Montana labor news., 1945-06-21
BUTTE MINER AIRS
VIEWS ON MISSOURI
VALLEY AUTHORITY

The following radio address was gwen
nv Joe Mason, active member of Butte
miners Union. over the Montana Radio
Forum:
Friends:
I want to express my thanks to the
stations of the z-Bar Net who have so
kindly extended to me this opportunity
to speak to Montana radio listeners on
a matter which is of utmost importance
not only to the people of Montana, the
miners. smeltermen, farmers; but to lhe
returning servieemen and women. to the
workers coming back to this state from
the various war plants throughout the
nation
The greatest step taken thus far to
insure postwar jobs and security ior
the people of Montana is the proposed
legislation calling for the establishment
of a Missouri Valley Authority, CONTAINED
in the bill presented to Congress by
Montana's own Senator James E. Mur-
raw This proposal for an MVA is pat
termed closely along the lines OF the
Tennessee Valley Authority, which mas
during its rapid development, given to
industry. farmers, small businessmen
and workers of the Tennessee Valley
area huge benefits through development
of natural resources for use Of the peo-
pie; providing jobs and security for the
workers.
We in Montana have heard much SAID
about postwar planning for Montana
about the thousands of jobs we should
have available. We hear flowery phrases
used by responsible state officials abou'
the development of our state, about the
raw materials and cheap power IN
abundance. But what are the steps
that are being taken by these respon-
sible parties? The past session OF oul
state legislature is an example OF tht
kind of postwar planning considered
for Montana. With the exception OF
plan for road building project, whicf
from all appearances will employ only {
small handful of workers, nothing con
crete was done by that legislative bod!
to insure postwar jobs for returning
servicemen, or for workers returning
from war jobs to private industry. $
today the Treasure state, third in arei
size and second to none in natural re
sources, can guarantee no postwar sc
curity for its people. on the contrary
the reverse seems to be evident. In tn
uast fifteen years Montana has los
twnty-five per cent ESQ of her popu
lation, who have gone elsewhere i
search of livelihood. OF the release
Montana servicemen, only twenty pc
cent (2oGo) or less have elected to com
back to Montana, prefering to settle else
where. Does this signify the people
confidence in the future prosperity
this state?
In the establishment of an effectlN
MVA lies Montana's greatest hope
reverse this trend Out of the nine stat'
included in this proposed project, Nor
tana will be benefited the most.
begin with, the plan calls for the cor
gtruction of seventeen dams, creatir
$4,000 jobs for a period of from fin
to ten years for miners, electrical worf
ers, carpenters, farm workers and con
mon labor in general Also, the chea
power, obtainable TO some in large uar
titles for the first time, under this pla-
would make it possible to open up ne
mining and manufacturing in this stat
Through more of these industries wou
come better wages and improved worki1
conditions. A working NfVA would sa'
power consumers vast sums of none
Using iva rates as an example, Il
people of Montana would have saw
over five million dollars (s5,O00,0OO)
their electric power bills during one ye
alone, if an effective MVA had BET
fllnctioning here.
Though the national CIO, with its pr
gram for sixty million jobs as a post-w
goal, is among those leading the fig
to promote the NfVA, the plan is n
only being urged by organized labor, b
by progressive forces, farmers, small j
dustry, professional people, and all W
CONTINUED on Page Two)