davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-01-21

itself in power, 1t is government
that can command neither the re-
spect nor trust Of any people devoted
to freedom and genuine democratic
processes.
Evening star., 1947-01-21
Poles Not a Free People

Poles Not Free People
To the Editor of The Star: ...
To the Polish people the provisional
Warsaw government is foreign and un-
friendly government forced on a wsr-ex-
hauSted nation.
The Poles of todays Poland are not
free people. The provisional Warsaw
government is only tool and 1t is not
quite logical to blame the tool; the hand
that holds this tool is undermining the
effort to build better world. 10
Here is a challenge to the governments
that allow the tool to remain in destruc-
tive hands. S. A. RAGNIED.
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17
LABOR INSTITUTE
L00kSAnEAD TO
AUGUST I, 8, 9

Featuring the theme OF Labor Looks
Ahead. the officers OF the Fourth
Montana Labor Institute have secured
the services Of Il number of nationally
known labor leaders and specialists
for the sessions on the State Univer-
siiy campus at Missuula August I. 3, 9.
Among them are Arthur Carstens, d.
of union programs. University
OF Chicago. Clifford O'Brien. National
Labor Bureau, Seattle Arthur Nc
national Union William s Hopkins.
director, Institute Of Labor Econom
les, Lyle Cooper. economist. United
Packing House Workers.
The institute, which is jointly spon-
sored by the Montana Federation Of
| abuI. Montana State Industrial Tn
ion Council. Montana Farmers Union
and the State University. has been
organized into sectional and general
meetings. Sectional meetings will
consider such topics as labor law.
'NnIii!it VI 'Oilt'tift bNI aiming
tho tax structure and adequate public
services for Montana. history aud tut.
ure OF American labor, politico-econom-
ic problems OF labor. and publicity
media. General sessions will discuss
labor and the rights Of minorIties. the
economic basis OF peace and the Uni
ted Nations. the right to strike and the
public welfare. responsibilities III
world affairs. and the interdependence
OF farmers and workers. Montana I'M
ions aud farm organizations are Send
ing delegates. some OF whom are list
ed in the program as discussion lead
ers. Reservations should be SEN To
Miss Lucille Speer. State University.
the dormitory facilities OF Corbin and
North halls will be available for dele
gates.
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17
ROLL BACK PRICES, COP
IS URGED ~ HOUSE
DEMOCRATS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS should
act Immediately to bring relief to the
American people from high and rising
prices. Rep. Helen Gahagan Douglas
o.. Cali and John Mccormick 3D.,
Mass.), said last week in a dramatic
statement of the extent OF initiation
since the 79ah Congress killed price
control.
The responsibility for action now.
they said. rests with the Republicans
who voted as a bloc with a few help
ing Democrats to wipe out price con-
troll last year. and who now control
tho Congress.
Mccormack. Democratic house whip,
and the California progressive who
has previously brought a shopping bag
to the floor in order to demonstrate
what high prices mean to the house
wife. declared that the housewife
and her family can't eat studies,
charts and National Association Of
Manufacturers philosophy"
luCTtuStu COTpOTdllOu @ulVluenQS Ill
1947 and the highest corporate earn
ings in history will not help Molly
Housewife, Mccormick and Mrs Doug
las said. They don't help her buy
ground round steak at SEC a pound,
milk at tic a quart. butter at 76c a
pound-pork chops at 73c a pound
coffee at 47c a pound.
I'VE are not talking about roast
beef and steak budgets. We are talk.
ing about three-fourths of Americas
families who earn less than $500 a
year. or less than $40. a week"
The statement assailed the Taft
Wolcott socalled price control bill
which killed price control last June
and is the cause Of all the housewives
trouble today. Every week Molly
Housewife and her children are short
S $50 OF what they had to spend in
January, l945", they said-while her
husband, the average American work
er, has the same weekly pay check OF
SAFE as in that peak wage year.
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17

ton studies that tend to level off a
workers wages and create greater
speedup pressures. Neurological inn
provements are being introduced In
the layoffs Of plants and In the organ
ization OF factory working forces.
Wage incentive systems are being
streamlined where they existed before.
and introduced for the first time in
many plants that never had them.
What is taking place is only a be-
ginning. The greatest threat of tech
biological unemployment lies in the
future. 1t has been demonstrated
that standard motion studies OF work
ers can cut the time required for a
particular job from 80 to 60 per cent.
More efficient plant layout can double
production. 1t is only a matter Of
time before every employer, aver the
smallest. will strive to increase his
profits at the expense OF his workers
through the wholesale use of such sys.
tens.
1u0 uulOuS Will tuuS SOOu De race
to face with the full blown menace of
chronological unemployment. They
will have to solve the incentive wage
and job evaluation grievances of their
members, and be constantly on the
alert against the speedup and the
stretchOut.
To do so, the unions and their men,
Continued On Page Four)
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17

a federally financed MlSSOurl<
Valley Authority patterned af-
ter the IVA
"Meanwhile we are con-
fronted with the immediate
emergency OF providing relief and re-
habilitation for the homeless and dis
posed people ul tile Missouri Valley
This problem admits Of no delay. 1t
calls for full. speedy and generous
action by the federal government.
AT this time the only federal agency
with authority to finance a rehabili-
tation program in The flood area is the
Reconstruction Finance Corporation.
but the present ~resuurces and policies
of that corporation are inadequate to
meet this emergency. The orpora-
ton has only so million available for
disaster relief The interest rate
charged is 3 Per cent, and that Is too
high when YOU consider that the appli-
cants are the innocent victims OF a
catastrophe that could have been
avoided by a farseeing Congress. Ger
tainly. the governments interest rate
should not be 50 high as to carr a
profit from lending to flood victims.
The bill have introduced provides
for an increase IN the funds available
to disaster victims to 500 million.
S75 million of which Is to be available
for relief OF the victims OF the current
floods. II limits the interest rate to
per cent. The RFC must set up reg.
ional lending offices in each county in
the flood area. and these regional Of
fees are given authority to approve
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17

Eml hasizing this point with some
relish and deliberate bad grammar he
said 1T don't apply when they are not
able To work II don't apply ~hen they
are not willing to work.
A feminine writer asked Why did
able contract Lewis appeared not
10 hear and got rapt attention AZ the
query was repeated.
oh he replied. waving his cigar,
don't ask me to peer into the minds Of
the coal operators"
Asked II The contract met all his de-
mands. he answered we never made
any We said we had men looking for
work what have you 10 offer. This
tthe contractl is II. They knew our
people were unemployed and they
made this offer
Next came "A question about using
the Taft Hartley lied NLRB. Il never
heard any mention of it," Lewis re-
sponded. indicating that he will join
in what seems to be a general boycott
OF that agency under the new labor
law by most Of organized labor.
The only concession the operators
won vas the right to keep foremen out
Of the UNIV. but they agreed to pay
Zoe a ton royalty into the UNIV health
and welfare fund that will run TO some
$50 million "A year. to help sign up
check-ofi cards. and to the union shop.
Lewis. sitting pretty now. said he
had only one national contract and he
expected the southern operators to
sign through subordinate associa.
lions and ignore the Southern Coal
Producers association which he term
ed "A false ront and Il propaganda
organization"
The southern operators. employing
Continued on Page Four
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17

out of the Department OF Labor. eff
fective August 23. to become an in
dependent agency to be known as the
Federal Mediation and Cancellation
service.
Bureau of Labor Statistics is reduc-
ed from 10 personnel in five states to
25 personnel in an axnanded region
of II states.
The regional attorneys office re-
tains the same personnel but adds the
State of Montana. while apprentice
training service took an overall 90
per cent cut in budget.
Post war automatic liquidation had
previously eliminated the war-neces-
sary labor department agencies Of re-
training and unemployment, wage adj
justment board and ship sterilization
committee.
Added to the departments RESPONSE.
bilities. however, is the new Veterans
Unemployment Rights division, which
has taken yer the postwar work OF
selective service.
NLRB. outside The Jurisdiction of
the Secretary Of Labor or his depart.
ment. will have the responsibility of
administering the Taft-Hartley Ma
tional Labor Relations Act. and ex-
poets a large expansion in personnel.
Representatives OF the labor depart
ment will continue to participate in
international labor activities.
In the agencies retained. many area
offices in cities outside Of San Fran
cisco have been closed.
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17
DOG RACING
PROGRAM THIS
next week

The Montana Racing association Is
putting on a good program for the COM
ing week. Top bunny chasers of the
nation open another big week of com
petition with ten races on the card at
the Montana Greyhound Racing asso-
cations important plant south Of
Butte on us, Highway 10.
Frank Hartwell, racing secretary.
has punched available CANNES so lead
ers beat each other frequently. Pre-
siding Judge. w. NJ. Van Flete. the
camera man at the finish line, is work
ing overtime to get a photo finish Of
the races.
c. X. Edmonds, general manager,
has asked for that type Of close com
petition. and has all track employees
working to give a big send off at all
meets during the coming weeks.
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17

logged out in a blue suit
with a red rose in his lapel. the
lion Of US. labor seated report
ers in the leather overstuffed
chairs in his pleasantly cool high cell
inged room with its heavy timber pan
els. Thanking him We're his top aides,
General Counsel Welly X Hopkins
aud Editor X G Adams.
Lewis wouldn't cpneede II, but one
scribe hazarded 4 guess that the fly
ing salicers were the celestial sign
that led the wiser men among the coal
operators to trek from their hotel
suites to the monumental UNIV build
ing for the privilege Of signing the
new agreement. The UNIV chief him
self had put his heavy scrawl on the
document an hour before and left the
witnessing of the owners signatures
to underlings.
When the newspaper men were all
settled. Lewis lit an impressive cigar
and ran over the principal points. de-
failing how the pact raises wages.
shoricns hours and advances the lunch
period from II minutes to a half hour
Chewing each word with obvious de-
lieht. Lewis said the agreement sets
tho basic rate for coal diggers at $l.63
and one eighth or fractionally more
than iic over the old krug.Lewis rate
OF $1.lSla an hour
~. Able and Willing -"
Put Lewis got his biggest kick from
the language Of the contract that cir
cumvcnts the Taft Hartley acts ban
on strikes IN violation Of written con
tracts. This section reads that the
instrument shall cover the employ
ment vi persons employed In the bi
luminous coal mines covered by this
a ( rcem~iit during such time as such
! persons are able and willing TO work.
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17
Cascade County
Trades and Labor
Assembly

Meeting OF July II was called 10
order al 90 pm. by President Stein
metz. Roll call Of officers showed all
officers present.
Credentials
From the Carpenters for L. l.. Price,
George feager. Richard Hamm. and
Clair El!er From the Painters for
f. H. Richards. Kermit knudson and
Ora Johnsrud. From the Smeltermen
for Pete Fontana. Roy Richardson.
Ray Graham. William Graham. Ash
ley ilolley, Dan Grant. Troy Leonard.
Fred Nicols. r. {. Anderson. Rudy
Rounig. S. L~evandowski and Joe VAN
pol. On motion delegates-elect pres
ent were obligated and seated. =,
Communica tions
From Senators Murray and Ecton
acknowledging our request that they
support the Taft Ellender Wagner bill.
From the Bureau OF National Az
fairs that copies OF BNA's 300 page
analysis ol the new labor law are
available al SoUu a copy. On motion
one copy was ordered purchased.
From the city attorney acknowledge
ing our request that the property be
reyaluated in Great Falls for tax pur-
poses.
From the Missouri Valley Develop
ment Trades x Labor Council inviting
the assembly to affiliate. The affilia-
ton fee is SIS and the dues contribu-
ton Is $50 per ear.
Credentials To the Montana State
Federation OF Labor convention to
meet in Anaconda August 10. were
laid over To the mex meeting.
Credentials to the ALL convention
to meet at San Francisco October s.
wer. laid over until next meeting.
tContinued ~ raxe -Four
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17

IL ule6IlS OIIc IIl1ux -OICoO VI
chronological unemployment.
BY the end of this year, such
unemployment will have reach
ed so substantial a figure that
1t will be a serious factor for the con-
sideration OF the unions. Prelimin.
mary Department Of Labor studies in.
dictate that workers productivity,
thanks ia new techniques, will in
crease at an abnormal rate" this year.
So abnormal Is the rate expected to
be that the Journal OF Commerce has
reported labor department economists
to the effect that should a recession
materiallse. healthy productivity ad.
vances would be within grasp for the
remainder Of this year and in 1948."
To workers that means layoffs as
fewer Of them are needed to turn out
larger quantities Of goods. Should
the slump materialize, pressure would
grow for even greater speedup to
stretch the productivity Of each man
and thus permit still further layoffs.
Two factors are making for the re-
emergence Of chronological unemploy-
ment. The first is the installation Of
new equipment and machines, on
which industry spent $12 billion in
1916 and Is expected to spend $14 bill
lion in 1947.
Typical Of what this new machinery
means Is a Wall Street Journal de-
scription Of a device that rips through
what was formerly a 2-day job in a
bare ~ hours" All along the line,
the Journal said, "hours are being re-
duced to minutes, and minutes to Sec
onds."
Along with streamlined machinery
and equipment, employers are intro.
ducing new and streamlined efficiency
methods. Efficiency experts are be-
ing hired on an unprecedented scale,
even In fairly small plants, and these
experts are developing more subtle
and effective speedup and s~tretchout
systems.
speedup Systems Spread
Employers are "stabilizing' their
wage structures by using job evalua-
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17


A 20 per cent curtailment of
service has already been put in
~to'effect by the Wage & Hour
and Public Contracts divisions in
charge Of enforcement and compliance
under the minimum wage 40-hour
week. child labor and contracts gov.
erning labor conditions for supplies
to the federal government. Since the
cessation of hostilities Of World War
II, the Wage & Hour division has had
its services cut so per cent.
Child Labor &. Youth Employment
branch of the department closed its
office last month.
us. Employment Service, with %
employees last January /, is reduced
to three professional personnel, and
due to the failure of the passage OF the
Presidents reorganization plan by
Congress is slated to leave the Depart
ment of Labor within six months af'
ter the termination Of the war and
become a branch of the Federal Sc
curity agency.
Cancellation Service is transferred
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17
Workers Should Set
UpC% o-operatives
APLDeclares

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. should
organize consumer co-operatives rath-
er than wait for socalled free enter
prise to bring prices down through
competition for the consumer market,
the ALL economic bulletin. Labor's
Monthly Survey, says in its July issue.
We have see that competition by
producers is not enough to bring
down the prices OF workers living ne
cessities,' the survey says. quoting
government sources showing that
many factories are now cutting out
put and laying off workers while their
prcies remain at high-profit levels.
AN orderly downward adjustment
OF prices and an increase in consumer
buying power are essential II full pro-
duction and full employment are to
be maintained" it continues. by
organizing as consumers in co-opera-
tives we can mobilize our buying
power to achieve these goals.
When we own OUT own cooperative
stores. credit unions, WHOLESALERS, and
factories, we can use wherever neces-
sary the only effective means OF re-
ducing prices-competition in the free
market with other business"
The ALL bulletin gave the example
OF midwestern farmers who organized
fertilizer co-ops after World War l
when prices were prohibitive, and to.
day these groups act as a tempering
influence ON the entire industry. Fer
tilizer prices, 1t says, rose but IL per
cent in the past yeaf while industrial
prices g~euerally rose ar average OF
% per cent.
AS prices have scared upward work
ers' real wages have dropped and some
$50, 900 jobs have been lost In Ameri-
can factories between March and May,
l947. The bulletin says that consum-
ers, about rs per cent OF whom are
wage and small salaried workers. must
buy substantially more" this year II
they are to take their necessary two
thirds Of the production Of a fully-em-
ployed America. Government bust
ness and exports account for the other
third.
Every time consumer buying falls
short Of the necessary amour by
per cent. it means that some 230. 900
jobs will be lost" the su<yey says.
Some IN million ALL members
with an average spsndiAt Of about
$500 a year car be al immense power
for good, buying In consumer cooper
atives and saving in credit suniQn2'
the bulletin says. 1t adds the ALL Ok
poets union coop work to be carried
on through the Cooperative League
Of USA and Credit Union National
association.
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17

loans up to $4,000 without reference
TO the Washington headquarters of
RFC. Borrowers may have up 70 ~
years for repayment. The regional
offices must appoint advisory commit
tees which shall be representative OF
the elected public officials. business
men. farmers. and labor the local
community
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17

News of Great Falls
Building Trades

Meeting of July 10 was called To ord
er by President Davidson with all Of
iierrs present.
Credentials
From the I.aborers Local 213 naming
Bros. T.. X, Britten and Webster Beck
or as their delegates to the Building
Trades Council for the ensuing term.
From Carpenters Local 2S6 naming
Bros, Martin Richmond. George ieas'
er and Richard Hamm as their dele
gates to the council. and from Paint.
crs Local eco naming Bros. Art Swan
son. Robert Pitzer and Joseph Dun
can as their delegates, On motion
made and carried the delegates were
ordered obligated and seated.
Minutes of the previous meeting
were read and approved.
Minutes OF Cascade County Trades
4 Labor Assembly were read and filed
From the Laborers Local 2.3 ad
vising that they are opposed to a $500
assessment. Filed.
From the Missouri Valley Develop
ment Trades 4 Labor Council in re.
gard to affiliation with them,
The roll was called and the follow.
ing delegates noted absent lIamm,
Wilson, Van Tighten and Rognaldson
Report o. oe'eoa.es
1t was reported that the city fire.
men were holding down two jobs. Mo
ton made and carried that Il commit
tee be appointed to see the mayor re
garding this report.
Report Of Committees
The committee reported on the
count, budget and advised that the
regular union scale had been granted
with the exception OF II classified
ton on the Engineers schedule. which
is still under discussion.
The committee in regard to a coun.
Gil business agent recommended that
inasmuch as all Of the replies to our
letters regarding an assessment were
not in favor of the $l.00 assessment
tho matter be dropped for a while and
the committee be discharged. Motor
to that effect made and carried.
The Cargill committee reported thai
they were sure the matter would b,
Strengthened up Saturday. July ~.
Unfinished Business
Motion made and carried that tn.
Secretary notify the mayor that the,
would like TO submit the following
members names In addition to the lis
previously submitted for the ~plannin,
borad. Bros. George Yeager and Mart
in Richmond.
The matter Of storm sewers wa.
discussed and the circulation Of pc
titions relative thereto were given con
s%ideration. The secretary was asked
to notify the proper authorities ant
the committee be given full power I,
act.
AS Bro. Ralph McNey is no longer /
delegate. a motion was made and car
ried that the chair appoint anothel
member to take his place on the audi
committee. Bro. Swanson was ap
pointed.
Motion made and carried that W.
pay our full account at the club.
Bros. Richmond, Stoke and Sim,
were appointed on the committee I,
see the mayor in regard 10 the fire
men.
There being no further business tn,
meeting adjourned at 1920 PINE. II
BRITTEN. secretary-treasurer.
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17
TEcuuoloelcAL UNEMPLOYMENT TO
CURSE AMERICAN WORKERS
aATsss:s.s;11 - YEAR

New Industry Tschnq Raise - Unemployment.
The vast Archaeological strides maze : - US. in the war
and postwar period are today increasingly being put into use by
industry. New machines and new techniques already are max.
ing Il possible to turn out more Of the goods America and the
world need and to do it with the use IT less manpower.
While this could b = wonderful thing for the millions at
home and abroad who need our products, to American workers
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17
RIVER MUST BE nARnEssEl
TOTALLY, SEN. MURRAY CONTENDS

Senator James E. Murray last week introduced a bill to amend
the Reconstruction Finance Corporation Act to provide SIS
million of funds for loans to the victims of the present floods
in the midwest at lower rates of interest.
Senator Murray stated: "There is only one solution for the
chemically rampasing rviers of the midwest. They must be
harnessed totally. And the only effective way to do that is by
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17
MINE OPERATORS agree 10 finest
CONTRACT HISTORY OF UNIV,
Welfare FUND INCREASED
BY TRAVIS K. HEDRICK. Federated Pres

Neutrality-suspicious. greatest Snowman, President John l..
Lewis Of the United Mine Workers (AFL) was At his superb
best July 8 sitting behind his massive desk and modestly, If un-
trying to choke down his swelling pride while de-
failing his unions biggest victory
A coal operators lined up three floors below to place their
signatures on the new bituminous contract, Lewis held court for
tho press in his sixth floor office.
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17
Department OF LABOR hit HARD By
ECONOMY HOUNDS IN CONGRESS

San Observation-Disclosures Of services Of the US. Depart
ment of Labor for the West Coast region was announced here
this week, to meet the 1947-48 department budget as finally
approved by Congress.
L~iquidated was the Information Division, distributing point
for eight western states, for Information emanating from reg
ional offices here. This division closed its door permanently,
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17

1T l. 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."-Oscar Ameriger.
Montana labor news., 1947-07-17

An economy that relies fos
its stimulation On waste and
disaster i taking the road
to oblivion ~ surely ~ the
dinosaurs, those ereaturss
that were all bulk and NO
brains Stuart Chase.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1947-11-21
Time To Stop
Continued from Page Two)

CONTINUED from Page TwO)
monopolies must be halted in their
selfish exploitation of resources be-
longing to the people. State officials
and some representatives from Calf
ornia, may want to upset the supreme
court decision on the issue of coastal
lands, but certainly the inland states
have everything to gain and nothing
to lose by upholding the decision.