The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-10-07
Gives Full
Report Of
Union Meet
Lyle Williamson Named
President of Lumber
Workers at Convention.
MANY IMPORTANT
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED

The seventh semi-annual conven-
ton of the Montana District Council
of Lumber and Sawmill Workers
came to close in Kalispell Sunday
evening following the election and
installation of officers for the en-
suing year. Lyle Williamson of Mis-
soula was elected president without
opposition. Williamson is president
of Local 1912, which local union is
made up Of employees of the Mis-
soula White Pine Sash Company
In close bal1oting the following of
ficers were also elected: Vice presi-
dent Sherman Brock of Bonner;
secretary-treasurer, Harry D. Moe
of Libby, conductor, Frank Marsh
of Hot Springs. warden, William
Hafferman of Troy and trustee,
Harry Shryock of Hamilton. Albert
Root of Somers and George Hart of
Missoula continue in office as trus-
tees. Any local union affiliated with
the council, and which has no mem
Der among the elected officers, is
piiFiiI6Nd W 1iCll q lllIltlDCi III LlIG
council executive board. There are
10 local unions affiliated with the
council in the six western Montana
counties of Lincoln, Flathead, Lake,
Missoula, Sanders and Ravalli.
William Wedel, Brotherhood rof
Carpenters representative now
working in Oregon and in Kalispell
as a special agent of the conven-
ton, read the obligation to the elect
ed officers.
Resolutions adopted by the CON
vention were as follows: Urging al
deviation of bad conditions at the
Warm Springs State Mental Hos
pitak Post War continuance of price
control program, support of the An
ti-Poll Tax Bill in Congress; a ref
erendum of the membership to raise
council per capita tax; asking assist
ance of the Brotherhood of Carpen-
tiers and the American Federation
of Labor in removal of the Selective
Service Board at Hamilton, Mon
tana, supporting the program for
upstream development of the Flat
head drainage area and construc-
ton of Hungry Horse dam, asking
the Brotherhood Of Carpenters for
further assistance in organizing
work, favoring legislation provid-
ing for recall of state officials; COM
plimenting activities Of the Kalis-
pell Women's Union Label League,
asking the OPA to provide more
meat for lumber workers; recon-
mending the Army-Navy e. award
in recognition of production record
of the ]. Neils Lumber Company
employees and management at Lib
by and Troy. A resolution favor
ing the referendum election of of
ficers was defeated after consider
able debate on the merits of the
proposed procedure.
Hot Springs was chosen unani-
mously as the next meeting place
the convention to be held the first
week end in march.
Banquet Enjoyable
The banquet Saturday evening
was a most enjoyable affair held al
the Odd Fellows Temple. William
Wedel as master of ceremonies in
troduced the following speakers
James Kanaley, retiring president
of the council; Julius Viancour, La
Dor representative on the lumber
division of the War Production
Board, E. A. Barnett of Anaconda
and |. ]. Meeker of Kalispell, of
ficers of the Montana State Council
of Carpenters, George Yeager, pres
ident of the Carpenters Union al
Great Falls; Allie Cole, Brotherhood
of Carpenters representative ir
Montana. Marvin Kessel, Otto
Schultz, R. R. Ricketts,, Mr. anc
Mrs. Martin Blumhagen, Sherman
Brock, Lyle Williamson, Marvin
Mark, and Harry Moe, all local I'M
ion officers and visitors, were in
troduced Perry Melton extended
fraternal greetings in behalf of the
Montana State Federation of La
Dor. During his short talk, reading
OF the Soldier 55ofif0quy brought
the responsibilities of organized la
Dor in the war effort to dramatic at
tention in the simple language o.
soldier, union member and writer
Corporal Lester Ewing The princi
pal address of the evening wa.
made by Kenneth Davis Of Port
land, Ore, who has held the posi-
ton of executive secretary of The
Northwestern Council of Lumber
and SaWmill Workers since its or
ganization in 1884 Mr. Davis
speaking in behalf of the $4,000 A
r. Of L. lumber workers by whom
he is employed, described in some
detail the contributions being made
by organized labor to prevent in
flation and post war financial col
lapse. He particularly stressed thu
job the unions still have In contin
uing to build a program TO meri
the respect OF the people as whole
and On tfIis point Ire paid high trr
butte to Montana unions, their co
operative activities, production rec
ords and freedom from strikes o
other serious labor disputes.
49, al