The people's voice., 1958-09-05

by members of our Union that suggests
boycott to the business community of
this county is the result of individual re-
action to what is, we'll termed, an insult
to our Union.
If 1t were possible to ask every citi-
zen of this country what he wants from
his government and job-what he ex-
poets from life-the kind of world he
wants for himself and his children, the
answers would not be too much differ
ent from what organized labor has been
and is advocating.
IF this is true, one might ask. why
all this hostility toward labor? Is it
because the majority of the people of this
do not know or understand or
ganlzed labor, what it is or what it stands
for? Most people carry stereotype impress
sIonS OF unions gained from the public
press, or perhaps a bad personal expert
ence with some union. person or local
in the past, or just plain ignorance of
unions, due largely to lack of exposure
to them or to the industrial climate.
You, Mr.. Johnson, by representing
the press of this county have failed in
informing your readers of the unions
contribution to the communicated
toward an iron lung-$200 to BOYS
year to high school stu
dents at AbSarokee-was that failure due
to the fact that Union and not Lodge
was involved?
The business community has failed.
failed to fully realize that the employees
OF the American Chrome Company nave
an organization called a Union that its
buy new and used cars, furni-
ture, groceries, pay county real and per-
Sonal taxes and state and federal taxes
from their yearly income of about ST.
100000. This is the customer that thew
have failed to recognize by a single
etter addressed to Local 1888, rJye.
Montana
lhe politicians of the county have
alled, with one exception, to consider
he potential influence of a taxpavine
group called the Union.
The Union has failed, too. We could
lave asserted our individuality bv bonn
'ardlng the press with letters and ads, by
state and county officials, by
laVlng organization representatives at all
community meetings, by insisting that
We are not an appendage of the Ameri-
an Chrome Company, but a protective
ssoclation of wage earning employees.
leS, we failed, because, with a president
'ho attended school at Absarokee. and
bout halt OF our membership born with
100 miles of Columbus, we thought
nat we were part of the community
nd had no need to prove it.
Nov, all of this, Mr. Johnson, should
some measure, explain why the mem
erS of Local 1888 resented the action
t the business community in signing
lie "Rlght-to-Work' petitions; why they.
1thout Instructions, stopped patroniz-
lg those merchants. 1t was though they
ere being punished for the acts of
who were expelled from the
FL-ClO and who had never had a
'mote connection with Local 1888 or
~ ohitSb olSSlWOlhCIS vi america.
Excepting the occasional hothead on
9th sides, the business and Union parts
our community can return to the
'rmer cordial relationship. The Union
lall officially make an effort in that
rection, subject to membership ratifi-
tion, at its next meeting.
I'VE earnestly desire that the business
en- of the county also make a similar
fort. And we can think of no simpler
ay than by recognizing that we are
oud of being Union members. So ac-
pit our Union on its merits.
We note your name did not appear
the petition. We wish to express our
probation to those who rendered our
ople the same consideration"
Sincerely,
e. r. EVERINGHAM,
Chairman, Legislative Education