Montana labor news., 1950-08-24
Radio Address By
International
UMMSW Officials
By JOE MASON


worker representative charged that
labor organizations al the Butte
area. other than Nine-Mill aiiiliates
had becn-quOte persuaded bA
Communists within Minc-Mill local
unions to support Mine-Mill against
the S,eelworkers." or words to that
effect. He also charged that the
Same Communists within Mine-Mill
local unions had persuaded all bus
mess firms in Butte to accept pos
tiers which support Mine Mill and
condemn the Steelworkcr raiders.
In other words. this .stcclworker
representative charges that the Silver
Bow Trades and Labor Council.
with ii, affiliated unions. the Butte
Building Trades Council, together
with its affiliated unions. and the
proprietors OF every business in
Euttcarc all mere dupcs ior 4
handful OF Communists.
They are quite some ~persuaders.
are they not. these communists. ac-
cording To this story; The able
and informed leaders Of these two
central labor bodies thought they
were doing the fair and decent thing
when they passed resolution up
holding the long established Mine
Mill local unions. made up OF their
neighbors. their close friends. and
III many cases. their fellow workers.
iur various craftsmen also work in
or around mines. Yes. they be-
licved they were doing the right
thing. and their belief was shared,
without exceptions. by every craft
union in Silver Bow County-lnany
thousands OF people here in our
midst. Similarly, the proprictorS OF
every business firm III Butte, with
ont exception, gladly. and with no
thought OF protest. accepted the
Minc-Mill posters. which they now
display i'll their places Of business.
l.ui these many thousands OF bus
mess people, shrewd and capable
as they are. long familiar as they
are with community affairs OF Butte
were also duped by Il handful OF
Communists. according 10 Dur as
tute s~tcelworkcr representative and
radio commentator.
In view OF all this, how IN
fortunate are the people OF Butte.
the members OF organized labor, the
business people. that they now have
such an informant, such an adviser |
10 SET them Oh the right path. For
II seems that they were going lar
astray III their thinking. in their
judgment. But now. OF course, all
is changed, Tor we have with us an
iGealistic crusader i'll the person OF
this. Steclworker representative, who
is going to take Us by the hand. SO
10 speak. and lead us into paths OF
safety,
We do wish, however, that we
could learn a little more about the
personality and the background OF
This individual. before we come I'M
der the spell OF his %cloqucncc and
trust to his leadership. We might
Suggest. too, that when he begins BY
charging that many thousands OF
highly respectable and respected
Ruttc people are just stupid dupes,
that we are hardly predisposed in
his favor. The statement, you see,
Is Just a bit too sweeping.
Where does this individual come
from, who is 50 free with his unso-
licited advice. IS it Pittsburgh: Is
il Alabama Or is it just parts
unknown He doesn't say. Now,
Mine Mill does no thide the idcn-
tity OF its spokesman over the air.
Every man who has acted as a
spokesman Tor either our l%nterna-
ti'iihi SiHpit Va any VI lS lDNdi
unions has been a member Of Mine
Mill in good standing, either a rank
and file member, a local union Off
Ger OF an international officer or
Representative. Very often such
spokesman are widely known, not
cnly TO members OF their own unions.
but to Butte people. generally. More
over. not only their names, but also
their background and occupation has
been announced. even their mine or
other working place. Sometimes in
formation has been given regarding
their family status. or whether they
are home owners. or it they are ex-
scryicenen, as quite a iewo / them
have been, No, Mine-Mill has moth
ing to hide in regard to the people
who appear on the air in its be-
half. You know our Spokesman, you
can check up on them il YOU like.
They live here. they are respected
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