davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-02
COOP STUDY
CLUBS PAY
DIVIDENDS
By JOHN CARSON,
Washington Representative, The
Co-OneratiYe League.

WASHINGTON.-"f the consumer
co-operatives only had hundred thou
sand of those study clubs scattered
over the country and they would take
this so-called excess profits tax bill
apart and learn what it meant for con-
sumers and for the country in general,
we might have chance to stop such
legislation in the future"
The speaker was Congressman Jerry
Voorhis, democrat of California, one
of the most Industrious and earnest
students in congress. II do not see
much reason to hope for sound and
intelligent attack on these problems,
such as taxation and its very closely
related problem, unemployment, until
we develop active support from the
people for efforts we may make down
here" he continued 1--WE cannot hope
for active support until we get the
people interested and we cannot hope
to get them interested until we devel-
op a method of informing them. So,
God speed the consumer cooperative
Continued on Page Four)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-02
PROGRESSIVE
CON renee
SCHEDULED

Key leaders of farm, trade uniol
and progressive political groups ar
to confer in st. Paul Oct. and upol
their course of action in the nationa
campaign, according to a call for
midwest conference OF progressives
released today.
The call includes blistering indict
ment of Wendell L. Willkie and states
that "the conference will discuss
whether we should support Roosevelt
who today is faced with even more
bitter opposition from Big Business
than in his previous campaigns"
Signers of the call declare that "the
election of Wendell Willkie would be
the gravest mistake the American peo
pie could make"
We face the most important presi
Dental election in 80 years." the call
notes. "Are we not faced with the
same problems which European DEM
ocracies refused to face and which led
to the present catastrophe? We must
determine our position on the ques-
lions Of the hour: national defense,
details of Americas foreign policy,
defense of the new deal gains, and full
employment"
The conference, to be attended by
several hundred invited persons In
Minnesota and neighboring states, will
work out plans to assist liberal forces
in our area in electing progressive
candidates; many progressive candl-
dates for congress were defeated in
the last election by less than thou
sand votes. We must help to turn the
tide"
Signers of the call are: For Mime
sota-A. w. Kicker of St. Paul, editor
of the Farmers Union Herald; Hon.
Henry G. Tiegan of Minneapolis, prom
inent Farmer-Labor party leader; San
der GEMS, Minneapolis, international
vice president of the Amalgamated
Clothing Workers Union, and Howard
Y. Williams, st. Paul, national organ
izer of the Farmer-Labor Political
Federation. For Wisconsin = Kenneth
w. Homes, state president of the Farm
ers Union and Oscar Cooley, Superior,
official of the Central Coop Whole
sayF and the Progressive Party Fed
Grafton. For South Dakota-Oscar
Brekke, Albee, farm leader.
Also for North Dakota-Hon. Ole II.
Olson. New Rockford, former repubh-
can governor For Montana-H. L..
Manning, Great Falls, farm leader, and
II. s. Bruce, Helena, editor of the Peo-
ple's Voice, and for Iowa Mrs. Minnie
Duvall, Des Moines, Farmer-Labor
marty leader, and Gus Erickson, Des
CONTINUED on Page Four)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-02
BATA HITS END
OF SWEATsH0P
TRAIL
[By Federated Pressl

WASHINGTON.-J Bata hit the
end of his sweatshop trail in this coun-
try September 26 as the Department
extension of the visitors permits for
AZ alien workers and II alien officers
Of the Bata Shoe company, had been
denied
All SO must leave the country at the
expiration of their present permits OF
be deported, Attorney General Robert
H. Jackson ruled.
The ruling represented a substantial
victory for the United Shoe Workers
(CIO) which had fought the introduce
ton of the Bata system in this coun-
try charging that the blanket importa-
ton of Bata workers deprived Ameri-
can workers of jobs.
The departments action was based
upon findings by the immigration and
naturalization service that the Bata
company had misrepresented the char
acter Of work to be performed by the
persons it imported and that their EN-
ployment was permanent instead of
temporary as alleged.
In securing the permit for the i'm
portation of workers the company con-
tended that American workers could
not learn the Bata system quickly and
that special machinery requiring spe-
cial skills was necessary to the sys-
tenn.
Actually, the chief features of the
Bata system, Jackson told reporters,
were child labor, low wages and an
apprenticeship system entirely foreign
to the United States, which involved
the virtual bondage of children for a
number of years.
Asked whether there would be any
difficulty about deporting the Bata
workers, ostensibly CZechs, Jackson
said the German gestapo had promised
the Bata people permission to return.
The only factor in denying renewal
of the permits, Jackson said, was the
fact that the applications misrepre-
scented the necessity for the permits,
that American workers could perform
the work as well as anyone else.
A confidential government report.
however, indicates close ties between
the Bata concern and the German gov
eminent.
There are confidential records, the
Continued on page Two)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-02

A request for funds was stricken
from the resolution enabling it to be
placed on the senate calendar, side
tracking the committee on audit and
control. Barley said he expected the
senate to consider the calendar in a
few days.
The report of the interstate COM
merce committee recommending pas
sage of the resolution cited World war
experiences in support of the measure.
at would be premature" the report
said, Gin the absence of definite infor-
nation such as would be produced by
a thorough investigation to assert that
present defense interferences dupli-
cate those in our past experience.
"That such interferences exist, how
ever, is suggested by recent cases
which have received the attention of
the government"
The report noted that IAN American
optical company which, during the
last five years, supplied approximate
ly SO per cent of all U. S. military
optical instruments, arranged with "a
leading German corporation" to divide
the world market, limit sales to allot-
ted territory and to fix and maintain
prices and terms Of sale.
Testimony before the temporary ma
tional economic committee, the report
said, showed patent pools and agree
ments between German and American
firms for joint control Of the produc-
ton of beryllium, an extremely light
metal used in the airplane industry.
In 1929, thereport continued, Ameri-
can interests are said to have entered
into an agreement with German
trust which fixed minimum prices for
hard metal composition" and required
licensees to observe such practices.
The agreement provided, said the
report, for the American corporation
to pay SIS per pound into royalty
fund two-thirds of which went into
the German trust.
Before 1928, it was charged, the
price of hard metal composition sold
in the u. S. was as low as $4S pound.
Thereafter the price rose as high as
$453 pound.
1T has been charged" the report
asserted, chat in 1885 royalty to
the German trust of 10 per cent OF
the prices at which all hard metal
composition should be sold in the U. ;.
was substituted for the earlier IS per
pound royalty fund.
CONTINUED on Page Four)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-02
WASHINGTON
REvISES
ORDINANCES

| Advocates of peace and civil liber
ties in the United States won signal
victory this week as capitol and
| Washington police, under injunction
by the American Peace Mobilization
agreed to revise local ordinances to
conform with the bill of rights.
At the same time, the Peace Mobili
cation moved forward on two legisla
tive fronts: First, in a nationwide
drive to support bill repeating the
consumption law, introduced late
this week by Representative Vito
Marcantonio, New York progressive
and second, in extending full support
to a resolution by Senator Burton K
Wheeler, D., Mont, to investigate for.
eign influence and control in Ameri-
can defense industries
The injunction restraining the viola
ton Of civil rights was filed by the
American Peace Mobilization after po-
lice had used violence in breaking
up peaceful demonstrations against
passage Of the draft bill during the
first week in September. Local and
capitol police drove the demonstrators
from the capitol grounds in the midst
Of an all-night vigil led by prominent
religious and civic leaders, several OF
whom were temporarily taken into
custody. Others were arrested subse-
quently for parading with placards and
for distributing leaflets. None of the
charges were pressed, however, and all
were released.
Charges were filed against the po-
lice with the aid of the National Fed
Grafton for Constitutional Liberties,
and this week police agreed to revise
rules regulating leaflet distribution,
the carrying of banners and placards
in public places, public mass meetings,
and freedom from unlawful arrest.
Frederick " Field, executive secre-
tary of the APM, greeted the decision
as "the first step in campaign to
defend America by extending, instead
of curtailing our civil liberties"
The mobilization announced that It's
fight against the CONSUMPTION law and
Continued on Page Three)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-02
Consumers Coop
Reports S5,OOO,OOO
Business In Year
(By Federated Press)

| NORTH KANSAS CITY, MOTOR
the first time in its history the Con.
sumers Cooperative Association, re-
giona1 federation of consumer co-ops
| in nine midwestern states, has passed
the $5,000,000 mark. During the fiscal
year ending Aug. 81, GOA. reported
business totaling s5,11O,163, an in
crease of 15.5 per cent over its pre-
vious years volume.
Twelve years ago C.A.A began op-
erations in headquarters slightly
larger than two-car garage. 1t had
5000 capital and six local co-opera-
tives as members. Today it serves
10000 consumer-members in $50 co.
operative associations.
From the very beginning CA.A.
went into manufacturing commodities
handled by the co-ops whenever It
found that the products could be man
ufactured cheaper than they could be
bought and when volume justified it.
Lubricating oil was compounded from
the start. It's grease factory paid for
itself in Is months, the paint plant in
six months.
The new 3,000-barrel-a-day refinery
and 92-mile pipeline at Phillipsburg,
Kan, had been in operation only six
months at the end of it's fiscal year in
July, but in spite of battle with a
major oil company for a supply of
crude oil, the refinery is in the black.
1t is now obtaining sufficient allot-
ments of crude oil. The refinery and
pipeline, both wholly owned by the
co-operatives, are operating at full
blast
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-02
As MILLION BELOW
N0URISHMENT
SAFETY Line
(By Federated Pressl

WASHINGTON million
people in this country are living be-
low the safety line right now" Miss
Harriet Elliott, consumer commission
er on the National Defense Advisory
commission, declared in issuing "call
for concerted action to make America
strong by wiping out undernourish-
ment and ma1nutrition
The call was issued in connection
with a campaign to make America
strong by making Americans strong
err" First shot in the campaign was a
radio speech by Miss Elliott and the
issuance of special issue of Consum-
ers' Guide, regular publication of the
consumers counsel division of the u.
S. department of agriculture.
Hungry, undernourished people do
not make for strong Defense" declared
Miss Elliott. I'VE have the lands, ma
chimes, ard hands it takes to produce
and move and market all the food we
need to assure everyone an adequate
and safe diet. Let's get to work and
see that everyone gets at least that"
Eigh specific suggestins were made
as to means of getting adequate diets.
They included municipal radio mar
ket news program telling which foods
are good buys and cheap, each day,
school lunch program, work for low
cost ways of selling milk and fruits
and vegetables to low income fami-
lies" establishment of diet clinics.
support of the food stamp plan, educa-
ton in the growing and preserving OF
food urging of merchants to sell gov
eminent graded foods, and knowledge
of what local, state and national gov
ernments are doing to help in getting
safe meals.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-02
II. 7. C. GOES
after GREETING
CARD DEALERS

Three Christmas card distributors
have been served by the Federal Trade
Commission with complaints alleging
unfair and deceptive practices in the
sale of their products. The respond
ents are Walter P. Phillips, trading as
Phillips Card company, so Hunt St.
Newton, Mass; Wallace Brown Inc
225 Fifth Ave, New York, and Her.
man Chiffon, trading as Chiffon Greet
ings company, lat Essex St., Boston
Walter P. Phillips, trading as Phil.
| lips Card company, according to the
complaint, advertises free sample
offer, under pretense of soliciting
agents for the sale of his products,
and in addition to the free material
sends "Supercraft" assortment of 81
Christmas cards, together with an in
voice for so cents. If the cards are not
paid for or returned by the recipient.
the respondent follows up with a
"dunning" letter, the complaint al
leges.
The complaint alleges that the "Su-
percraft" assortment of 81 cards sent
out by the respondent on approval is
not in fact free" or a free sample"
since a consideration, either the pay
ment of money or the rendering of
services is required, and a restraint is
unfairly imposed upon the recipient
to either pay for or return the cards.
Wallace Brown, Inc, according to
the complaint, has made contacts with
dealers for the marketing of its greet
ing cards, by means of newspaper and
magazine advertisements which have
contained, among other things, free
sample" offer of it's Golden Value"
Picard assortment.
Persons answering the advertise
ments and requesting the free samples
offered, the complaint continues, are
sent a sample portfolio illustrating
various Christmas cards and assort-
ments, and in addition receive salable
merchandise ION approval usually
the respondents Golden Value" FL
card assortment accompanied by an
explanatory statement.
The complaint charges that the re-
spondents practice of advertising
free samples" and then sending In
CONTINUED on Page Four)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-02
Logan Bill Backers
Licked Twice
In Senate

WASHINGTON.-(FP) = Sponsors
of the Walter-Logan bill, designed to
cut the heart out of the new deals
administrative agencies, suffered two
walloping defeats here September "a.
The first came when the senate re-
fused, by vote Of 81 to IS, to take up
the measure while the second came
when they were unable to force an
agreement from senate majority leader
Alben w. Barley d., Ky.) to consid-
err the measure before October ID or
the adjournment of congress.
Senator Burke 3D., Neb.) who was
defeated in the primaries this year
because of his anti-labor record, led
the fight for consideration of the wal
ter-Logan bill After an hour-long
speech by Burke, the senate voted 10
take up the Ramspeck bill instead, a
measure warmly supported by the
United Federal Workers (CIO) which
gives civil service status to approx
mately 100000 persons now employed
by the government.
Hopes of the hackers of the waiter
Logan bill were buoyed, however, by
the admission by Barley that there Is
little chance of congressional adjourn
ment before the presidential election
In November.
Drafted and pushed by the American
Bar Association, the bill, which mas
already passed the house, would nam
string the government agencies by
prescribing an intricate procedure LOT
them to follow and making each step
of the procedure subject to court ac-
ton
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-02
WHEELER ASKS
OF 'TIE-UPS'

| Aimed at getting the facts on TIL
"tie-ups" Of war material producing
industries in the United States will
organizations of the same kind in Ger
many or other warning and potentia
enemy countries, Senator Wheeler has
introduced a resolution calling for al
investigation of such possible existing
conditions This resolution should
have the support of the entire genera
public. Carrying out the purposes Of
the resolution may go a long way tc
overcome the possibilities of later
scandals in the munitions industries
The text of the resolution follows:
S. Res. 309-ResoIution Submitted
to Committee on Interstate Commerce
Whereas authentic reports indicate
that German and other foreign cor
porations enjoy a measure of control
over some of our most important de-
Tense industries; and
Whereas an American corporation
which supplies glass for instruments
and weapons for the army and navy
has been shown to have close rela-
lions with German concern involving
disclosure of secret processes; and
Whereas one of the most important
metals, invaluable in the manufacture
of airplanes, is controlled by corpor-
alton half of whose stock is reliably
reported to be owned by the German
chemical trust; and
Whereas information has come to
hand that some large concerns i'm
portant to national defense have de-
ferred national interests to monetary
considerations, by giving preference
to foreign munitions orders; and
Whereas national defense, with
which the American people are vitality
concerned, demands the elimination of
any such abuses and foreign controls
which are contrary to our national
interests Therefore be it
Resolved, that the Committee on In
terstate Commerce, or any duly au-
thorized subcommittee thereof, is au-
thorized and directed to make, and to
report to the senate the results OF,
a thorough and complete investigation
of acts, practices, methods and omis-
sions to act, by persons, partnerships,
associations, corporations, other enti-
ties, and foreign governments, in inter-
states or foreign commerce which
may or do delay, interfere with, or
obstruct the national defense, includ-
ing among other things
l. Part or entire ownership by
stock or otherwise of, influence IN,
Continued on Page Four)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-02

THESE certain state employees con-
tributed total of $3.50 on the first
touch" Whether further contribu-
tions were made by them the Voice
does not know. 1t does know, however,
that the contributions made by these
state employees are not listed on the
reports of campaign receipts and ex-
penditures.
OTHER JOBS
In addition to making the contribu-
tons of money, those travelling were
required to post Ayers placards, dis
tribute Ayers campaign buttons and
other material while supposedly de-
voting their time to work for the state
and drawing salary and expenses from
the state. That this was a widespread
practice on the part OF state employ
ees whose duties" carried them over
the state in the primary campaign was
completely obvious to others who hap
pened to be travelling over the roads
of the state at the same time.
1T is CLEARLY OBVIOUS THAT
THE SUM OF $17,263.O4 REPRE-
SENTS ONLY A PART OF THE
MONEY SPENT UNDER AYERS d.
RECTION FOR HIS CAMPAIGN.
OTHER SUMS UNKNOWN, BUT UN-
DOUBTEDLY MAKING UP A SIZE
ABLE SUM, WERE PAID FOR THE
SERVICES AND EXPENSES OF
STATE EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN
DOING CAMPAIGN WORK ON
STATE-PAID- TIME.
or the sums reported in the cam
paign expenditure report, Ayers spent
S1,018.75; the Ayers for Governor Club
of Cascade County reported expendi-
lures of $54476, and the Montana
Ayers for Governor Club reported
spending $16,71S.28.
Again in this connection, the Voice
in its issue of June 5, carried a story
charging the Ayers for Governor Club
with having at least two employees of
the highway department working in
Continued on Page Four)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-02
NEW MILK AREAS
SET UP BY BOARD

G. A. Norris, secretary of the state.
milk control board, has announced the
establishment of four new districts
following a hearing by the board at
Helena Norris said the new districts
would be at Columbus, Nashua, Absa-
planned the establishment of districts
makes possible a sterilization of the
dairy industry through the setting up
of a districts minimum price, con-
tingent upon costs of production and
similar items.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-02
RATKOVICH GRANTED
NEW COURT HEARING

The Montana Supreme Court mas
granted Nick Ratkovich of Roundup
convicted of the murder of Steve Ron
ceyich at Roundup in 1898 and sen
fenced to life Imprisonment, new
trial. The supreme courts unanimous
opinion declared testimony given Dy
experts as to whether the aged Romeo
yich had suffered fatal injuries IN
fall or from a blow, "infringed too
much upon the province of the jury.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-02
PALACE CASE is
UNDER AMUSEMENT

The Montana Supreme Court has
taken under advisement arguments
heard in the appeal brought by Guy
Palagi, former Cascade county sheriff.
Palagi brought the appeal from an
custer verdict rendered by District
Judge Rudolph Nelstead of Billings.
Judge Nelstead held Palagi was guilty
of violating the state corrupt practices
act in his campaign for reelection.
Plaintiffs in the case were L. H. Kom-
mers and l.. E. Zimmerman, both of
Great Falls, who charged Palagi had
spent in excess of the legal limit OF
expenditures in conducting his cam
paign.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-02
COMMISSION OPPOSES
SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES

The Montana textbook commission
has gone on record as being opposed
to any textbook in use, or proposed
for use, containing any un-American
or subversive doctrines Contracts in
various texts were renewed at the
meeting. Members of the commission
are Chairman A. Jerome Wall Of Glas-
gov, Helena Laird Of Butte, C. c.
Quinn of Hardin, Pauline Patten OF
Lewistown, Leo Riddle of Baker, and
A. ]. Roberts and Maude Appleyard
of Helena.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-02
Dictators Show Their Hands;
Uncle Sam Not inundated

Uncle Sam Not inundated
From all indications, the German
Italian-Japanese pact, aimed at int1ml
dation of the United States, will have
the opposite effect from that intended
That is the consensus of Capitol NIL
opinion. The pact has merely served
to reveal in bold outline the dangers
to the United States of nazl victory
over Britain.
In effect, the dictators have told
Uncle Sam: "Play like a good little
boy in your own back yard and well
let you alone-maybe."
Results of the pact, according to
most informed opinion here, Is likely
to be:
Speeding up of all aid to Britain 70
save that country from defeat, II pos
sible, since collapse of Britain, IT is
now clear, would expose the united
states to hostile attack from botn
OCEANS This increased aid likely Will
include more airplanes Of all kinds;
turning over to the British OF some OF
the army's Flying fortresses, pos
sibly some of the navy's speedy motor
torpedo boats, more Of the average
destroyers, merchant ships, and I'M
nlements of war generally.
Increased aid to China, with posi-
bility that it will be coupled with Brit
ish action to open the Burma road so
that war supplies from this country
can reach the Chinese. Washington is
known to be pressing the British 10
take this action.
Employment of further economic
weapons" against japan, with extreme
action the cutting off of all trade re.
lations. This, it is claimed, would
mean financial ruination to the Japa-
nese silk industry.
Rapproachment with Soviet Russia
to whom the German-Italian-Japanese
pact, despite its sugary phrases pre-
sents a most idre threat.
Acceleration Of the defense program
which is beginning to reach gigantie
proportions.
To be forewarned Is to be fore
armed Uncle Sam is now in training
and he knows that If he permits him.