The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-08-31
Industry Staging Another Sitdown Strike

Reminiscent of the sdown strike by industry when it de-
berae eopardzed the safety of the country by its refusal
plants production until assured of the last
cent of profits could industrys attitude
toward producing badly needed necessities of everyday fe
Again. industries refusing produce place
the market products needed by the people, until permitted to
increase their prices and profits
One in point according to dispatches is the
decision by the General Electric Company to put its output of
electric washing machines into warehouse until they per-
mted their selling price Is per their
May 1912 selling prices.
NJ WIGHT, manager of the laundry division of
General Electric Company has stated according the
reports that 'here NATIONAL NEED emphasis ours
for 100000 washing machines However national need
secondary consideration of the big industries The first
always all the profit that the traffic will bear.
The OPA is, directly from
facurers The price had allowed the manufacturers
per their 1912 prices stipulation
that middemen should absorb the increases instead of passing
them the and the OPA had asked manufacturers
who had trouble making profits with that increase could
to the OPA for relief.
Some time ago. the War Production Board in one of its
optimistic releases of announced that radio manufacur
with practically retoong readustment make from
peaceme production would have three and half
to four million radios the market by the end Of the year
Instead of getting under with production the radio
facrers have closed their plants unless the OPA meets their
demands for increase in price AS result of this action
100000 these plants have as
another there will be radios unless the manufacturers
permitted unhndered exploitation of the
We have here instance of what happens public
government agencies operate without coordination
The War Production Board has
pete freedom practically in the of warozen materials
with the expectation that they would Immediately begin
featuring articles needed in the American Office
of Price Administration has endeavored protect public
from exploitation by fixing reasonable prices including liberal
profits at which the articles be Sold
to locking the barn after the horse solen
agencies worked together and materials
the War Production Board to the they
had agreed to the price program of the OPA public
would have been protected.
interesting note that the story sitdown strike
by industry dcreety buried the pages the
corporation press the state Had sitdown
strike by labor in factory would undoubtedly
featured with banner on its front pages.
The action of manufacturers, who generally speaking
have been benefcares of the pubc generosity provided
with plants and other facilities for the production
teria at tremendous profits themselves are taking their
usual attitude of the public be damned 1t brings to the
FORE the question of whether
going to continue to be Santa Claus them by letting them
have the plants and other facilities which built by
public funds for their for the staggering
profits they have made shall permit them retain posses
sion and use OF these plants at nominal figures
either get fair prices for them operate them ourselves
In the instance of the 1000 the radio pro-
ducton industry why can't these workers. sks
the production possible be permitted purchase government
plants adapted to such manufacturing produce the radios
for which demand exists? Aren't they citizens country
With much rights handful of financial manipulators who
probably control this manufacturing industry why
shouldn't the same be done in other branches? o
AS for the indusrass venture the opinion that b
hey get just what they If they they needn't
worry They amply protected for long time by
assured returns of taxes they have paid during war time
We have noticed suggestion that paid during the
time by presently unemployed workers may refunded
Dox-ox A. I'D I