The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-04-26
FALLS LABOR
CURRENT

| me cl1cne, claiming tnat, the
watched pot never boils," is of course
a question of psychology versus phys
ical science, but we can safely say,
that the watched pot isn't likely to
boil over without an effort being made
to control it."
So it seems that, while organized
labor was concerned about the stew
ing of the Case bill, another anti-labor
bill was cooking in the house COM
mittee on interstate and foreign COM
merce kettle, with but few watchers.
The bill, S. SO to amend the COM
munications act of 1913, is entitled
prohibiting certain coercive practices
affect1ng radio broadcasting," and is
popularity known as the "Stop Petril-
| 10 Bill"
In his report to the assembly, dele
gate Thompson of the Transfers, char
acterized it as the most far-reaching
and vicious piece of anti-labor legisla-
ton yet Belated attention was called
to the bill by Judge Padway, legal
authority for the ALL at the recent
conference of Western Transfers In
his opinion, the bill is not simply a
prohibition designed to strike at the
economic life and welfare of the Mu-
slc1ans, but may be used against any
group of workers whose occupations
touch broadcasting by the manufac-
ture, transportation, sale, operation or
maintenance of the machinery, sup
plies, service or facilities used direct
ly in or incidental to the business of
sound recording and producing.
Workers Caught Asleep on
PetriIlo Bill
When the fire was lit under James
Caesar Petrillo and his brother must
clans, these general ingredients were
not even suspected as being in the
legislative pot. With a false propa-
ganda smoke-screen, all attention was
centered on one man and according
to Representative Marcantonio of
New York, the National Association
of Broadcasters spent a million and
one half dollars suggestively publ
c1zing Brother Petrillos' middle name.
At that time, as reported by broth
er Nichols, assembly delegate from
the Musicians, the Wurlitzer people,
known to the public as piano, record
ing and Juke box business organiza-
ton, but in addition, owning some 80
per cent of the broadcasting business
IN the nation, were angry because the
Musicians had insisted that the cab
aret tax of 80 per cent ought to apply
to places where recorded music was
used as well as the places where live
music was used
Thus the characters may change but
Inc plot remains the same. Our cor
Dorate rulers have us under continu-
ous attack. In their point of view 1t is
llgh treason for the producers, those
II us at the actual point of produc-
ION, to seek greater equity in the
nvlslon OF the wealth representing
he products of our toll. If they can
leep us divided and rivals in our
'arious organizations, they have their
work. made easy for them and half
lone When is Labor going to achieve
cal solidarity? When is the sleeping
liant going to awaken? He is strong
n his physical sinews but his mind
weak and troubled with vagaries
nd distractions. A thousand conflict
ng leaders ideas fight for supremacy
MS brain. When will he achieve a
lngleness of purpose in his think
1g? The Labor movement needs not
LEADERS, but LEADERSHIP. Not
len at the top but PRINCIPLES.
ny so-called leader who cannot shed
ne thought of egotistical and ambi-
GUS domination and become a wheel
orse working for a common purpose
not man enough to be anything of
fficial function in Labor organization.
RAY GRAHAM.