Montana labor news., 1939-06-08
WELFARE COUNCIL
URGES CONTINUANCE
OF ADEQUATE RELIEF

SE RN9 ~ Ok% b NE~ hRkh
Following is a letter sent to Col.
Harrington, WPA administrator,
asking an increase in the employ
ment quota for Montana.
Copies of the letter were sent to
our senators and congressman and
to President Roosevelt with the sug-
gestion that they all get together
and talk the matter over. It is
hoped the proposal of the Montana
Public Welfare Council will get
beneficial results.
May 20, 1889
Col F. c. Harrington, Administrator
Works Progress Administration,
Washington, D. c.
Dear Sir:
Last Tuesday, May 2Srd, the
Steward mine was closed down in
Butte by the Anaconda Copper
Mining Co. This threw over seven
hundred men out Of work, which,
.conservatively, with their depend
ents, means approximately 1900
more people dependent on WPA and
direct relief. A WPA and a direct
relief which is shrinking.
Corresponding reductions will be
made in the working force in the
Anaconda smelter and Great Falls
refinery and fabricating plant of
the same company, as these plants
are dependent on the Butte miners
for the raw materials with which
they work,
Last Thursday the Montana Public
Welfare Board met in Helena and
the various counties placed their
needs for the month of June before
that board Silver Bow county
needed $4,000, but the commission
ers only asked for $4,000. They
were allotted $4,000. As a result,
even the meager 81 month allowed
a single person will be cut off en-
tirely next month and reductions
made in the allowance of families
on direct relief.
This emergency could be met if
the board or the Governor would
place the situation before the State
Board of Examiners. This, however,
they steadfastly refuse to do, be-
lieve it or not The National Ad-
ministration is in no wise to blame
for the situation in Montana, in vel
fare administration, but l do recall
that President Roosevelt has assured
us on several occasions that no one
would be allowed to starve in this
country. But that is what is actually
staring many Of us in the face un-
less the New Deal comes to our
rescue with an increased WPA en-
ployment quota for Montana.
Crime is on the increase in Butte
and every other community in the
state. People are now beginning
to feel the full pinch of circum-
stances and, getting hungry, the un-
employed are turning to the only
way left open to them to secure
necessary food, robbery. These
people are not really criminals or
of the criminal type but would
rather steal than see their wives and
children starve. They would not
be worthy of the name human" if
they did not take the necessary steps
to get food for themselves and their
families.
Sometime back the Montana Pub
lie Welfare Council asked for an
increase in the employment quota
for Montana to 10000. This was
needed to insure anything like an
approach to an American standard
of existence to the unemployed. In
view Of the latest shutdown of the
Steward mine, we must ask for an
increase to 1000 in the employment
quota for Montana.
We are not exaggerating things to
you. Actual starvation is imminent
for many unless we take to whole
sale robbery. Do you want to con-
demn decent American citizens to a
life of crime to keep body and soul
together? Is that what American
ism means? Is this what civilization
Hoping for early and favorable
action in this matter, ! am
Sincerely and hopefully yours,
Norman LeFever, Secy.
Following is a letter received by
the Montana Public Welfare Council
from Welfare Administrator l. M.
1t may be noted he agrees that
the condition of the unemployed is
but both he and the Gov
ernor still steadfastly refuse to lay
the situation before the State Board
of Examiners so that funds can be
made available.
STATE OF MONTANA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
WELFARE
Helena, Montana, May II, 1889.
Mr.. Norman LeFever, Secretary,
Montana Plblic Welfare Council