The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-04-19

So ended the three-minute confer
ence Like hell it did!
SENATOR WHEELER PERFORMS A
! DISSERVICE TO ALL MONTANANS
There appears to be no doubt that
Burton X Wheeler will be a candi-
date for another term of six years in
the United States senate, this being
the fifth time for the senior senator.
That being so. it follows, almost like
night follows day, that Mr.. Wheeler,
conceded to be an astute and polished
politician even by those who oppose
him and his facilitating policies as
disclosed by The Record. that he will
be renominated and reelected, pos
sibly, but not surely on The Record.
A while back, when Mr.. Wheeler
initiated and put through move to
have Mexicans imported and war pris-
oners retained to take care of the
beet harvest, many, Including some
former supporters, doubted the wis
dom of this move, from a political
viewpoint.
That there was absolutely no neces-
sity for the move is established by
the known facts as to unemployment
in the state of Montana.
The facts as to unemployment at the
time Mr. Wheeler started his recruit
ment of Mexicans and war prisoners
are disclosed by an official report of
the United States Employment service
and it was the business also the duty,
of Senator Wheeler to know these
facts, and not pursue a policy which
could only add to a growing list of
unemployed citizens of Montana.
According to the report of the Unit
ed States Employment service the
number of applicants for jobs had
grown to 1900, with only employer
orders for 2,317 workers. These fig
ures are compiled from a list of 2S
Montana cities.
Quoting from the report:
Half of Job Applicants Are New
Veterans
"Of these 10000 applicants, 1873
more than one-half-are veterans. Lat
est figures are that 43,S45 of the 64,-
900 men and women furnished the
armed forces by Montana have been
Returning veterans along
with war workers and other migrant
workers coming into the state con-
stitute a continuing addition to the
pool of available labor seeking en-
ployment.
Employers are doubtless aware, but
too much emphasis cannot be given
the fact, that the present pool Of
available labor represents the cream
Of the market, being composed so
largely of men and women with train
ing, education, experience, physical
stamina and moral background. 1t
includes those selected and trained
~ the armed forces, and those accept
ID and trained by war production
,lants and for other crucial tasks on
he home front"
This report is compiled as of March
, 1916, and the addition of the bal
nee of 10000 new veterans, and those
brown temporarily out of employment
" the seasonal closing of the states
oal mines, it is a conservative esti-
nate that by beet-harvest time there
will be pool of at least $4,000 high
class American laborers available in
Montana, ample to take care Of the
beet harvest, and more.
The continued success of Mr.. Wheel
er, politically, appears to have blunt
ed his usual astuteness in the pur-
suit of votes.
Also, his callousness towards the
workers Of Montana appears to have
cached a point where he believes he
AN, by the application of his usual
Mysterious and under-cover political
and tricks disregard en-
irely all those residents of Montana
Who depend upon work for living.
BY his recruitment of Mexican la.
'or and war prisoners, Senator Wheel
r has performed distinct disservice
lot only to Montana workers, but
lso to the businessmen of the COM
nunities chiefly affected.
A recall is in order.