davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03
C. |. 0. HEAD
Invited TO
TESTIFY

Sen. James E. Murray of Montana,
chairman of the senate small business
committee. has invited Reid Robinson.
president of the International Union
of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers,
CLIO, to appear before his mining and
minerals industry subcommittee and
explain his plan to keep the postwar
domestic mining industry operating
under subsidy system.
Mr.. Robinson testifying before the
senate committee on finance during
the hearings on the reciprocal trade
agreements bill said: I'VE are against
the tariff on a blanket overall basis.
We feel that subsidy is necessary
for the high-cost operations, to deal
specifically with certain plant or mine
operations, and that subsidy pro-
gram gives the same result as a tariff
in the high-cost operations, but does
not add to the profits of those corpor-
ations that do not need the protection
of subsidy"
Senator Murray today commented
that Robinson did not outline any
specific plan or suggest legislation by
which his subsidy plan would be car
ried out. The senator stated, 81 think
1t is necessary that a detailed pro-
gram be presented at the hearings
for the guidance of congress now that
the trade agreement act has passed
with authorization for further 506
reduction. For national defense as
well as the survival of the mining in
1ustry in the west it is important
that program along the lines in
licated must be worked out"
The hearings of the mining and
minerals industry subcommittee are
scheduled for August Z at Helena, |
and are being held in coop
grafton with the Mining Association |
If Montana
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03
c0-0Ps BOOST
SMALL TOWN
BUSINESS

Are farmer co-operatives men
ace" to little business as the Nationa
Tax Equality Association is attempt
ing to make the nation believe? Coun
try newspapers editors, living close to
the grass roots and with their ears
attuned to the prevailing business
winds, are supplying answers that I'M
doubtedly reflect the correct attitude
of businessmen most concerned.
Says the Hennessey, Okla, Clipper
of May 81 "In a four-hour session
Monday evening twenty local growers
pledged $4,000 to finance construc-
ton of local cooperative alfalfa mill
Il. For Hennessey it means A NEW
PAY ROLL"
Says headline in another Okla
homa newspaper, the Cleveland Amer
lean of April IL: Electric Coop is
$4,000 Payroll"
"The vicinity of the Katy tracks is
humming with activity this week as
two new structures are being built
and third to start soon," says the
June issue of the Broken Arrow
Okla, Ledger, with proper Chamber
of Commerce pride, in an article
headed "Three Building Now Under
Way: Farmers Warehouse, New Feed
Concern and Cotner Garage Are Being
Built" Most of the story deals with
the plans for the new warehouse and
sales room for the Farmers Union Co
operative. In addition to serving
coop needs, the structure, says the
editor will provide bonded warehouse
facilities for farmers and merchants"
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03
MORE FOOD GOING
TO EUROPE ON
'TRUMAN'S ORDER

WASHINGTON = Shipments of U
S. food to European nations will be
accelerated in the next few months
in response to President Truman's
order directing government agencies
to grant priorities for relief supplies
needed by our Allies to meet mini
mum civilian requirements. The Pres
ident's order broke what amounted
| to a virtual log jam on such ship
ments caused by the failure of re-
sponsible officials to coordinate their
efforts in this direction and by the
mounting opposition in congress to a
feed Europe" policy.
Those opposed to sending food to
Europe argue that we have enough
trouble with our own food shortages
and that increased shipments abroad
will create intolerable conditions at
home AS stated by Senator Thomas
of Oklahoma, WAR workers should not
be robbed of an adequate diet so that
people of other nations can be fed"
This argument in a more extreme
form was expressed by Representative
Allen of Louisiana when he said that
perhaps the us. was the worlds "big
gest sucker" in feeding practically
all the people of the world"
The President expressed his deter
mination to follow through on our
European relief policies only few
weeks after the White House released
summary of Judge Rosenman's fac
tual report on the needs of the lib
Grated areas of northwest Europe.
This report, based upon first hand
survey made at the request of the
late President Roosevelt, emphasizes
the food, clothing, and fuel crises
which are faced by the peoples of
these areas. Except in the rural, food
raising sections, the level of nutrition
is reported to be dangerously low
with the immediate prospect that the
situation will become even worse I'M
Continued on Page Three)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03
BY A. F. WHITNEY, President
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen

| Brotherhood OF Railroad Iralnmen
Several months ago l presented to
railroad arrangements and to govern.
ment officials carefully documented
volume entitled Enemy Hours" This
publication contained 264 pages
largely the written words of railroad
workers throughout the nation, detail.
ing the hardships these workers en-
counter and giving a host of reasons
why the railroads cannot obtain and
retain sufficient help. MOST of the
conditions complained of could be re-
Iieved by railroad arrangements if
they were so disposed
Nothing happened as a result of
bringing to the attention of railroad
these many hardships described by
the very men who endure them. Many
conferences have been held with the
carriers. Their plea to us has been,
LET us do nothing about these mat
tiers until the war is over" Like too
many employers in America, and,
may add, too many in congress who
ran away lIOu important HdliOhdl
problems to take vacation until Oc-
tober, the railroads hope to delay
fair solution of the problem until the
war is over, when, they hope, labor
will be plentiful and willing to accept
jobs on the employers terms. They
may think such policy is good for
the bankers and stockholders, but it
is most damaging to the war effort
and threatens another 1929 catas-
trophe for the entire nation.
In response to this do-nothing pol
icy, on July "a, 1915, we served no
tees on the carriers of a desire to
amend our contracts relating to rules
and working conditions. What was
the carriers answer? They countered
with the submission to us of proposal
changes in rules and working condi-
lions which, if put into effect, would
wipe out most of the gains the rail
road workers have realized in the
past so years. According to newspa-
per publicity and editorials, the car
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03
PURCHASES OF
ALUMINIUM FROM
CANADA CUT

Sen James E. Murray today noted
with qualification the additional re
duction in the amount of aluminium
which the U. S. will receive from the
Aluminium Company of Canada under
the so-called Shipshaw contract.
The senator said: 81 am pleased
with the information that the Ship
shaw aluminium contract, under which
this country contracted to purchase
250,000,000 pounds of aluminium from
the Canadian Aluminium Company
during the last six months of 1916
has now been reduced to 100000
pounds.
This additional reduction will re-
suit in saving to U. S. taxpayers
of several million dollars" Senator
Murray added
The original contract was reduced
from the 250,000,000 pound figure to
1OO,OOO,O0O pounds for the last half
of this year in May when the Recon
struction Finance Corporation, after
investigation by the senate small bust
ness committee showed the aluminium
would not be needed for the war
effort, exercised an option in the con-
tract which permitted that the ship
ments be reduced to minimum of
100,000,000 pounds. The action was
taken upon the advice of the War
Board which agency at
the same time recommended that RFC
negotiate for further reductions in the
imports under the contract
This most recent cut is the result
Of these negotiations.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03

ending Jnue 30, 1916, and for the Pc
riod beginning July l. 1916, and end
ing June 30, 1947, under House Bill
No. 325, page $40, Laws of 1945, must
revert at the end of the second year
thereof, as provided in said appropri-
alton bill, and Section 304, Revised
Codes of Montana, 1895. Your office
should set the said appropriation up
in your books in the same manner as
you do any other appropriations from
the General fund of the state, giving
the same a distinct fund or account
number so as to keep. it separate and
distinct from any other moneys in
your hands"
Since it is well known that large
number of the members of the 1915
and previous sessions favor federal
social security agencies rather than
state set-ups, it is interesting to note
the language of the appropriation
which was made for the two years
beginning July l, this year The APP
preparation was $4,000 for each of
the two years and its purpose as
stated was:
"Ror administrative salaries and ex-
penses and for implementing the pur-
poses of Section lib Montana Unem-
ployment Compensation law in oppos-
ing liberalization"
Section lib to which the appropri-
alton refers reads as follows:
:" The commission may make,
~ to nit ~
pirate state agencies in making
studies as to the practicability and
probable cost of possible new state
social security pro-
grams; and the relative desirabiIity
Of state (rather than nationaD action
(emphasis ours) in any such field
The commission shall fully cooperate
with the agencies of other states, and
shall make every effort within its
means to oppose and prevent any
further action which would in it's
judgment tend to effect complete or
substantial liberalization of state un-
funds or state unemploy-
ment compensation and employment
security programs, or any part of the
social security program" emphasis
ours).
This section was passed by the
1913 session, and it is evident that
he heads of the commission have
)een planning continuously to make
heir jobs secure.
In view Of the fact that the federal
governments contribution to the COM
mission is heavy, it seems peculiar
hat it should not have more to say
bout the conduct of the commissions
fairs.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03
ORGANIZATION
FIGHTS FOR
FOREIGN LABOR

In a statement issued today thu
American Committee for Protection o
Foreign Born, 23 West 26th Street
ton to challenge the existing inter
probation by the immigration and Ma
| turalization Service under which ia
maicans, Mexicans, and other war
contract laborers of the Western Hem
isphere, are denied equal rights with
all other aliens in the United States
The committee stated that the I'm
migration and Naturalization Service
refuses to permit war-contract labor
ers to change their status, even when
they are married to American citizens,
whereas other aliens are granted this
right
The committees statement follows,
in full:
In 1912, the United States govern
ment concluded contracts with sew
eral Western Hemisphere govern
ments for the Importation of workers
to overcome the serious wartime
shortage in manpower in this country.
Since 1912, about 100000 workers
have come here under contract from
the Bahamas, Barbados, British Hon
duras, Jamaica, Mexico and New
foundland. About 100000 have re-
turned to their home countries Of
the 100000 still here, the majority
came from Mexico (74,365) and ia
maica (15,48O.
One of the provisions of the con
tracts under which these workers
came to this country calls for their
return to their home countries as soon
as the job for which they came here
is completed. The average worker
wants to return home upon the ex-
piration of his contract Some, how
ever, want to remain in the United
States. Some have married American
citizens; others have entered school
Continued on Page Two)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03
EIGHT IOWA CITIES
GET half MILLION
DOLLAR WINDFALL

SHELDON, Iowa (NAC)-Business
men of this community and the seven
nearby towns of Hosper, Archer, Prim
CHAR, Sanborn, Ashton, Matlock and
Boyden, are not sympathetic to the
National Tax Equality Association
campaign to destroy the farmer CO
operatives. And there's good reason
for it.
In 1914 the eleven farm business
associations operating in these eight
towns distributed s513,137 in patron
age refunds to their members. And,
as every business man in every Iowa
community knows, full well, more
than half a million dollars does not
grow on every bush.
Instead of letting someone else sell
their grain, livestock milk and other
farm products for them, the farmers
did their marketing themselves,
through their co-operatives, thereby
saving for their own pockets the $513,-
1877 it would otherwise have cost them.
In the Sheldon Mail for June 10,
the eleven co-ops used full page ad
10 GeIllHu IellOW DuSlucSoHi6u VI tiC
eight towns of what this contribution
will mean to the communities pros
perity Ninty-point type was used to
play up the s513,137.
"This money remained here" says
the good will ad, 'in the hands of
local people who will spend it in this
area. Farmer-owned co-ops put addi-
tional money into circulation in your
town, making additional employment,
additional retail sales, additional rev.
enue for all"
(which do you PREFER" asks the
copy Money left in your commun
ity with local buyers and consumers?
Or money taken clear out of your
community-never to return?"
Like the merchants of these eight
Iowa trade centers most Main street
merchants throughout the nation have
he right answer. They're lining up
o prevent profit grabbers" from des-
roying their own hometown co-ops.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03
MONTANA'S LOSS NEW YORK'S
GAIN

The resignation of DR.. Ernest o
Melby, president of the University Of
Montana, will be regretted by all resi-
dents of the state who are interested
in the proper education of our stu
dents.
DR.. Melby succeeded President Sim
mons, who attempted to halt the for
nation of a Teachers Union at the
university, by intimidating, and on
one or more occasions, by summarily
Diminishing professors who took an
active part in the formation of this
union.
This arbitrary and unethical action
on the part of Professor Simmons
aroused ire of organized labor and
all right thinking people of the state,
and it finally became necessary for
the POWERS THAT BE" to get rid
of Simmons irregardless of the fact
that he was willing servant of the
INTERESTS, being ready and willing
at all times to do their bidding.
On his arrival here, DR.. Melby was
much impressed by our wonderful
state and all its natural resources and
no doubt figured that the people who
resided in such a state would be as
independent as a Free People should
be. That he eventually became aware
of the fact that the residents of Mon
tana were not a Free People is made
evident in an address he made before
an audience composed of summer
teachers and students at the Univer-
sity in June.
In this address DR.. Melby stated
that Montana's educational system
sis worse off in relation to the rest
of the nation than it was twenty years
ago" He stated that Montana will
not obtain it's proportionate share of
returning service men and war work
ers after the war when the states
population should be increased be-
cause Montana appears to be headed
COLONIAL economy"
In referring to Montana as a COL
ONY he evidently means that we have
been colonized by Wall Street and
as all colonies must be exploited, we
are being exploited by the Anaconda
Copper Mining Company, the Montana
Power Company, the insurance com
panies, the banking interests, and the
railroads, and he is quite right as we
lost our autonomy many years ago
and every effort to regain it since has
failed.
In his address DR.. Melby also stated
that Montana is land of wide open
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03
ST. LAWRENCE
development
PROSPECTS

| Prospects for early action on the
| st. Lawrence Power and Seaway prof
ect increased when it was announced
early this month in Washington that
Sen. Robert Wagner would join Sen
George Aiken of Vermont in sponsor
ship of bipartisan measure for the
development.
1t is expected that the bill will be
introduced sometime this month with
hearings and action by congress in
the fall This bill is an authorization
measure and does not carry the nee
essary appropriation which will have
to be made by congress later.
Chief opposition to the measure is
expected to come, as in the past from
railroads and the terminal interests
in Buffalo. The spearhead of the
opposition in the senate centers in
Sen. James NJ. Mead of Buffalo, ~ Y.
The senator has been trying to get
the power part of the project devel-
oped at the expense of the seaway.
Opponents of this plan point out that
the power and seaway phases of the
project are ''indivisible and INSOFAR
able" and that the economic justifica-
ton for the whole project rests upon
the twin pillars of low cost navigation
and low cost power
Western farmers claim that the sea-
way would add five cents a bushel
to their grain returns through trans
portation savings. Eastern farmers
could expect considerable savings in
their electricity bills as power could
be produced from the st. Lawrence
development at less than one half the
cost at any plant now in existence.
The only hope for passage of the bill
lies in the fasteners and westerners
pooling their interests and working
together.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03

leased as reconversion cutbacks
mounted, the house ways and
means committee grudgingly
agreed to consider Truman's
request, echoed by the CLIO and
other progressive groups. But
action on the legislation will
not be forthcoming until congress re-
turns from its summer recess. Even
then, unless concerted pressure is ex-
erted on congress, the bill is expected
to have tough shedding. Fully cog
infant of the Importance of adequate
reconversion legislation, the CLIO Po-
litical Action Committee urged all its
groups to contact congressman while
they are at home, to point up through
individual visits and mass rallies, the
urgent need for additional unemploy-
ment benefits and other reconversion
legislation.
Skeptics who ridiculed labor's claim
of an unemployment crisis were
shocked by the Labor department re-
port which showed reduced employ
ment in all sections of the country.
Big cities as well as small have been
hit, the survey showed. Employment
in Dallas fell off 1920, Hartford 20%,
Memphis 21% New York 1917, Okla
homa City go, Oakland 349d, Spo-
kane $40 and Wichita 20@o.
Many of the job dismissals came
in high-paying industries, a factor
which observers agreed, would seri-
ously hamper the drive to prevent
economic chaos. With the loss of so
much purchasing power and with job
openings heavy only in such low-pay-
ing fields as textile and furniture, the
consuming power necessary to main
tain full production economy would
be lacking.
The problem will be relieved, only
if the people can be assured of pur
chasing power during periods of I'M
employment and a raise in the basic |
wage rate. And the relief could be
given only by congress which has the
power and responsibility to enact |
legislation making these aims a real |
ity. To make congress aware of that |
responsibility, is a task to which full |
effort must be devoted during the
summer recess.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03

! spaces" and is ideal for the develop
ment of industries, since it is more
desirable for people than large over
crowded centers elsewhere, but he
emphasized that almost nothing is
being done to attract outsiders and
former residents who have moved to
other areas"
He informed the teachers present
that in Montana it was necessary to
teach more than reading, writing and
arithmetic, and stated that they, the
teachers, must teach others how to
build state"
I believe that DR.. Melby was reluct-
ant to leave Montana as l know he
liked the state and it's people, but he
was here long enough to realize that
being president of the University of
Montana meant that he must bow to
the will of the corporate interests,
who control every political and in
dustrial job in the state;< and this he
would not do.
Nationally recognized as one of the
leading opponents of progressive legis-
lation Dr. Melby incurred the enmity
of the foreign corporations by his out
spoken criticism of conditions exist
ing here. Because of the political in
fluence exercised by these corpora
lions extending into the State Board
of Education, he found himself baked
in every way in his efforts to develop
inc Of y, ioIa loo
to coordinate their methods and cur
riculums. That his outstanding abil-
tiles as an educator is recognized out
side of, if not within the boundaries
of our monopolistic corporation rid
died state is evident by the position
which he has accepted; a position
with large advance in salary over
what he was receiving here, and
greater field for unhampered advance
ment of education
AS for new Industries being estab-
lished in Montana, that is not possible
as long as the Anaconda Copper Min
ing Company's political machine con-
trolls the state, as they have shown
many times in the past that they will
not allow any industry to be estab-
lished here that would compete with
them in the labor market, as they now
have absolute political control, which
they might loose if other industries
were established here.
1t is to be regretted that Montana
is controlled by these patriotic flag
waving profiteers" who knowingly
sold our government hundreds of
CONTINUED on Page Three)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03

by placing appropriations by
the state on the same basis as
the funds contributed by the
federal government.
In making the appropriation in the
1915 session, this provision was over
looked by the legislators and appar-
emily the head of the Unemployment
Compensation Commission failed to
properly coach the appropriations
committee, and the attorney general
has advised State Treasurer Porter
who had asked for an opinion, that
q. any balances in the appropria-
ton from the General fund of the
state to the Unemployment Compen-
sation Commission of Montana for the
period beginning July /, 1945, and
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03
NOTICE

The issue of The Peoples
Voice for August 10 will be only
a small 2-page tabloid. The
week of August Gil is vacation
week for the shop force. No
substitute labor is available.
The Voice will be regular
size again beginning with the
August II issue.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03

NEW YORK.-The refusal of congress to act President
Trumans request for legislation improving unemployment
pensaton benefits sharply emphasized last week by
lease of Department of Labor study which revealed that 80
100 metropolitan cities showed drop in employment
during the past year With thousands workers being
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03

Appropriations made by the legislature for the Unempoy
Compensation Commission generally made to comply
with of the provisions Section 10 of the Unemployment
Compensation Commission law which provides that " any
balance in this fund shall be continuously available to the
the expenditure with this act there
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03
ATTORNEY GENERALS
DECISION PROTECTS
APPROPRIATIONS use

Rules That Any Unexpended Remainder of
Appropriation Made for Unemployment
Compensation Commission Must Revert to
General Fund of the State at the End of
The Two Year Period
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-03
UNEmPL0Y mENT RISING
IN 80 OUT OF 100 CITIES
LAST YEA: =. n,!r':p0RT SHOWS

Department of Labor d -''''y study Which
Shows Drop in Employment Throughout
The Country With Big Cities As Well As
Small Being Hit; Congress Still Turns
Blind Eye To Conditions.