davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07
Capitol Corridor
Chatter
Pv lake
By JAKE

| though for while this morning
that I'd better go borrow an iron suit
and helmet when | got up to the state
house. And if that editor of yours
doesn't quit calling some of these big
shot politicians lawbreakers, it's going
to get to the point where I'll not
dare to stick my nut inside the build
ing, and look what you've going to
miss them No more edifying articles
from my trenchant pen, if I've got to
risk having inkstands and cuspidors
bounced on my head. Bad for you
and bad for me. The ayes have it.
Coming right at this time too it's
especially tough on these democratic
politicians. Imagine yourself demo
cratic office holder accused of break
ing the law and republican like Tom
"Dead-eye Dick" Dewey, the master
sleuth, budget balancer and cop COM
ing to town! What chance would
you have? shudder to think what
might happen. And with a republican
sheriff in charge of the county Jail
too. Terrible.
SO / couldn't exactly blame those
fellows in the capitol and around on
state jobs for being jittery and failing
to pay me their usual respect. 1t
wasn't so tough when the paper ac-
cused these big shots of having no
business on state jobs and on polit-
ical committees at the same time,
CONTINUED on Page Four
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07
Unemployment
Up AS Industrial
Activity Hits High

WASHINGTON OPP - While in
dustrial activity, during December
reached the highest level on record
even above that in the prosperity"
period of 1929-there was no CORE
spending abatement in the pressure of
the relief and unemployment prob
lens, F. C. Harrington, works prof.
ects commissioner, announced here on
the basis of a summary review of re-
lief and economic conditions through
out the nation.
Despite the rise in industrial produc-
ton to a level above the peak in
1929, and with national income pay
ments equaling those achieved during
the 1897 recovery period, Harrington
noted that the high level of unem-
ployment remained unchanged during
the month. There was, further, he
said, an intensification of the pres
sure upon local relief and WPA Of
fees for assistance to the destitute
and unemployed.
"In the first place." he said, more
and more persons are seeking Jobs
Continued on Page Four
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07
.Low-Wage South
Threatens Wage
Hours Law

WASHINGTON. - (FP)'-- Contem-
plated action by the wage-hours divi-
sion against the Southern Craft Paper
Co., key corporation in the low wage
south, has brought threats from prom
inent members of the house that the
wage-hours law will be "legislated out
OF existence" 1t was learned here.
The wage-hours division is prepar-
ing to defy the ultimatum and will
press the case, its largest to date. The
department of justice viii ask anti
trust indictment against the corpora
ton from federal grand jury being
convened in Mobile, Ala.
The Southern Craft Paper Co., of
Mobile, Ala, is a subsidiary of the
huge international Paper G. Power Co,
a Morgan concern, and exercises vir-
tually complete control over southern
pulpwood producers.
Among those who have threatened
the wage-hours division with extinc-
ton unless the case is soft-pedaled are
Speaker of the House VIM. B. Bank
head d., Ala.), his brother and pappy
OF actress Tallulah, Sen. John H.
Bankhead ID, Ala.), Rep. Martin Dies
ID, Tex), chairman of the house
committee allegedly investigating I'M
American activities, Rep. Eugene Cox
ID, Cal, powerful member of the
house rules committee although rep
resenting a constituency with $500
voters, and Rep. Frank Boykin ID,
Ala).
Charges on which the case is based
involve the "hot goods" provision of
the wage-hours act, which imposes a
$4,000 fine for every shipment in
interstate commerce of goods known
to have been manufactured in viola
ton of the law
The Southern Craft Paper Co. pur-
chases timber from small contractors
in the south. These contractors en-
ploy an estimated $4,000 workers at
wages of to 10 cents an hour, &C
cording to the wage-hours division.
1t is further claimed that the COM
pany knows the timber and pulpwood
1t purchases Is produced under sub
standard labor conditions. Such
knowledge, If proved, would make the
equally guilty with the con-
tractors and would subject the firm
to heavy penalties.
Boykin, one of the most active in
The fight to protect the paper COM
pany, frankly admits his activities.
Recently he boosted that he was the
man who got the job" of former
Administrator Elmer F.
Andrews and he indicated that any
other wage-hour administrator who
the company would be SIM
ilarly dismissed.
Continued on Page Three)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07
's',zs,s
Local Additions
For Stokowski Band
Are Being Planned

The task of choosing candidates for
Leopold Stokowski's All American
Youth Orchestra is being undertaken
in ~ Montana cities with tentative
arrangements being made for prelim-
mary additions, William A. McMurphy,
NYA official in charge of additions
for Montana, has announced.
Billings, Butte, Bozeman, Missoula,
Kalispell, Lewistown. Great Falls,
Havre, Miles City, Sidney, Glasgow,
and Helena are the cities where audi
lions for the Stokowski orchestra will
be held, provided that at least 10 ap-
plications are received from each city
and its adjacent area, Mr.. McMurphy
said
Local NYA advisory committees in
each community are assisting in the
selection of a committee of judges
from among local musicians and
teachers, in selecting satisfactory
rooms for the additions, and in work
ing out other details. Youths living
in outlying areas will be directed to
go to the addition city nearest him
for his trial appearance.
Any young musician between the
ages of 16 and rs is eligible to. COM
pete, Mr. Murphy said. Applications
will be accepted up to midnight, Feb
ruary Is. Blanks may be secured at
the local NYA office. Applications
should be addressed to William A.
McMurphy, National Youth Admins
tration, Lewisohn building, Butte.
Each applicant will be notified as to
when and where his preliminary audi
ton will be held. Candidates selected
from the preliminary additions will
appear in state addition, and win
ners there in regional addition, dates
of which will be announced later. Mr..
Stokowski plans to hold the final audi
ton in New York City late in April.
Only 81 applications have been re-
ceiyed thus far from the state as
whole, and this number is not deemed
sufficient to justify the holding of
according to McMurphy. 1t
is felt that lack of knowledge of the
Youth Orchestra or feel
ings of diffidence may have held ap-
plicants back. This is unfortunate,
said. National Youth Adj
Continued on Page Four)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07
Hook Charges
Dies Committee
Is "Un-American''
By HENRY ION

| WASHINGTON.-(FP) = Incredible
as it may sound, the Dies committee
allegedly investigating un-American
activities is actually beginning to in
vestigate really un-American activities.
1t is investigating itself.
It should be noted, at the outset,
that Rep. Martin Dies 3D., Tex.) is
not taking part in this soul-searching
activity on the part of the committee
He is still in Texas and is not ex-
pected back here for some time.
This strange happenstance is the
outgrowth of charges made in the
house by Rep. Frank Hook ID, Mich
during the debate on the future of
the Dies committee.
Hook charged, in statement put in
the Congressional Record that Dies is
closely connected with the Christian
Front and had some understanding"
with William Dudley Policy, leader of
the Silver Shirts, an organization sup
posed to be under investigation by the
committee
Dies friends, Rep. Thomas (R., N.
j., member of the committee, be-
ing the first, Immediately charged
that the letters from Pelley showing
the connection between Dies and the
Silver Shirts were forgeries, that
Dies had no connection with the Chris
tian Front.
Hook vigorously defended his state
ment and offered further proof of the
un-American activities of the house
committee allegedly investigating I'M
American activities. The rumpus got
a lot of public attention.
The Dies committee, under the tenn
CONTINUED on Page Three)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07
Page Mr.. Dies!

The following is quoted from an ad
dress by DR.. Lena Philips, president
of the International Federation o.
Business and Professional Women
and oddly enough was printed in the
January issue of the Bulletin of the
National City Bank of New York:
Wonian's faith is unsettled by the
fact that, while millions were in dire
poverty or upon relief, in 1884 Amer
ica's productive capacity Of goods
and services was only about SIS per-
cent used. It is against their social
conscience, and, for many, their
Christian faith, that in the worlds
richest country, where there is more
than a proportionate share Of al
most everything, 100000 workers
in the peak year of 1929 each re-
ceived for his labor less than $1,000,
although as adequately proven,
man could not at that time support
his family decently for less than
$1,000 per year. Women do not
understand why the administrative
genius which has produced big bust
ness in America will let factories
stand idle and permit themselves
and others to support by taxation
millions who should be supporting
themselves. 1t is no answer to
shout "Red" to honest questions
which one will not or cannot an
swer. Except under the Influence
of propaganda, American women
will not be afraid of alien ideas if
democracy can be made to work, but
| for one, and again ! speak for
no other, am convinced that men
and women will not forever starve
even for the Constitution of the
United States.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07

was completed
This convention marked the compile
ton of the first years operation OF
the company, and its progress toward
its goal was found to have been sub
stantial, and its financial condition
sound. The stockholders pledged
themselves to work increasingly for its
further development and for an in
crease In its volume of business.
The officers reports showed that
patronage support during the past
year had been received from IS labor
organizations, SO Farmers Union AS
sociations, "a Farmers Union Oil COM
panies and from 26 private individuals
and concerns. An effort to double
that amount in 1910 was promised by
the stockholders.
The treasurer's report showed a
total of 1874 stockholders, $50 of whom,
at this time have their stock fully
paid. Under the cooperative asso-
citation law, one man may own only
one share of voting stock, have only
one vote and the bylaws prohibit vot-
ing by proxy.
Great interest was displayed in the
Peoples Voice which the organization
prints for the Peoples Voice Publish
ing Company, in which the Educa-
tional Cooperative Publishing Com
pany has purchased and owns the
of stock.
Pledges of increased and planned
activity to increase the circulation Of
the Peoples Voice were given indi-
by nearly all of the stock
ers of the Coop Publishing Company
present.
Directors
The members of the board of direc-
tors whose term expired were re-
elected for three-year terms. They
were: d. L. Manning and w. S. Good
Continued on Page Four
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07
GREENBELT NOW
100 PERCENT
COOPERATIVE

The residents of the model town of
Greenbelt, Maryland, have become
full owners of their own self-service
grocery store meat market, drug store
and soda fountain, variety store, gas
and oil station, beauty shop, valet
shop, barber shop and theater. Trans
fer of ownership of Greenbelt Con-
sumner Services, which operates these
enterprises, from the Consumer Dis
tribution Corporation to residents of
Greenbelt makes Greenbelt a model
Coop town, for all the business enter
prises in the town are now operated
on a completely Rochdale cooperative
basis
The transaction marks the success
full completion of the first major CO.
operative undertaking launched by the
late Edward A. Filene, who shortly
before his death, set up the Consum-
er Distribution Corporation as an
agency to assist in the promotion of
urban co-operatives.
When the town of Greenbelt, on
the outskirts of Washington, d. c.,
was being built by the Resettlement
Administration in 1887, CDC was
asked to set up the business enter
prises of the community. Under the
lease signed with the government,
CDC agreed to operate those bust
nesses on non-profit basis and to
turn them over the residents by Jan
uary, 1910. Cooperative ownership
~ f1I
lowed a long range educational pro-
gram and progressive program of
turning greater and greater respon-
sibility over to resident Coop mem
bers. When the date for transfer was
reached, the residents had raised capt.
tai to acquire ownership of the enter
prises and had gained valuable expert
ence in actual operation.
Percy S. Brown, president of CDC
and Herbert E. Evans, vice president,
said when transferring the ownership
of the enterprises to Walter r. Volck-
hansen and Sherrod East, president
and vice president of the Greenbelt
Consumer Services, that they were
so satisfied with the responsibility of
the cooperative that no supervisory
contract would be made but that mem
bers of the staff of CDC would be
available for regular consultation. The
present volume of business of the
Greenbelt stores is in neighborhood of
S350,000 annually. Greenbelt Consum-
er Services reported earnings of about
$4,000 last year after all taxes, inter-
est and operating expenses had been
paid. CDC has loaned the co-opera-
tive $4,000. OF the original invest
ment of $4,000 about $4,000 has al
ready been paid back.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07
BOOK COOP
BUSINESS GROWS

NEW YORK.-The Consumers Book
Cooperative which began business as
the Cooperative Book Club with a
borrowed office, a volunteer staff, and
$50 in capital in November, 1887, now
has LAO members from New York to
India and did a business of s61,599 in
1899, according to report of the di-
rectors released here January 81
But this "Alger story" of an organ
ization has not been without its mis-
takes and reverses, declared Henry
Pratt Fairchild professor Of philoso-
ply at New York University, presi-
dent of CBC, who released the report
and announced the action OF the men,
Continued on Page Four)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07
Transfers State
Council Holds
Meet in Helena

The State Council of Transfers
held their regular meeting in Helena.
January g. 1910.
The meeting was well attended.
Practically every local of the Team
sters in the state of Montana is af-
filiated with the State Council of
Transfers with the exception of Ana
conda
Reports of delegates showed that
practically all local unions were MAX
ing progress The Transfers now
have under contract all large COM
panies operating in the state with the
exception of one company. A COM
mittee was appointed to begin nego-
tiations with this company, February
4th, 1910.
Since the organization of the Team
sters in Montana, their membership
has increased from about 1000 to
$500. At the time the Transfers be-
gan organizing, the over-the-road driv-
ers were receiving as low as $500
Continued on Page Two)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07

In precinct No. in the same coun-
ty, we find ]. Burke Clements is
precinct committeeman which places
him in three political organizations in
which his membership while state
Job holder, constitutes an apparent
direct violation of the section of the
state law referred to above. The
roster further indicates his apparent,
utter disregard of this law, because
three other state employees, serving
in his department are listed as men,
bers of precinct committees. So it
may be assumed that not only does
he disregard the provisions of the
law by his own membership in the
Wheeler for President Club. as vice
chairman of the State Democratic
Central Committee and as precinct
committeeman for precinct 6 in Lewis
and Clark county but that he also
apparently condones the violations of
the same law by state employees under
his immediate supervision.
Mona McRae state employee in the
Industrial Accident Board under the
immediate supervision of Clements as
it's executive head, is committee-wom-
an in precinct No. 6; Nellie M. Sites
employed by the state in the same
department holds the same position
in precinct No. IA and Nell O'Connell
also in the Industrial Accident Board
holds the same position in precinct
No Is. In the latter precinct, the
precinct committeeman is Frank ].
4. 10 ,,v,1N
The state liquor board is repre-
scented in the membership Of precinct
No. 5 in Lewis and Clark county by
Edith G. Briscoe; in precinct No. Z
by Nellie Buchanan and in precinct
No. 10 by Kathryn Curtis. Look up
the law ladiesl Or have those you
are fronting" for, come out in the
open.
Mary E. Woody West of the dairy
division is the cOmmitteewOman in
precinct No. 8 in the same county.
The Welfare Board has its contact !
in the Lewis and Clark county organi-
cation in apparent contravention of ]
the law, in the person of Sidney T. |
Smith as precinct committeeman in |
precinct No. IA.
This is the third week in which the
Voice has brought to the attention of |
the people of the state, plain viola
lions of the provisions of a Montana
law. Persons have been named.
Others will be named in the future.
We quote this law again:
Section 1876 R. G. M. 1885:
mo holder of public position
Continued on Page Four
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07

Dismissal of cases against 125 WPA
defendants in Minneapolis last week
came from White House "orders," over
the objections Of the local United
States district attorney, this column
+ learns.
ECONOMY Bloc" Tackles
Roosevelt ECONOMY Budget"
We don't know whether it was Bar
nun or one of the ancient prophets
who said that if you give some peo-
pie enough rope they are certain to
be their own executioners.
Many observers in Washington feel
that that is exactly the game Franklin
D. Roosevelt is playing with the So
called ECONOMY bloc" in congress.
If SO, it is working out admirably.
FDR really gave them an economy
budget-in everything except arma-
ments. Relief and social services were
pruned down to the danger point
pruned down so low, in fact, that lib
erals became fearful the new deal was
deserving its own policies. But even
with THIS 6COuOuly uuu6cl, lloooO'OiI
told congress additional taxes will be
necessary to meet the heavy defense
needs.
The problem which faced the econ
omy bloc" was thus difficult one.
They had to show the country, par
ticularIy during an election year, that
the "apostle of spending hasn't 1t
in him to come out with genuine
economy budget; they had to do some
thing desperate to prevent enactment
of new taxes, and they couldn't afford
to stand in the way of prepared
ness program"
j So the ECONOMY bloc" in the house
has been cutting strange capers with
the Roosevelt economy budget" They
are making large groups of people
people who will 90 to the. polls next
November-yell "ouch!" by their in
discriminate slashings. Last week
the farmers were taking it on the
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07
STOCKHOLDERS FROM TWENTY-F0UR
COUNTIES IN The STATE attend
annual CONVENTION OF PUB. co.

Despite Cold Weather Stockholders the Educational
Cooperative Publishing Company Gathered for the Annual Stock
holders Meeting Last Saturday From As Far Away AS Wston
Dak and From "a Counties of the State Review
tiles Of Their Company in 1889.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07

The capacity of the large hall in the Labor Temple Helena
taxed to its capacity last Saturday by
stockholders at the annual convention of the Educational
operative Publishing Company contract printers The
pies Voice and job printers for the cooperative business
10 o'clock, A. M by President D. L. Manning who
at all meetings of stockholders and directors since the
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07
TRESPASSINC AT THE CAPITAL
By A. l. HARRIS

chin But so also were those on re-
+, lief and the small businessmen. The
department of agriculture food stamp
plan, which was of great aid to all
three of the above groups and, in
cidentally, one of the finest things the
department had ever done, was wiped
out completely in a moment of almost
insane rashness.
OF course, it is expected that the
senate will win back some of these
benefits for the people but there prob
ably will be compromise. In the
meantime, however, IT'S THE ECON
OMY BLOC AND NOT THE AD-
MINISTRATION THAT is BEING
PUT ON THE SPOT.
William Dudley Pelley, they say,
is possessed of Napoleonic complex.
But unlike Napoleon, the Silver Shirt
chieftain doesn't have horse around
when he struts about in army boots
and spurs.
Who Are Conspirators
In Forged Policy Letter Episode?
Mighty peculiar angles have devel-
oped in the controversy over the
forged William Dudley Pelley letters
placed into the Congressional Record
by Rep. Hook, Michigan.
That David Mayne, said to have
been Pe1ley's Washington representa-
tive, who now says he forged the
documents in question, sold photostat
copies of them to Harold Weisberg
and Gardner Jackson is admitted by
all three. Testimony also conclusive
ly shows that Weisberg and Jackson
thought them to be genuine. Thus
no stigma can attach to them for turn
ing them over to Rep. Hook in the
belief that they were doing public
service.
Nevertheless, there is strong suspic-
ion of a conspiracy. Exactly what
was the conspiracy and who are re-
CONTINUED on Page Two)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07
POLITICAL JOB H0L MRS
ACTIVE AS Freeing 81
Committee mEmB rs

Roster of Lewis and Clark Cot and Pre-
cinct Committee Members Shows Number
of Political Job Holders Who Show Utter
Disregard for Provisions of Sec. lO786 and
Apparently Consider Themselves Safe From
Penalties for It's Violation
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07

Heading the roster of the Lewis and Clark county democra
organization chairman of its county central committee
Bonner legal advisor in the Railroad and Public Service
Commission and Mr. Bonner also secretary of the Democratic
State Committee In his ignorance of the plain
of Section 1926 R. c. NJ 1885 hardly be
cepted as and probable that Mr. Bonner
attorney, would not to present it
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07

Economic Justice and Equality
Is the Real Safeguard of De-
mocracy. Lack of These Is a
Challenge to the Intelligence
and Sincerity of All.