Montana labor news., 1945-10-18

tile Workers of America, calling atten-
ton TO the problems which face labor,
particularly in regard to national legis-
lation. He stressed the need of the
unions expressing their approval of
the passage of legislation which would
provide a minimum of 65 cents an hour
for workers. Under the present legis-
lation, the minimum is 40 cents.
The Trades Council has already ex-
pressed its approval of 65 cents an
hour. Again the council received
literature concerning legislation in Con-
gress to abolish the poll tax in the
Southern states. This tax is nefarious.
Down South, in order to vote the people
must pay poll tax and the worst part
of it is that tax grows from year to
year if it is not paid. Consequently
there are thousands Of people who
nave not paid it, and cannot pay it or
neither con they vote, SO they are dis
franchised.
Accompanying the letter from Erick-
son who is the chairman OF the Mon
tana MVA association was another let
ter from a soldier urging the people
to support the MNA. 1t is as follows ;
To the Members of Montana Senate
and the Members of Montana House
of Representatives, Helena, Montana.
Dear Sirs: Today's Omaha "World
| Herald" reports that Montana House
Senate Memorial declaring opposition
to Missouri Valley Authority was
passed and signed by Governor Sam
Ford.
1t is hard to understand this sort OF
action at the present time. The whole
world knows the great good that came
out OF the Tennessee Vallep Authority
to the state sand their peoples involved
therein. Our Missouri River Valley has
infinitely greater possibilities. Any
other method OF development is patch
work and will be of much less benefit
to our State and Nation.
There will be a great need for jobs
in the postwar period, MVA will pro
vide a practical aid in the solution tc
Montanas employment problem. This
/ is important to those of us in the armed
services as we intend to come home tC
good jobs. We will have little love
for shortsighted individuals who fai
to appreciate our desires along these
lines.
Montana has been a state with a
stationary population during the past
: decade. This has caused the failure oi
many business establishments and many
2 others doing poorly. MVA would bring
J opportunities which would make pos
sible a sound increase Of population
/ giving the business men, farmers, anc
] working men new era of stable
3 prosperity.
In the interest Of every citizen, civilian
or soldier, this memorial should have
encouraged this great postwar project
doubt that other regions will be SC
shortsighted. Montana will find it,
self a baekwater OF America
These are times for bold planning
if we are to avoid depression and hard
times. The soldiers are not going ia
be very tolerant if these problems are
not partially solved by the time we re-
turn We left Montana and many OF
US have faced death for the common
good and now it appears we are being
betrayed by some people on the home
front.
TIL solution to the home front war
and postwar problems are Of necessity
in the hands of the people at home
The MVA plan certainly needs ~on-
structive attention and support NOW
Each citizen should do his part for
the common good.
Yours respectfully,
(s) CHESTER KINSEY,
Technical Sergeant,
United States Army Air Force
NOTE; The above letter which was
printed in the Great Falls Tribune and
, The Yellowstone, was written by a Mon
tana man who as an aerial gunner com
pleted the required number Of missions
over enemy territory and is presently
in the U. S. for rest.
The Cooks and Walters union which
/ has been negotiating a new agreement
with restaurant owners finally Sc ~ured
an increase Of a dollar a day for nearly
all classes of work. The new agree
5 ment was signed BY both parties.