The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1958-02-28

have any relief, before the 18th or
June, he added.
He said the Governor referred to
the lumber industry being a "soft
spot. at is a great big hole', Cross
white emphasized.
Oscar Wendt, Flathead county COM
missioner, went on record as favoring
distribution of surplus food and said
eve can see that the problem is 60
ing to grow because the % weeks
unemployment Compensatory will
start terminating by the first of
April. We edo not see employment
picking up.
The Flathead county commissioner
said the mills have cut back to two
days, which means a livery small
salary for those who do work and
these people do not show on the I'M
employment rolls.
Claude Johnson, vice president of
the Montana Farmers Union, who had
just flown in from Washington, D. C.
said the whole economy. is up in the
air, and we are worse off than most
places. He said it has been said on
the floor of Congress farmers, la
Dor and little business are all in
bad depression.
Johnson said 1--WE don't have any
surplus food-this food belongs in
the stomaches of hungry people
and right now we should take steps
to see that it gets there.
The Farmers Union officer told
the meeting that farmers are adding
to surplus labor because they have
either lost their land or are working
in the labor market to be able to keep
heir land. He pointed out two mil
ion people left the farms last year.
Il think we better sit down in a group
ike this and talk this thing over and
mean what we say.
Edgar Linn, president of the Cas-
.ade County Trades and Labor As
embly, went on record in favor of
,etting surplus food to help unem-
,loyed and under-employed people.
linn pointed out that many people
ire getting as little as 10 dollars
week unemployment compensation,
md he called upon Cannon to inaugu-
ate the surplus food program. ,
From Great Falls w. E. DeIger,
business agent, said there i,
yere 1879 carpenters on the active
st at the unemployment office. Del
er pointed out a situation not men l
oned by others about what he called l
poor planning" brought about by
he desire to get construction jobs {
yer as quickly as possible which {
ecessitates sending out the cry for S
ore workers, then when the job is c
one the workers have nothing to do. Y
e concluded this is done without F
what is going to happen
hen winter comes. D
Harold Gunderson of Great Falls v
,oke for the Cascade County Com y
issioners and presented resolu- h
on by that board in favor of surplus N
'ods. >,
The resolution stated Cascade q,
'unty would welcome" surplus "
ods if a satisfactory arrangement :,
r receipt and distribution can be h
rived at. ~
According to Gunderson the county NJ
elfare food budget is exhausted and
ascade county officials doubt if the
ate grant-in-aid will get them II
rough the year. Gunderson said the 81
report "the situation
acute" and they may be registering vi
arrants before the end of the year. w
Gunderson also pointed out that r
e distribution of surplus foods had n
en- handled in many other states in a,
lding our neighboring state of
)rth Dakota.
-
Robert LaFromboise of the Black :,
ct Tribal Council said the situation .,
scribed by labor representatives e.
IS just reversed on the reservation. 90
2 said there were 1870 employed W
n