis-
soula Trades and Labor Council.
Perry S. Melton, secretary of the
Trades and Labor Council,
also told of cooperation already
gained at the convention of the
Montana State Federation of Labor
held at Livingston in June, the orig
inal action being sponsored by the
Columbia Falls local union and con-
Cured in by the Kalispell Central
Labor Council.
Local Group Complimented
The Lumber and Sawmill Work
ers locals of Kalispell, Somers and
Columbia Falls are being highly