Montana labor news., 1945-01-04
News of The Silver Bow
Trades & Labor Council

Trades & Labor Council
The endorsement of Hugh O'Keefe for
the position Of state director of office
of Price Administration was the high
light Of the meeting of the Silver BOW
Trades Ss Labor Council last Tuesday.
The endorsement occasioned quite a bit
Of discussion over civil service require
ments
1 The Council went on record to support
the Montana State Library Association
in its effort to provide more adequate
service to the people of Montana. The
following letter from Nina NJ Ford,
president of the association, explained
what the association is trying to do.
"As you know, your state convention
this year endorsed the legislative pro-
gram of the Montana State Library
Association. The Librarians of the state
are sincerely grateful for the support
and cooperation which you have ex-
pressed for our library extension pro-
gram.
Briefly our legislative program is
this: First, We propose an amendment
to the present commission law increas-
ing the representation and enlarging the
powers of the commission for a more
effective agency. Second, we are asking
for an appropriation of $4,000 for the
biennium so that the commission may
function actively.
We hope that your local organization
is bringing this program to the attention
of its members. We especially hope that
you will get in touch with your local
legislators and let them know that your
organization is supporting this library
legislation, Won't you please authorize
your legislative committee to be respon-
sible for calling on your local legisla-
tors? Remember it takes yotes-as we'll
as resolutions-to get bills passed
The Montana State Library Associa-
ton cannot do this job alone We are
confident, however that with your sup
port and that Of other public-spirited
organizations we can secure legislation
that will provide better library service
for all the people Of Montana
IF you can use more copies Of the
enclosed folder, please notify us.
NINA M. FORD, President" +"
The annual party Of the Trades Coun-
Gil will be held at the Carpenters hall
Tuesday evening, January % William
Palmer is chairman Of the entertainment
committee.
The annual nomination of officers
took place as usual at the first meet
ing in January and John Crawford was
nominated for president; John Mcleod
of the Miners for vice president; E. c.
Vawter, secretary; Sarah Johnson stats
tician, and Oscar Hills, sergeant-at-arms
Further nominations and election Of
Officers Will take place the 9th Of
January.
A committee was appointed by Chair
man Crawford to interview the county
commissioners and the county treasurer
in relation to a report that the state
welfare board intended to reduce the
allotment for Silver Bow county to take
care Of needy people The Trades
Council is opposed to any reduction in
benefits.
Communications were received from
Governor Ford, Senator Wheeler, Sena-
tor Murray and Congressman O'Connor
in answer to a request Of the Trades
Council that no one be appointed state
director of o. P. A. until the unions had
chance to submit a name for the
position.
Secretary Vawter was appointed to
represent the Trades and Labor Council
at a meeting to be held at Helena next
Sunday on the subject Of the Missouri
Valley Authority This meeting has all
the ear-marks of being very important
and it is anticipated that delegates will
be present from all parts of the state
The appointment of Vawter to this meet
ipg caused a general discussion of the
r. V. A. and the other electric power
authorities throughout the United States,
and it was brought out that the Ten
nessee Valley Authority had raised the
living standards of the people, had in
creased production and generally been a
good thing for the country
Leonard Ripper, who represents the
Trades Council on the joint veterans
council, reported that an effort was be-
ing made to establish trade school in
Butte for the purpose of teaching dis
abled soldiers Immediately some Of the
delegates expressed opposition. Then the
whole subject of vocational training, the
Smith-Hughes act, the State Industrial
Rehabilitation program and the recent
federal act providing $50 a month for
soldiers taking work in universities was
launched.
It was explained that the American
Federation of Labor had very definite
program which would work in cooper
alton with the federal government in the
training and rehabilitation Of returning
soldiers.