davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-08-23

ANe"1ii III 1ooA, WIleIl, pTdCtlCdlly unOp-
posed, President Benjamin Harrison
bowed to Grover Cleveland; in 1916.
When Chief Justice Hughes was de-
1eated by Woodrow Wilson, and, most
recently, in 1882, when President Hoover.
again unopposed in convention, lost to
Franklin D. Roosevelt. Who knows but
that in 1940 the Republican party may
again reach into the grab bag of destiny
and fetch forth another dark-horse can
didate to lead the G. O. P. to victory?
The next President of this country is
going to be confronted with the greatest
responsibilities any President has had,
at least since the days of Lincoln. Our
country is still in the throes of great
economic upheaval Millions are out of
work. Our national debt has already
reached startling figure and growing
bigger every day. Taxes are getting so
high that it is with difficulty that they
can be paid by any kind of business or
even by private individuals. Labor is
restive and belligerent and the great un-
certainty of what is going to happen
both at home and abroad frightens all
careful thinking persons
The man who is most apt to be chosen
by the Republicans, if he be dark horse,
will be the one the party leaders believe
can make the best showing toward solv-
ing these weighty problems confronting
our whole citizenry, and the one who can
make the best run against the Demo-
cratic nominee, be he New Dealer or
otherwise. Dark horses run well!
August 10. AMERICAN PATRIOT.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13
MURRAY INTRODUCES
AMENDMENT TO The
DRASTIC WpA BILL

Senator Murray, Democrat Of
Montana, announced today that he
would introduce amendments to the
Work Relief Appropriation Act re-
storing the prevailing wage on WPA
projects and preventing any reduc-
ton in monthly security earnings.
These principles were included in
the Murray bill that was offered on
the floor of the Senate as a Substi-
tute for the House bill that subse-
quently became law.
Senator Murray further stated
that he would introduce an amend
ment to prevent thirty-day vaca-
tons for WPA workers after they
had been on projects for a period of
10 months.
In discussing his proposed amend
ments, Senator Murray said, "The
present WPA act will work untold
hardships on millions of workers
throughout the country He stated
that IF the section equalizing
monthly security earnings between
the South and the North was to go
into effect on August 81, the earn
ings of WPA workers in Montana
would be cut from SO to $12 per
month"
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13

Delegates were present at the
Carpenters Union hall on Monday
from nearly every section Of the
state of Montana. Resolutions were
drawn up calling for a holiday on
WPA work in the state of Montana
on July IA to protest. (The resolu-
ton is printed in another part of
this paper.) kilograms were also
sent to the President and Montana
senators voicing the condemnation Of
the people of Montana and urging
immediate amendments.
On Tuesday evening a joint meet
ing of the Silver Bow Trades and
Labor Council and the Butte Build
ing Trades Council was held in Car
penters hall. This meeting also
authorized kilograms to be sent to
Washington, vigorously denouncing
the measure.
It is incredible that the United
States government should compel
workers on relief to work 1870 hours
for their security earnings and that
all workers regardless of skill or
knowledge should be put under the
same classification.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13
LOCAL WpA OFFICE
EXPLAINS POSITION

Montana Work Projects Admins
tration officials have no authority
to depart from the new law requir-
ing 1870 hours of work a month to
earn a security wage; and workers
who stop work for five (5) days in
protest against this regulation shall
lose their jobs, a wire from Colonel
F. C. Harrington, Work Projects
commissioner, indicates.
The wire, received at State Work
Projects Administration offices in
Butte, July 6, reads as follows:
in cases where groups Of workers
stop work in protest against require
ment that they work 1870 hours per
month to earn security wage, it
should be explained to them OF their
representatives that this is a require
ment imposed by law and that no
official of the Work Projects Ad-
ministration has any authority to
depart from it. Preliminary notice
to this effect was required to be
given to all workers in accordance
with my kilograms of June 10 and
July l. Workers should be informed
that decision rests entirely in their
hands as to whether they desire to
accept employment under the con-
ditions under which the Work Prof.
ects Administration can offer such
employment. Those who do not de-
sire to accept employment under
these conditions and who absent
themselves from work for five con-
secutive working days or longer,
shall have their employment ter
minated. Copies Of this telegram
should be posted on all project bull
letin boards"
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13
BUTTE LABOR UNIONS DEFY TERMS
OF WORKS PROJECTS APPROPRIATION

Jerry J. O'Connell, in a brilliant
address at the high school stadium
Wednesday evening, urged organ
lied labor and the WPA workers to
resist the menacing features of the
new appropriation bill. He pointed
out to the audience of more than
1000 people that the bill of rights
in the Constitution of the United
States still gave the people the privi-
lege to appeal for redress of grew
ances against autocratic and oppres-
sive laws. Mr.. O'Connell told the
unions and the people to notify the
United States Congress Immediately
that the present act must be amend
ed to provide for the prevailing rate
of wages on WPA work. He point
ed out also that the act is an invita-
ton to all employers throughout the
United States to put all trades and
crafts on a dead level and that the
government is slashing wages
throughout the entire nation. Mr..
O'Connell also pointed out the fall
lacy of the government trying to
bring back prosperity by a reduction
of wages.
Pete Connors, business agent of
the Transfers Union, gave a sum
mary of the efforts of the American
Federation of Labor to increase
wages and reduce hours and stated
that if this bill is allowed to be put
into effect it will mean the destruc-
ton of everything that unions have
done.
John Sloan of the General Labor
ers acted as chairman of the meet
ing. Other speakers included Clar-
ence Blewett, Leslie Levingood,
President Ed Mason of the Miners
Union and representatives of nearly
all the crafts.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13
STATE ASSOCIATION
OF PLUMBERS, STEAM
AND GAS FILTERS
PROTEST NEW LAW

The State Association Of Journey
men Plumbers, Steam and Gas Fit
tiers held a meeting at Great Falls
Sunday, July 0. The meeting was
very well attended, two or more
delegates being present from every
local of the United Association in the
state.
A telegram was read from Presi-
dent Coefield Of the United Associa-
ton of Journeymen advising the
state body that the A. F. of L. execu-
tive committee was doing everything
In its power to make the desired
changes in the relief bill as passed
the last of June.
Delegates from the various dis
tricts of Montana reported a marked
Improvement in work and increases
in membership. A telegram was re-
ceived from Senator Murray advising
that he was introducing legislation
to change the hours of work and to
restore prevailing wages on WPA
work. The secretary was instructed
to wire Senator Murray commend
ing him for his efforts and to also
wire Senator Wheeler and our rep
resentatives in Congress to support
this legislation.
After a very successful meeting
the body adjourned to meet again
at Billings sometime in September.
After the meeting adjourned, Secre-
tary Sullivan received wires from
both Senator Wheeler and Repre-
sentative O'Connor stating they yer
making every effort to change the
hours of work and also restore the
prevailing wage on WPA projects.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13
WpA WaIkouf Spreads;
100000 Out; Go
Joins Fight

NEW Observation-Disclosures
by the threats of removal from the
WPA rolls July IL unless they re-
turned to work, the ranks of close
to 200,0 900 skilled WPA building
trades workers throughout the coun-
try remained firm and continued to
grow.
Demanding Of Congress the restor-
alton of prevailing wage scales on
WPA projects, the strikers began
their walkout on July 8 when the
new federal relief bill swung into
operation. The measure set a l30-
hour work month, which doubled
and in some cases tripled working
hours without increasing wages.
With fresh reports of additional
thousands leaving their jobs stream
ing in to New York and Washing
ton hourly, developments piled up
furiously as the AFL gathered its
fighting forces and the CLIO an
nounced its determination TO sup
port the fight.
Meanwhile Senators Robert F,
Wagner 3D., N. " and James E,
Murray ID, Mont.) and Rep. James
F. O'Connor ID, Mont.) announced
they would introduce measures into
Congress calling for amendment OF
the notorious Woodrum relief act to
restore the prevailing wage.
The CLIO statement in support OF
the strike also demanded the ter
mination of provisions which would
drop all those from WPA who had
been on the rolls for over 10 months
and the maintenance of the present
security wage which the new act
threatens.
ALL Pres. William Green issued
a call for the 102 presidents Of the
federation's international unions to
meet in Washington July IL to CO.
Continued on Page 81
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13
Sheep Shearers Union
National Convention 10
Convene Here July IT

The second q%uadrennial conven-
ton of the Sheep Shearers Union of
North America, No. l, will be held
at Carpenters Union hall in Butte,
beginning July II, 1889. Mayor
Hauswirth will be present to well
come the delegates and extend to
them the key to the city of Butte,
which is noted for its generous hos
pitality.
A number Of prominent speakers
will be in attendance, including: w.
R. Williams of San Antonio, Texas,
special representative for William
Green and the American Federation
of Labor; Patrick German, interna-
tional president of the Amalgamated
Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen,
from their Chicago head office, will
also be present; James D.. Graham,
president of the Montana State Fed
Grafton of Labor will also attend.
The Sheep Shearers Union of
North America No. l is the only
international union maintaining its
home office in Butte, and has for its
officers: President-sec
er, A. A. Evans, of Butte; Vice Pres
ident Nelson Wiber of San Angelo,
Texas; Executive Board Chairman
Alma Nelson, of Ephraim, Utah;
long-term Executive Board Member
John Payne of Ashland, Oregon; and
Executive Board Members Ray G.
Johnson, Of Belle Fourche, South
Dakota, M. c. Gillett, of Grass Val
ley, California, and Henry J.. John
son, of Spanish Fork, Utah.
The membership of the Sheep
Shearers Union is scattered through
out the United States, being particu-
larly heavy in the western range
states. Delegates from throughout
the United States from Texas to the
Canadian line will be present.
Numerous important matters will
be considered at the convention, and
it is expected that a lot of progress
will be made towards solving some
of the many controversies existing
between labor and industry as pre-
sented to the membership of this
particular union.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13
STATE CIO ELECTS
OFFICERS

The election returns, held during
the first week in June by Butte
Miners Union, Great Falls Mill and
Smeltermen, United Mine Workers,
Iardine Miners, Mayflower Miners,
East Helena Smeltermen, Great Falls
Newspaper Guild, Great Falls Typo
graphical and four separate allied
trades locals at Townsend, Fairfield.
Poison and Superior OF the Montana
State Industrial Union Council,
shows the following officers elected
for two-year terms:
For president, Sylvester Graham,
Butte Miners Union No. /; vice presi-
dent, Tony Boyle, United Mine
Workers of America; secretary, John
Clark, Great Falls Smeltermen's
Union; board member, District No.
/, Frank Holman, Great Falls Smell
termen's Union; board member, Dis
trict No. 2, Paul Fall, Jr., Butte
Miners Union No. l; board member,
District No. 3, Andrew Martin,
United Mine Workers of America;
delegate at large, Eleanor Peters, of
the Great Falls Newspaper Guild.
The State CLIO is carrying on a
very extensive organizing campaign
in the unorganized fields. Charters
recently installed were at the Flat
head mine in Kalispell, and several
charters at different points in the
state for the highway workers. The
Mill and Smeltermen at Anaconda
recently reaffiliated.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13
IS GOVERNMENT
VIOLATING LAW
PROVIDING 8 HRS.

Union headquarters have been in
formed that certain departments OF
the federal government in the Fed
eral building have been working
stenographers and office help in ex-
cess of 8 hours per day. If it is SO
and if the practice is not stopped, the
labor department of the state OF
Montana will be asked to intercede
with the Interior Department al
Washington.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13
PE0PLE PROTEST new WPA MEASURE
|RELIEF ORGAN TON
PRESSES FOR m0RE|
BY STATE

A meeting of the Montana We'll
fare Council was held in the cham
bers Of the House of Representatives
in the Capitol building at Helena on
Sunday, July 9, with President
Frank Finnegan of Anaconda pre-
siding. The report of the credentials
committee showed 1913 delegates
representing n different organiza-
tons from 26 cities and towns
throughout Montana present. Sec
rotary Norman LeFever's report
showed that thousands of petitions
had been delivered to Governor Roy
E. Ayers asking for a special session
of the Legislature to raise sufficient
funds for the operation Of the De-
psrtment of Public Welfare of Mon
tana. The trend of the reports from
each and every county showed d.
rect relief payments either drastical-
ly reduced or cut off entirely, old
age assistance cut 20 to 30 per cent
with many deserving cases dropped
from the rolls entirely, aid to de-
pendent children also cut as we'll
as the needy blind, etc. County
Commissioner Holland of Cascade
county reported that they were
100000 in the red on grocery relief
warrants due to the fact that one Of
the objections to calling a special
session of the Legislature by some
people is that it costs about $4,000
per day to operate a session of the
Legislature.
An announcement by Representa-
tive Paul Cannon from Silver Bow
county who attended the meeting
was considered by many to be one
of the highlights of the meeting
when he announced that at a con-
ference of six or eight members of
the House of Representatives and
some four or five state senators, all
present at the meeting, they had
agreed to start a round robin letter
to Governor Ayers asking him to
call a special session Of the Legisla-
ture with each one pledging that if
it was illegal for them to serve with
out compensation that they would
donate their salaries to the general
fund of Montana.
Replies from senators and repre-
sentatives to a QUESTIONABLE sent out
by the State Welfare Council are
coming in rapidly and as soon as
they are all in, their names with
their replies will be released to all
labor and liberal newspapers of the
state.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13
MONTANA LABOR
DEMANDS CHANGES
IN new WpA Bill

Montana'S labor movement put it.
self squarely on record for a fight
to the finish over the wage wrecking
and generally obnoxious 1910 WPA
bill at a meeting held in the local
Carpenters hall last Monday. More
than 40 delegates from SO labor or
ganizations-1l of them central Ia
Dor bodies-discussed at length the
vicious anti-labor features of the bill
and outlined plans to bring pressure
on Congress for its revision.
A highlight in the day-long ses-
sion which was chairmaned by B. I.
Steinmetz, president of the Cascade
County Trades and Labor Assembly,
was the adoption Of a resolution out
lining the action recommended to
bring defeat to vicious provisions
Of the bill. Its text was:
Whereas, the Works Project Bill
under which WPA will operate dur
ing this fiscal year 193s-l94O con-
tains a number of restrictive provi-
sions that are Objectionable to labor
organizations and project workers,
namely:
/. Elimination of payment of pre-
vailing or union wages.
2. Reduction of the monthly Sc
curity earnings Of those who have
no dependents.
8. Layoffs on the basis of a "rota-
ton system" of work inflicted on all
who have worked on WPA for 10
months, further reducing security
earnings.
Whereas, the effect of these pro-
visions will be to undermine, not
only the federal governments work
program, but to generally undermine
the union wage structure built up in
our country and state through years
of organized effort, and
Whereas, Congress- now controlled
by conservative and reactionary
Legislators, has aimed this blow at
the unemployed and labor for obvi-
Gus political reasons and replace
them with reasonable provisions such
as those embodied in the Murray
Casey bill, therefore be it
Resolved, that we the following
councils and organizations in
meeting held at the Butte Carpenters
hall On Monday, July 10, 1889, go on
record as condemning the above
mentioned anti-labor and anti-social
provisions of the WPA bill and those
reactionary congressman and sena-
tors responsible for it, and be it
further
Resolved, that a joint telegram be
sent to Montana senator's and repre-
sentatives instructing them to work
and fight for reconsideration of the
bills worst features, and be it furth-
err
Resolved, that organizations rep
resented at this meeting go on record
as opposed to working on work
projects for wage rates that do not
comply with union standards. Furth-
er, that we take steps to have work.
ers on WPA under our jurisdiction
cease work wherever attempts are
made to start work on a non-uAion
Continued on Page 81
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13

Alarmed and thoroughly aroused over the drastic provisions OF the
joint resolution passed by the United States Congress on June 80, relating
to changes in operations on Works Projects under the Works Projects
Administration, the unions in the state of Montana convened in Butte
Monday, July 10, and determined upon a method Of opposition to the
provisions of the act.
On Wednesday afternoon of last week. MIR. Parker, state administrator,
and Mr.. Mcmillan supervisor, called a conference of representative union
leaders in the administrative offices Of the WPA and explained thoroughly
the provisions of the new appropriation act. 1t was after that meeting had
adjourned that the heads Of the unions decided to call a state meeting.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13
democracy Speaker
Will Lecture Here
Al Old High School

How long will it be before you
are on relief? Is your job secure?
Will the machine take your job
away from you today? This month?
This year? Do you think that it is
necessary or desirable that people
should be forced to go hungry, while
food is destroyed to insure high
prices? That the aged and the chill
dren should lack proper shelter
when this continent possesses the
men, materials and necessary tech
nology to provide homes superior to
almost any, now constructed and in
sufficient numbers to house every
North American adequately? Do you
think that ANY POLITICAL PARTY
is capable of providing a satisfactory
solution to the problem of unem-
ployment, of poverty, crime, NAL
nutrition and all other undesirable
characteristics of our scarcity econ
omy? Whatever opinion you may
have, regarding the above questions,
hear Herb Clark, dynamic authorized
speaker for Technocracy Incorpor-
ated.
Herb Clark, Victoria speaker for
the fastest growing organization on
the North American continent, ex-
elusive of the army of unemployed,
is now making an extensive 5000
mile tour of B. c., Washington,
Idaho and Montana. Mr.. Clark is
the operator of the well known
short-wave station VE5HG and a
typical example of many short-wave
members who are preparing to take
care of emergencies when the crisis
arrives, by means of short-wave
communication.
Today, a continental economy in
which i~nefficiency, greed and
rugged individualism" are the guild
ing principles, has created an army
of malcontents thirteen million
strong; the unemployed The in
creasing use of extraneous (non-
hIman) energy under price system
method of operation is adding to
their ranks at ever-increasing rates.
In the near future, their physical
discomfort not to mention that those
still employed whose own standard
of living is going downhill, will occa-
sion behavior threatening chaotic
developments. For the day when
a new social order must and will be
introduced, when chaos and the ex-
tinction of four-fifths of the Ameri-
can populace is the only alternative,
Technocracy is building its Techno-
logical Army of the New America
and training its personnel in the
behavior patterns necessary for the
accomplishment of its high purpose.
For years, Technocracy Incor-
porated has been telling the people
of this continent to prepare for the
time when the present social mech
anism can no longer operate. The
time is very near at hand and we
cannot stress too urgently that this
is your problem, whether you like
it or not.
Our WAR is right on this CONT
NENT. The WAR of Plenty versus
Scarcity, Health versus Malnutri-
ton and Technocracy versus Chaos.
Mr.. Clark will speak here on Fri
day, July IA, at the old Butte high
school at 8 p. m.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13
WHEELER, MURRAY
OPPOSE WAGE CUTS

Senator B. K. Wheeler has joined
with Senators Murray, McCarran
and Wagner in introducing legisla-
ton today restoring prevailing
wage rate on WPA projects. They
intend to exert every effort towards
restoring this rate.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13

HASTINGS. Nebr. - (FP) - The
Technical Engineers Architects and
Draftsmen's Union (AFL) has signed
a closed shop contract with Central
Nebraska Power g. Irrigation dis
trict, largest of the states three ma
jor hydroelectric projects. Negotia-
tons for contracts, expected to cover
some 200 technical workers, are
under way with the other districts,
Chief Engineer George johnson said.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13

The Work Projects Administration
has approved an allotment of 5000
to improve the county-owned ceme-
terry near Butte. This project now is
eligible for operation at the discre-
ton of Joseph E. Parker, state WPA
administrator, according to Sen. B.
K. Wheeler.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13
Organized Labor Of Montana
United Against Accepting
Terms Of Appropriation AT

The People of the State of Montana Express Their Determination
to Oppose the 1870 Hour Provision of the New Appropriation Act,
the Forced Vacation After Is Month of Service, the Levying
Off Of Wages and Other Obnoxious Features of the Act in a
Joint State Meeting in Butte Monday, July 10, and Also by a
joint Meeting of the Silver Bow Trades and Labor Council and
the Butte Building Trades Council, Tuesday.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13
COAL UNION HEAD
TO ADDRESS MINERS

Joe Hunter, president of District
No. 81 of the United Coal Miners,
will be a visitor at the meeting of
the Butte Miners Union Wednesday
evening, July 10. He will discuss
the problem facing the coal miners
and the need of using coal in homes
built under Federal Housing Admin
istration.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13
PUBLIC MEETING

at the old Butte high school
Friday evening, July IA, at s
p. m, by Technocracy, Inc.
Herb Clark, authorized speak
er, will tell Of what Tech
nocracy is doing in this critical
period. Public invited.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13

At last the folks in Jersey City
celebrated independence Day.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13

Genuine prosperity Is =
condition and situation
where all who SO desire
may work and receive the
products Of their labor"
Leslie Taylor.
Montana labor news., 1939-07-13

There can Be no prosperity
without Justly high wages.
Earnings Of working people
are the basis and index Of
progress In any community.