The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-02-02
COOPERATE OR DISINTECRATE

Just as alcoholic addicts hoped To-
prohibition, many victims of gambling
would, as citizens, like its prohibition
For only two years in fifty since
came to Butte has public gambling
ceased. That was during the frs
Duncan city administration. l was
city attorney. l stopped it dead II
its tracks in five days. The gam
blers, many of whom were not my
enemies, soon knew | meant business
1t did not open until left that office
But for that, among other reasons
such as chasing the militia out OF
Butte, | was subjected to much com.
pany insolence, and the company i'm.
ported a packed judge from Lewis.
town to remove from office on phony
charges, Duncan, and Driscoll, sher-
if who would not shoot workingmen.
Another good mayor, Hauswirth, was
not blessed by the company.
Anaconda company chiseling is not
confined to Silver Bow county The
fungus legislature in 1941 enacted,
Ford signed, an act putting silicosis
compensation on the Welfare fund.
i.e., statewide tax payers-not on the
industry causing that frequent dis
ease. The self insurers, AC.M.,
Montana Power, ETC., pay none of the
operating costs of the Workmans
Compensation Board-that comes out
of the pockets of the company's po-
litical allies, the cattle and sheep men,
whether they buy Workman's Com
pensation from the board, or just pay
taxes.
AS the Scripture says, the Pestil-
ence walks by night-in Lobby Bar,
in the Placer Hotel. The present
price of power thwarts all small in
dustries throughout Montana. There
is constant secret hostility of the
big companies to all efforts of In
dividuals. This hatred flames against
individuals initiative when it coop
crates" Here the big fellows get
silly allies in Chambers of Commerce.
In 1886 the WPA had well organ
lied, efficient tannery going and self
in Butte. A professional
tanner from Milwaukee had trained
10 men with families) in the work.
The WPA was willing to turn 1t over
to the men il they would form a CO.
operative corporation. The men hired
my associate and myself to legalize
the society. This was done in SO
hours All was ready to take over
and CO.
Members of Butte Chamber of Com
merce quickly got in touch with our
senior senator. Washington, willing
10 turn over to the men, Thursday, |
refused on Saturday. |
The beautiful plant was junked to
SPECTATORS. trained artisans set adrift |
This expert from Milwaukee esti- |
mated that the business would employ |
1000 co-operators in one year. AS he |
put it, Hides bring one dollar to the |
armer in Motnana, they are shipped |
o Milwaukee, where, for three dollars
cost, they are sides of sole leather,
md are sold back to the Montana |
armer for $4,000" These hopeful |
cheated by the private bust |
less worshippers, had already devel- |
,ped a process for leather that would |
esist copper water By now they
would probably have great army con-
racts for leather, and have a thous-
md men of families in their shoe max
ng department, and they would not
,e competing with any other industry
n this colony. The killing of this
,aby industry for Butte was by lead
ng members of our Chamber of Com
nerce. The men had already engaged
or hire the shoe making machinery
n low, long term rental payments.
Wool is shipped with natural grease
nd filth from all Montana points to
Jew England Ten carding plants in
his colony would save much on
reight and insure better prices. This
is cheap, but cheap power
essential The sheep growers meet,
ttend Butte's celebrated gambling
alls, and pass resolution, written
Or them by Montana Power against
ne Missouri Valley Authority For
Inately for them, the idle men, after
will force through the
IVA. But it would have been more