Montana labor news., 1939-01-26
RADIO Speech GIVEN
BY Rep. SAM 5pIEGEL
Continued from Page q

the burden on the wage earne He
practically paved the way for a sales
tax, in spite of the fact that there
does not seem to be very much
sentiment for such a tax. Feeling.
as do, that a sales tax really takes
from the worker part of his pur-
chasing power and is an additional
burden on him, / will do everything
within my power to defeat any and
all such legislation. Although the
various state bureaus, offices, and
institutions are in need of greater
appropriations, so far there has been
virtually no proposed tax measure
introduced. The message of the
Governor was strangely silent on
this score. Could it be that the shoe
might pinch the wrong foot?
Eight Hours Collar to Collar
In regard to some of the legisla-
ton which would be of benefit to
the wage Garner, there has also been
introduced an eight-hour ~collar-to-
collar bill, which affects the men
working underground. This bill had
a hectic career in the last session
and was defeated only because many
members Of the House of Represent
atives from the county which would
be most vitality affected, listened to
their masters voice instead of to the
voice of the people who elected them
to office. There is every indication
that at the present session this bill
will become a law unless voted down
by its opponents under the same
pressure.
Repeal Plan 2 of Compensation Act
Again, organized labor is attempt
ing to repeal Plan No. 2 of the State
Workman's Compensation Act. This
is the plan most oppressive for the
workmen and lucrative for the COM
panies. Many agents of various
corporations concerned are lobbying
in the halls of the legislature in an
attempt to save this juicy plum.
Labor has tried to repeal this plan
for years, because of the fact that
insurance companies have withheld
payments from the victims of in
dustrial accidents until they and
their families have become inn
poverished and in such dire need
that it becomes a simple matter to
compromise the claims far below the
amounts which should have been
paid.
We were recently presented with
what is purported to be a report on
occupational diseases. This docu-
ment, signed by a majority of the
commission to investigate this field,
and especially the underground
worker, would have us believe that
there is no more ~silicosis. In spite
of their figures relative to the num-
Der of dust particles per cubic foot,
despite their disparagement of the
evidence presented by the Butte
Miners Union and the Anaconda
Mill and Smelter Workers, the fact
still remains that Galen is over
crowded and the waiting list of men
seeking admission to that institu-
ton is constantly growing. It is my
opinion that there will always be
danger of s~ilicosis as long as men
delve into the bowels of the earth
for riches. These underground
workers are entitled to protective
legislation whereby the corporations
which they have enriched will not
cast them aside after they have be-
come broken in health, like so many
pieces of o out machinery.
One of the serious situations which
c%onfronts US in this session is the
differences which exist between the
various groups representing organ
lied labor. They are constantly
sparring for supremacy. They lose
sight of their objective and the goal
for which Labor has been striving
solidarity.
The practice of one group
opposing some piece of legislation
sponsored by n Of the other groups
has resulted in a chaotic condition,
which has rendered aid and comfort
to the common enemy.
Many of the more subservient
members of the legislature, who
have never, at any time, had any
sympathy for the worker, either
organized or unorganized, eagerly
take advantage of the situation as
an easy way OUT when they are
confronted by important labor
measures.
AS a final summary, if you, the
people Of this state, expect to secure
any measure of relief from the
present legislature, l would suggest
that you write Immediately to your
senators and representatives, remind
them Of their duty and their pre-
election promises; and request that
they either get down to business or
pack up and come home.
Ladies and gentlemen, these are
my views. l offer them with
apologies to no one. l thank you
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