Montana labor news., 1948-08-19
Federation Now
Meeting In Great Falls

The fitty-first convention OF the \
Montana State Federation of Labor is
meeting in Carpenters hall, Great Falls.
having opened at 10 a. III. Tuesday,
August II. Business OF the convention
usually runs four days, according to
James d. Graham. president.
Delegates swung into the serious
business Of the meeting Tuesday and
heard speeches by governmental lead
crs, candidates for office and inter
national union representatives.
Tuesdays speakers included Coy.
Sam c. Ford. Rep. Mike Mansfield Of
the first Montana district, Secretary of
State Sam w. Mitchell, Arnold II.
Olson of Butte. Democratic candidate
for attorney general; S. T.. Thompson,
representing the International Broth
crhood Of Electrical Workers: Kathleen
Mcguire OF Anaconda, president Of the
American Federation Of Teachers, and
II. X. Mueller Of Denver, representing
the Federation Of State, County and
Municipal Employees.
Ford urged enactment OF an cmcnd-
mcnt to the state department Of labor.
This was urged by the State Fedora
ton Of Labor at last years convention
in Anaconda.
In his annual report to the federation,
President James ID. Graham OF Helena
termed initiation a "grievous evil" but
counseled organized labor against try
ing to match every price increase with
a demand for higher wages.
Making demands for higher wages
will not improve your standard Of liv-
ing" he said, as the cost of the ne
cessities increase more rapidly than any
wage increases can be negotiated" He
placed the blame for initiation upon
Congress, which he said could do some
thing about it, but has failed to act.
Mansfield told the convention the
80th Congress was a Lobbyists para
disc" and that it failed to consider the
needs Of the people. particularly in re-
gard TO high living costs and housing.
He said power is the key TO Mon
tana's development and that the Hungry
Horse dam marks the beginning Of the
real development Of the state, furnish
ing cheap power to farms and homes
and attracting industry
BY the time the legislature convenes
next January, Chairman BARCLAY Craig
head Of the Montana unemployment
compensation commission. told dele
gates Wednesday. the unemployment
fund will have a cash reserve OF ap-
proximately S2o.0O0OO0.
- ~r., ~ ti,,r ~,~ar.a C~o,1n,t
said. he is opposed TO any further tax
cuts that will curtail the fund because
Of the uncertainty Of the times"
II don't know whether We are headed
for a bust Or not" Craighead told the
delegates, but il another severe de-
preston should occur, SD.000.0O0 would
see us through only about a year and
a half OF it. with the present maximum
compensation payment of SlS a week.
and the time Limit Of Is weeks in ef-
feet"
Principal speakers at Wednesday
mornings session were Don Chapman.
Great Falls, president of the Montana
Farmers Union. and John Bonner Of
Helena. Democratic candidate for gov
| crnor.
Chapman urged a continued cordial
relationship between farmers and other
workers. declaring that Eve are in a
period OF history now where this CO.
operative relationship is essential If
workingmen's organizations are TO con-
tinue TO exist"
Chapman urged voters to study the
records of candidates for public office
before casting their ballot.
Among resolutions read before the
convention and referred to committees
and to be brought up on the convention
floor Thursday were these:
Urging a federation investigation oil
wages and working conditions of state
highway patrolmen.
Demanding repeal of the Taft-Hart-
ley law and urging the defeat at ths
polls in November of all representa-
tivcs and senators who favored the act
Asking separation OF the state de-
partment Of labor from the department
Of agriculture.
Asking that the state let out OF