davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04
Cascade County
Trades and
Labor Assembly

Meeting of August - was called to
order at 500 pm. by Vice President l.
l.. Price.
Roll cali Of officers showed Presi-
dent Steinmetz and Treasurer Dayey
absent. President Steinmetz arrived
late. John Wolfe was appointed vice
president pro TEN.
The minutes Of the previous meet
ing were read and approved.
Communications
From the United Christian Council
for Democracy ureing that we write
Mr.. Herschel Johnson, Security Coun-
Gil, Lake Success. NY, Honorable
George Marshall, secretary of state,
state department. Washington DC. and
President Truman. White House,
Washington. DC. urging the us. to
support the Inionesian request that
tho United Nations Security Council
continue to be active in the Indone-
sian case and that it set up a com
mission not only 10 investigate but to
arbitrate. On motion request concur
red.
From the Department OF Recreation
Continued on Page Four
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04

Washington DC. Retail prices OF
living essentials purchased by moder-
ateincome families in large cities rose
10 7 percent between mid May and mid
June according u the Bureau OF Labor
statistics. L : Department Of Labor.
Prices advanced for all major
groups OF items in the family budget
except rents aud fuel. electricity and
ice.
Retail prices Of living essentials in
mud lune were rs percent higher than
q year ago, aud ~ percent above the
Auelst 1899 level
Higher prices for meats and a ?
percent seasonal rise in egg prices.
wer" mainly responsible for the in
crease Of - percent in the family
food bill between May Is and June Is.
Meats, poultry and fish as a proup
advanced more than & percent during
the month On June Is. meats in
all cities surveyed we're retailing at
higher average prices than in mid.
May
The largest increases were Tor reef
and veal. up ~ percent lamb. 5 per.
cent and pork ; percent. These IN.
rreases Mere partially offset By a
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04

knew exactly what they wanted done
on six separate issues and on all
six. congress did either the exact OPP
posite or nothing at all.
The polls showed that the people
wanted prices reduced-and congress
did nothing. 1leo wanted rent con.
trol-and congress scrapped effective
federal control. 1871 wanted low cost
h%ousing-and congress stymied the
MISUNDERSTANDING bill in commit
tee. ~ wanted expanded social
security for millions not nov covered
and congress did nothing. Csc
wanted an increased minimum wage
and congress did nothing. 7Ncs
wanted Greek Turkish aid handled by
UN-congress by-passed IN by ap-
proving the Truman Doctrine
On the other hand. congress Was
very obliging 10 special interest
groups which expressed their wishes
through Hobbies rather than public
opinion polls. II Obliged the real
estate lobby ly passing the Wolcott
bill. scuttling building and rent con.
trolls. II made the NAN happy by
passing the Taft Hartley law 10 ham
string The trade unions IN obedience
10 the power lobby. congress ignored
all proposals fer valley authorities
like MVA For the WOOL interests.
congress authorized a sky.hirh tariff.
though the bill was vetoed The
senate passed a bill 70 exempt rail
roads from the anti laws. And
the sugar lobby was accommodated with
= sugar act which ups the consumers
sugar bill ly 81 million dollars A
tax bill giving enormous cuts to Big
business and very tiny ones 10 low in
come groups was twice passed and
twice vetoed.
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04
TAX FRAmE-uP IS
FACING farm
c0,0PS

MISUNDERSTANDING opening two
days OF hearings on co-operatives by
a subcommittee of the house small
business committee August 1923
showed that body will spend its energy
trying to pin the sin of tax privilege
on the entire coop movement.
Chairman Walter G. Ploeser Or,
MOI. who seized control Of the sub
committee Ito get the hearings going.
staged a phony investigation of Green
belt Consumer Services. coop organi-
2ation at G%reenbelt. Md. f~ederally-
owned housing development near
WASHINGTON. To newsmen and Green
belters ii was clear he had made up
his mind what he would find before
his stooge witnesses took the stand.
Ploeser and his committee staff,
with support from Rep. K. Walter
Riehlman ,R, N.Y. insisted that
co-ops enjoy. special privileges IN
der the tax laws. But Rep. Wright
Patman Cd. Tex. stoutly defending
the co-ops, pointed out they have the
same tax status as partnerships. and
are not to be compared to corpora
tons or to the giant monopolies that
are the enemy of small private bust
ness and co-ops alike.
But when the hearing ended, Ploes-
er and l1iehlman outvoted Patman
and called on the public housing ad-
ministration which runs Greenbelt for
the government to cancel its lease to
GCS in the town. BY the same voting
strength it will probably find" all
the evidence t wants on co-ops in
other parts Of the country when it
starts on the. road.
To help the house ways and means
committee frame appropriate tax leg
islation to put co-ops in the place
Ploeser wants them. Reps. Robert A.
Grant (R. Ind.) and Walter A. Lynch
ID, N.Y.) from that body will sit in
on the sessions. These are to be held
in Seattle, Sept. oil. San Francisco.
Sept. 1918, Los Angeles. Sept. 1925.
Later the probe will move to Mime
apolis, Kansas City, South Bend, Ind.
and Columbus. O.
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04
IMM&sW UNION IS
STRONGER Than
EVER BEFORE

st. Paul. Up With membership
reported at the. highest point in the
"a years of its existence. the Init.
Union of Mine Mill & Smelter Work
ers CIO) opened its 43rd convention
here August %.
Delegates promptly buckled down
to work on a program of consolidate
ing the unions newly-won gains and
political action to defeat reaction"
In an oblique reference to a recent
secessionist movement in the union,
Pres. Maurise Travis reported. Our
union has emerged from the severe
test Of the past year a powerful, larger
and more united organization than
ever before"
A unanimous report was submitted
by the international executive board,
embOdying a recommended program
for the coming year including: a wage
and contract policy to counter the
union-busting provisions of the Taft
Hartley law. political action. organize
ton. education and extention of rank
and-file democracy within the union.
Position the union will take on the
Taft-Hartley law was forecast in
Travis report. "As always he
warned, there are traitors and weak
lings in the ranks and leadership of
American unions. A few of them
have already accepted the Taft Hart
ley law and submitted to its restric-
tons. AS the going gets tougher
more of them will do the same. It's
easier that way. The difficulty is
when you start to surrender, you
cant stop until you surrender your
union and your liberty. The French
and German and Italian workers
learned that the hard way.
mo. fellow delegates. say we
fight back. ! am certain our entire
membership wants it that way
Speakers who addressed the con
v~ention include Pres. Augustin Guz-
man of the Mexican Miners Union,
Rep. Vito Marcantonio (ALP, N.Y.),
CLIO Counsel Lee Pressman and Elmer
Benson, a leader Of the Progressive
Citizens of America.
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04

in the great trade union movement in
America.
III capitalism and the free enter
prise system are to be kept alive in the
world. it must be on the basis of a
strong. patriotic American labor move
ment.'
Lahor's Contribution To War Effort
Cannot Be Denied
Murray said that. Notwithstanding
all the misrepresentation that have
been cast at labor. no one al deny
the contribution it made in winning
the war. The highest record of pro-
duction in the history of the world
was achieved through labor's patriot
ism and skill, he declared.
But now" he continued. that the
war is over and certain elelpents in
this country have grown rich and pow
erful through war profits. an effort
has been put on foot to weaken and
destroy American labor unionism. So
labor now is engaged in another war
a a against greed and avarice; an
economic war to preserve our Ameri-
can system against totalitarianism.
The present fight against labor in
America was planned even before the
war ended. For a number Of years an
effort has been made by certain power
fully entrenched industrial interests
to gain complete domination Of our
economic system. They furnished the
sinews of political wal which enabled
them to gain control Of congress in
1876"
: Murray asserted that. prior to this
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04

American people are coming to real
ton possesses against communism,
fascism and other isms, which today
are threatening the continuation or
the c~apitalistic system in the world,
lies in the great trade union move
ment in America, u. S. Sen. James
f. Murray declared Monday at a din
ner sponsored by the Brotherhood OF
Railroad Trainmen at Gronlund's. The
dinner was in honor Of A. F. Whitney,
president Of the BRIT and and guest
speaker at the Labor day celebration
Monday afternoon in Great Falls.
Roscoe c. Lots, chairman Of the
local BRIT, was in charge of dinner
arrangements. Murray was introduced
by O. S. Warden, Democratic national
committeeman. Whitney spoke briefly.
Murray paid tribute to Whitney's
contributions in behalf of labor.
Because of the splendid fight which
labor has made, the tide has already
turned in the country" said the sena-
tor. Already the people are coming
to understand the issues involved.
They are seeing through the dark fog
OF misrepresentation and falsehood,
which has been spread over the coun-
try in a desperate attempt to break
down and weaken labor so it may be
exploited as in the past.
II have not the slightest doubt but
that the American people are coming
t realize that the greatest bulwark
this nation possesses against com
munism, fascism and other isms lies
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04

goods in order to sustain the(
source of buying power that
has created a record all-time
prosperity in America.
The best method ever devised 10
assure consumers that products are
u~nion-male is the Union Label II il
likewise true that the best way To
determine If services are union per
formed is the Union shop card or
Union Button.
II can easily be deducted from these
facts that the only way 10 secure jobs.
wages. working conditions and Ameri.
IAN standards Is 10 demand the Union
Label. shop Card. and Button at all
times.
In what other way can consumers
determine whether goods are made by
skilled workers with high wage pur.
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04
Silver Bow Trades
Labor
Council Notes

The regular meeting of the Silver
Bow Trades a. Labor Council was call
ed to order at s pm. by President
Crawford.
Minutes OF the previous meeting
were read and approved as read.
Communications from Congressman
D'Ewart on the public lands question
was read and placed on file.
Grievance committee reported on the
state. county and municipal employees
local and the meeting with the county
commissioners, reporting that the
commissioners refuse to change their
Continued on page four
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04

drop OF 8 percent in average prices
OF fats and oils and the sharpest
monthly drop in coffee prices tdown
! percentl IN more than 10 years.
Fruit and vegetable prices declined
percent during the month with
slightly lower prices for almost all
items. fresh. canned. and dried. Frac-
tioral increases We're reported in
prices for cereals and bakery products
ana sugar and sweets Dairy prod
ucts as a group remained unchanged.
Apparel prices IN large cities rose
~ percent between mid May and mid
June Prices Of footwear advanced
during the month Nylon and rayon
hosiery prices dropped in practically
all cities IN June.
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04
Sen. Murray, A. F. Whitney Demand Repeal Of Taft Labor Law
Management Will Call For Repeal, Senior Senator Tells Huge Crowd
At Cascade County Labor Day Celebration Monday In Falls

Republican-controlled S0th Congress,
the Democratic administration laid the
foundation for a smooth transition of
our economy from total wal to peace.
ANY serious d~islocations were avoided,
eliminating depressions and unemploy.
ment cha~racterizing periods following
great wars.
Recalls Full Employment Act
He pointed TO enactment of the en-
ployment act of 1916. which he intro
duced and sponsored and which pro-
vided a method for maintenance of a
balanced economy. establishment Of
the economic council and other safe
guarding legislation.
Through such'acts. the period of re-
conversion was successfully passed
and today 10000. 900 workers are en-
ployed-the greatest in all history.
The Democratic administration provid-
ed an effective system of price con
troll. he said.
After the Republican congress as
sumed control. he added, the protect
i've measures were the focal point OF
attack. The price control system was
destroyed and prices are still rising
with the scale of living being seriously
undermined.
The S0th Congress, Murray charged
has been dominated by powerful indus
trial and financial interests which are
more interested in monopoly than ir
free enterprise.
Important legislation designed t
improve economic and social condi
tons was blocked, expansion of bi,
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04

Great Falls Record Of me iirsi ses
sion Of tie Suih congress under Re
publican leadership. is one ii failure.
A. +. Whitney. brotherhood Of Rail
road Trainmer president charged in
a l.aboi day address II 'il" North
Montana State fairgrounds Monday
afternoon.
The soth congress hy is failure
to act construcussly. al absolutely
nothing to cope With lnilationary
prices. but added fuel to the ire when
it dcconrrolled rents aud removed re-
s'rictions from essential building M
terials.7 Whitney said Slashcs in
government expenditures he de
clared, reduced expenditures vital
to the health q our Fearle and the
welfare Of our nation.
1t successfully blocked LEGISLATION
for medical aid and health insurance.
for federal aid to education. Tor pub
lie works, for river control for soil
conservation. for the wider application
OF social security benefits and protec-
ton. for a higher minimum wage. for
an increase in the meager allowance
paid els who are laboring to secure
an education in schools and colleges
throughout the land.
Whitney charged congress di d
nothing to provide needed homes for
veterans and their families. il failed
to supply funds for river control prof
ects which he said, ARE desperately
needed and in the end will conserve
more than they will cost and can bene
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04

the property Of 50 many millions OF
our people The records ~ill show
the ,ofh congress brazenly served the
special interests Whitney insisted.
pointing 70 its efforts to twice rush
through q tax bin to aid the rich and
deceive the POOR
Turning 10 labor legislation. Whit
meg said leaders IN congress jammed
through the 9'aft-Billiattley slave
labor bill which is a stain on the ban.
ner OF freedom. He said that be
fore the bin became law. il was re
%peatedly declared to be unworkable
hy countless authorities in the Held
OF labor management relations.
Outstanding leaders in labor, in
dustry. the church and III government
pleaded with members OF congress 10
vote to sustain the presidential veto.
and no to permit such vicious legis-
lation 10 become the Law OF the land
thus creating a field day Tor lawyers
and the cause Of widespread labor dis
content. strife and strikes
by this act its supporters hope
that free speech, free press and free
assembiage or American workers
might be destroyed and that mislead-
ers OF the people. now in congress,
might perpetuate themselves in office.
In substance. they have decreed that
the voice OF labor shall be silenced
As the worlds greatest democracy. We
should hold our heads in shame tc
know that a hideous plague is devour
ing our liberties and freedom OF today
The freedom.loyiug people OF America
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04

chasing power than To see the Union
Label displayed on each article. and
also services designated by a Union
shop Card. or a Union Button.
Thus. buying union-made goods and
using union services formulates the
most practical system 10 sustain
American prosperity. It cannot be a
mere slogan. however. because con
sumers must actually purchase union
products and %patronize union services
before definite results are obtained.
SEPT. t8 UNION LABEL WEEK
Governor sam G. Ford Saturday pro-
claimed September | To ! as Union
Label Week in Montana Similar dec
laratlons we're make by Governors
Walgren OF Washington and Smell OF
Oregon
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04

now are laboring under the un-Amer-
lean Taft.fiartley act which seriously
attacks the high ideals which have
made America great. The act has re-
stored the principle Of the yellow dog
contract, il has brought back govern
ment BY injunction. and the concept
that labor is a commodity
Whitney emphasized the labor act
viii not work. ard he urged the sooner
II IS repealed, the better for
ment. labor and the nation. He ex-
pialned il is only a part Of a well-de-
yeloped plan 10 weaken labor unions
while at the same time restricted pro.
ducfiOn Is used TO maintain present
high rrices. Ii the working people
can be separated from their wartime
savings. their security will be lessened
and their resistance weakened when
the time comes to down grade. he
said
The railroad brotherhood leader
called labor 10 wage war mot with
bullets. but with ballots to defend
labor's cause"
Often Il reace-loving people are
slow to resent injustices done them.
but the rapery OF their rights and OF
the fundamentals they fought and died
for in World wars | and , has been
so bold and crushing, that they should
grid themselves for the national elec-
ton in l94S, and with the ballot DO
litically slaughter every reactionary
and liberty in the interest OF creed
t~Coatinued o. Page ruurp
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04

OF Railway Tralnmen, and U. >.
Sen. James E.. Murray, praised
labor's record of cooperation
and patriotism and assailed
legislation enacted by the last
congress, including the Taft
Hartley labor bill.
Two-Mile Parade
The celebration opened with a two
mile parade, viewed by an estimated
$4,000 people. Many youth, civic. fra
ternal and veterans organizations
joined with labor in the parade and
several attractive floats were enter
ed. First prize for floats went to the
Allied Printing Trades. with the Team
sters' union and the Retail Clerks
union placing second and third. Hon.
ors for the largest marching delega-
ton went to the Carpenters union.
Musical organizations included the
municipal band. high school band, Sal
walton Army, Eagles drum corps and
others.
Floats On Taft.HartIey, MvA
Labor's opposition to the Taft-Hart-
ley bill and its advocacy Of the Mis-
souri, Valley Authority were indicated
by floats and banners. The prize win
ming float Of the Allied Printing
Trades consisted Of an ~ornately dec
Grated red, white and blue creation as
tho background for a giant book, bear
ing the words: Labor Produces the
Printed Word"
John Dusak was parade marshal and
division marshals were l.. l.. Price,
John %Peklewsky and l.. w. Upshaw.
Sports and Rodeo
A program Of sports events was
staged at the North Montana State
fairgrounds, followed by rodeo events,
specially numbers and an address by
Whitney, who was introduced by Les
ter Lobe of Helena, chairman of the
state Democratic central committee.
Loble lauded labor and praised the
late President Franklin d. Roosevelt
for his efforts in promoting harmony
between labor and management and
for his national leadership.
b. T.. S%teinmetz, president Of the
Cascade County Trades and Labor as
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04

business aid monopoly was fostered
and a Is per cent raise in rents per-
mitted. while the congress tailed TO
expand the social security system,
to do anything about provision of
decent homes and TO approve federal
aid for education.
Legislative M~onstrosity"
Murray referred to the Taft-Hart.
ley labor act as a Legislative mon
strosity. which he declared vas orig
inally intended to break down and
weaken labor in the bargaining pro
cess
Every impartial witness appearing
before our committee in Washing
CONTINUED o. Page Four
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04

sembly, was master OF ceremonies.
1t was estimated between 5000 and
20, 900 attended the afternoon pro.
gram.
In the evening. Talent on Review"
was presented by the assembly at the
fairgrounds. Twenty-eight acts were
included, the performers being tai
ented amateurs from Butte. Black
Eagle and Great Falls. Fireworks UNI
der the direction of Eddie Post con
cluded the celebration.-G.F TRIB.
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04
City Food Prices Rose 1.4To
In June-July, Says BIS

Washington food prices
Tor the average family in So large
rose | ~ between June Is and
July 10. according to the Bureau OF
Labor statistics August 30. The latest
rise brought the family food bill 10
2 point loo higher than it was a
Continued on Page Four
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04

A Pea study Of public opinion polls
in comparison with the record Of he
SOth congress discloses some remark
able differences of opinion between
the people and their representatives.
According to the polls, the people
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04
JAMES J. DOYLE, President

JAMES J. DOYLE, President
Coopers init. Union Of N. America
Says: Now more than ever Or
ganized Labor should demand the
Union Label, Shop Card and But
ton. These Union insignia are
guarantees that the worker has \
contract In which he obtains waQes
to his liking and favorable work
ING conditions.
FAN Unions should put on an az
0ressive campaign TO promote our
emblems to offset the obnoxious
propaganda Of arti-labor co!urnists
and commentators throughout the
country. We should also start an
active drive to defeat all members
CT congress who voted for the Vi
cious a%nti.union legislation"
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04

Washington = FTP The year 1916
in the amount of savings by the Amer
lean public with an increasing num-
Der of low and middle income fam
lilies living beyond their income, the
Federal Reserve Board reported in its
August bulletin.
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04
SEPT. 1-8 Is Proclaimed Union ,hel Week
|. VI. ORNBURN. Secretary-Treascurer
Union Label Trades Department. AL

Many remedies have been formulated for the purpose OF
sustaining American prosperity. No proposal has more merit
than the plan to maintain purchasing power at a wartime level,
so that, as consumers, we can absorb the peak-point output
of our mass production industries. This means full employ
ment at high wages for American workers who expend = great
err amount than any other group, for consumer goods.
In fact, organized labor expends 4 major portion of all pur-
chasing power. 1t is therefore apparent that it is necessary to
maintain our wartime economy for union workers to purchase
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04
FALLS LABOR day CELEBRATION
DRAWS CROWD OF 10000 PEOPLE

Great Fals-Organized labor and its So 600 strong
observed Labor day in Great Falls with enthusiasm Monday
The 10th annual celebration of the Cascade County Trades
and Labor assembly and more than so affiliated unions at
tracted a record attendance and lasted far into the night.
The holiday was characterized by an almost complete suspen.
sion of industrial, business and official activity under ideal
weather conditions. Nationally known political and labor
leaders, including A. F. Whitney, president of the Brotherhood
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04
Stacked Deck Faces Co-ops

MISUNDERSTANDING opening two
days of hearings on cO-Operatives by
a subcommittee of the house small
business committee showed that body
will spend its energy trying to pin
the sin of tax privilege on the entire
coop movement.
Montana labor news., 1947-09-04

1T is the business Of the
old party politician to get
campaign contributions from
the rich and votes from the
poor on the ground that he
will protect one from the
other. o Ameriger.