Montana labor news., 1944-04-13
WOMEN URGED To %,'
DUTY TO ASSIST in CON,

Butte women are requested to visit thes
Wal Price and Rationing Board in the
courthouse on West Granite street i'm
mediately and volunteer their services in
assisting the local board in checking
ceiling prices on civilian commodities.
About fifty women are needed to ade-
uuately cover Silver Bow county. This is
a patriotic duty and is very pertinently
to their own interests as a contribution
to the efforts of the federal government
in preventing initiation and keeping
prices to consumers on a stable level.
Housewives in particular can give great
assistance to the war effort by volun-
teering for this work. not only that, but
the merchants welcome an explanation
of the regulations under which the Office
Of Price Administration is functioning
and it is under this agency that the
women who volunteer would work. From
reports submitted to the Silver Bow
Trades & Labor Council many merchants
are innocent violators of the OPA regu-
lations and are only too glad to have
someone explain to them what the gov
eminent is trying to do to keep a stable
economic equilibrium.
A cursory examination of conditions
which existed in World Wal No. ! show
that sugar was selling for at least Csc
a pound, eggs at a dollar a dozen, butter
at a dollar a pound and other essential
commodities in the same %extravagant
ratio. It is a contradiction for the work
ing people to seek higher wages when
there is no control over the general cost
of living so Edith L. Christensen stated
before the delegates of the Trades and
Labor Council last Tuesday.
Miss Christensen is the women's labor
Hason officer of the office of Price Ad-
ministration from Washington, D. C.
Miss Christensen is visiting various vital
sections of the United States to explain
the need to the people of thorough CO.
operation with the government in price
control.
Accompanying Miss Christensen in her
talk before the union delegates were Mrs.
Bernice Papworth, state volunteer SUI
pervisor Of the OPA. and e. 2. Winter,
acting information executive Of the same
agency. Mrs. Papworth appealed espe-
cially to the women of Butte to volunteer
at the War Price and Rationing office
for duty and explained they would be
given a thorough course of training be-
fore being sent out to interview mer-
chants. Mr.. Winter complimented the
unions of Montana for their active par
ticipation in the OPA program. 1t is
the intention of Mrs. Papworth to visit
various labor union auxiliaries and also
the women's trade unions during her
visit here.
Labor unions throughout the nation,
it was explained by Miss Christensen,
are taking a very active interest in the
government program to control initiation
through the labor division of the OPA
at Washington. The Railway Brother
hoods, the CLIO and the AFL are all CO.
operating in this endeavor. The speaker
also explained that a very important
cost-of-living conference was held re-
Gently in Los Angeles participated in by
all the labor unions and farm unions
and a comprehensive and cooperative
program outlined to stabilize costs.
One of the delegates called attention
to the apparent disparity between dol
lars and cents ceiling prices on stock in
the grocery stores and on excessive
charges placed on produce such as onions.
tomatoes, cauliflower, etc. The Silver
Bow Trades & Labor Council has def
nitely placed itself on record as approx
ing and endorsing the OPA program
and urges its affiliated members and
unions to request women in Butte to
volunteer to visit the merchants and
explain OPA regulations so that all peo-
pie, both businessmen and labor, will
have a clearer understanding Of the en-
tire procedure.