Montana labor news., 1947-08-28
BY GEORGE MEANY

Secretary.Treasurer. American Federation OF Labor
On this Labor Day Of 1947, the 100000 American
working men and women who make up the American
Federation Of Labor as well as all other Americans who
work for a living face to face with a most serious
situation.
We had felt justified in believing that the right Of
unions to exist and to function for the benefit OF the
working people Of our nation had at last been conceded
even by those who in years gone by were the most
bitter enemies Of trade unionism. Unfortunately, re-
cent events have shown that these reactionaries still re-
gard their lust for profits as entitled to much higher
consideration than the welfare Of the many millions
of average Americans who work for wages.
All parts Of the Taft Act, passed by a con-
gress subservient to Big Business, have now become
effective. This is a law which is vicious in the extreme.
Under this law it becomes more difficult than ever
before for the average trade union to secure necessary
and just improvements in wages and working condi-
tions for the membership it represents. In enacting
this law over a Presidential veto, congress has handed
the unfair and inscriptions employer deadly weapons
to use against his employees and their organization.
Labor Day, 1947, might appropriately mark the be-
ginning Of organized labor's about campaign to marshal
public opinion for the repeal Of this oppressive statute
at an early date. The sooner this law is removed from
the books, the sooner the nation we love will resume its
forward march as the standard-bearer Of the free way
Of life.
And in this connection let 1t not be forgotten that
vicious antilabor legislation has also been enacted in
q number Of states. The struggle to wipe out these
laws aimed at labor's heart must also receive the fullest
~ "a oA ia 0AuCA NnA0t UOSh AAAoiuS
and those outside organized labor itself.
II the repeal of these anti-labor laws is to be accom-
plished, our fellow Americans on the farms and in the
villages Of our nation must be shown how disastrous
for themselves as well as for trade unionists in the
cities will be the ultimate effects of the anti-labor stand
taken this year by their representatives in congress.
Even a casual analysis Of the vote to override the veto
Of the Taft-Hartley Act promptly reveals that Big Bust
ness was strongly supported on this issue by congress-
men representing farm constituencies.
Today, with Amoricau-DfOducod fOOdstuffS still being
exported as we'll as consumed domestically at rates that
break previous records. the American farmer is pros
porous. We hope that he will always be prosperous.
But exports will soon diminish and the time will again
come, as after World War I, when the farmer will be
wholly dependent upon the domestic market. In other
words, he will be dependent upon the purchasing power
OF the millions Of workers In the cities here at home.
All the tycoons Of Big Business combined, despite their
great wealth, are not able to consume more than a
most insignificant fraction Of the farmers output.
1t is clearly to the farmers personal economic in
terest, then, to see to 1t that Americas industrial wage
earners obtain good pay for their toll. The suffering