Montana labor news., 1944-03-16
PROGRESSIVES FORM
STATE COUNCIL FOR
ACTION

A permanent n~on-partisan statewide
organization, to be known as the Mon
tana Council for Progressive Political
Action, was completed at Great Falls, on
Sunday, March 18th, at a conference
widely attended by workers, farmers,
business and professional men and
women from every section of Montana.
The purpose of the Council will be to
organize the progressive minded people
of the state in a united political front
for the coming political campaigns.
The permanent officers chosen by the
group consisted of Don Champan, Presi-
dent, State Farmers Union; Jerry j..
O'Connell, State CLIO Political Director,
vice chairman, and Ed C. Vawter, secre-
tary of the Silver Bow Trades and Labor
Council, secretary-treasurer An execu-
tive committee, fully representative of
the people who attended, was also elect
ed. It includes Mrs. Catherine Penney,
Butte, of the Ladies Auxiliary of the
Butte Miners Union. Harry Smith, East
Helena, Mill and Smeltermen's Union;
Mrs. Charlotte Holtz, State Farmers
Union, of Portage; Roscoe c. Lots, Great
Falls, member Of the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen; Bruce I. Steinmetz,
Great Falls, President of the Cascade
Trades and Labor Assembly. and P. j.
Gifeather, Helena, assistant attorney
general, representing the progressive
public at large.
Committees Selected
A legislative committee was elected,
consisting of Gordon Dial, Great Falls,
member of the Mill and smeltermens
Union; Charles G. johnson, Butte, Elec-
trical Workers, Local 265; L. r. Bate
man, Great Falls, Brotherhood of Rail
road Trainmen; Margaret Enyart, Great
Falls, State Council Of Ladies Auxlli-
aries; j. M. Peterson Great Falls secre-
tary State Farmers Union, and one
member to be chosen from the public at
large by the executive committee.
A committee on finance was set-up
and includes Mike Lacey, Butte, Presi-
dent of the State CLIO Council; John
Bird. Butte. Electrical Workers No. 65;
Ernest Hobbs, Great Falls, Railroad
Brotherhoods; Mrs. Eleanor Smole, East
Helena, Ladies Auxiliary, Mill and Smell
termen's Union; Harold Brown, Great
Falls, State Farmers Union, and one
member of the public at large to be ap-
pointed by the executive committee.
Peoples Meeting
Described by those present as a
peoples meeting" it was emphasized
that those participating in the confer
ence were there as individuals and as
citizens, and not representing any par
ticular organization. It was felt that
American citizens have the right to join
together to press their own political
welfare. There were, according to the
Great Falls Tribune, about 400 persons
present from % counties including Gar
field, Daniels, Judith Basin, Sheridan,
Teton, Deer Lodge, Richland, Pondera,
Rosebud, Valley, Choteau, Dawson, Lake,
Custer, Ravalli, Hill, Fergus, Flathead,
Callatin, Lewis and Clark, Cascade, Vel
lowstone and Silver Bow. A branch
council will be set up in every county
of the state, patterned along the lines
of the state organization, and dealing
with the particular problems of that
locality.
The next meeting Of the state council
will take place on Sunday, June 18th,
just following the closing date for can
to file for state office. At that
the organization will make an
analysis of those men and women who
have placed themselves before the electo-
rate, and Candidates will be endorsed,
who will best represent the interests and
welfare of the progressive farmers,
workers. bl7inessmen and professional
who believe in a common peo-
pies program.
Atkinson Speaks
Roy w. Atkinson, Regional Director Of
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