The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-09-24
million dollars.

These figures assume further sig
nificance when we take into account
that over and above their declared
profits, the company set aside ST..
| 1850 as provision for lacome taxes,
including a provision of S6,900,000 for
excess profit taxes.
The company officials have only
one objective in mind: To pile up
huge profits But the workers are
vitality interested in providing their
families with the normal necessities
of life. The question arises: How
high must profits go before the COM
pany will admit that the workers
demands for decent wage are ''rea-
sonable?"
| want to state here thar the union
is negotiating in good faith, but al
ready we are being maligned and our
active leadership held up to SANDER.
refer to the words of a leading cor
poration spokesman who, this time at
a meeting in Butte, said the follow
ing:
(Quote) "Part of the labor in our
community is under the domination of
communism and communists For ex-
ample, meetings representing 1000
workmen, and attended by less than
200, are dominated by small groups
of perhaps less than so men, mostly
communists. This small minority
outlines the policies and control the
destinies of 1000 men" END quote)
These remarks were addressed to a
large audience, and were printed in
those corporation newspapers which
Senator Murray has accurately de-
scribed as being published "for the
purpose of suppressing the news and
confusing and deceiving the people.
In this instance, | am sure the people
will not be deceived
The International Union of Mine,
Mill and Smelter Workers and it's af-
filiated local unions are dominated by
no clique or faction. It's affairs are
governed by the workers who make
up its membership. No organization
in the United States operates OH more
democratic principles.
The condition that really bothers
the reactionary corporation big shots
is not any lack of inner union de-
on our part, but the hard,
cold fact that our union is so demo
and dominated by agents of the COM
pany. Many examples of this exist, |
demonstrating the unity of our mem |
bership and their determination to |
preserve and extend the rights which |
have been gained through years and |
years of struggle. When the COM |
oany attempted to impose the notori- /
ous king" hiring system, this was
defeated by SO percent vote of the
miners. The 45-year age limit was
likewise rejected at a huge mass
meeting which was open to all mem
,ers. The vote to reopen present ne
sotiations was carried by 95 percent
If the membership of all the locals
involved. l would like to ask: Where
AN anyone find better example of
democratic rule?
If, instead of such rank and file
Lctions a small clique had met in
Executive session and crammed the
proposals down the Threats
# the miners, then / am sure that the
ompany spokesman would not now
re trying frantically to influence the
miners as to how they should conduct
he affairs of their union.
IS membership. l feel confident that
q the present negotiations our union
7ill make progressive gains. There {
J no need to instruct the miners on
he question of sacrifice and patriot q
SIN, because they are already doing !
he sacrificing and their loyalty to G
ur country is unquestioned.
Our union, together with organized |
lbor throughout the country, sup
orts the defense program, as | have c
lready mentioned, when adjustments I
ecome necessary, we insist that it I
hall be two-sided proposition and q
lat sacrifices shall be made in the I
lterest of true national defense and S
OF for the further enrichment of the '
groups who seek to profit i
nd at the expense of the defense C
rogram itself. Organized labor fully b
lpports the declared policy of our
overnment Immediately and effec-
yely To helm the british Soviet and r