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

there were 154 unemployment COM
pensation exhaustions in Butte in
February, but the count of the well
fare roll doesn't reflect the situation
either. People are reluctant to go to
the welfare, he said, and only do so
as last resort.
A conservative estimate, Salvas
people in need than represented by
unemployment reports.
He said if we accept the 800 fig
ure and use the 1883 figure re-
ported by the employment service
the total would increase to 1892.
Salvas carried his calculations further
by using the national average of 3.5
persons per family to bring out the
number of human beings involved in
the problem. Using the employment
service figures of 21, 533 he said there
are at least 1926 people concerned.
Using his 1892 figure Salvas said
there are then 97,971 people trying
to get something to eat without hav-
ing job.
Salvas said the relative status of
Montana to other states indicates we
are either first or second in number
of unemployed in the nation.
James S. TIMBER, president Mon
tana AFL-CIO, said the unemploy-
ment problem has been with us "just
a little bit too long,. TIMBER was
disappointed some officials found
it convenient to be out of town
when we are trying to do something
for our people,.
He said too many people are trying
to minimize the need for speedy ac-
ton, that we need to have more in
formation on the exact numbers of |
people who draw their last check. He
thought that information could be
provided. He said we should be able
TO get figures of the number of I'M
people in agriculture and
n jobs not covered by unemployment
compensation, to arrive at a salts
factory evaluation.
with present figures we can
figure that 1870 of our work force
is unemployed, he said, and 1870
is serious according to the u. S.
Department of Labor. 81 don't
think Montana can be proud of hav-
ing that dubious distinction, he
said.
TIMBER thought, instead of minimiz-
ng the situation, state government
hould be taking action. 81 believe
government exists for the people and
OF the people for the government" !
e said, 81 think we need surplus food :
nd public works at the earliest pos
ible time.
Ernest Sjoman, president of the :
lutte Miners Union No. 1, said well !
are assistance to the unemployed is =
He said the Montana
over is turning off gas and lights =
nd added "thank heaven the weather
warm. He said when he goes down
} the power company office they
ave turned on the public utilities ?
gain. :.
He said the welfare needs more =
clip, that their work load is too much =
, they have started with the appoint
ent system. :
"The situation in Butte seems to 6
1T more desperate daily, Sjoman =
i'd, "and conversations with small I"
lsiness men and the ACM indicate -
ey are pessimistic. They say things "
i'll be getting worse and it may take =
year or more before they get bet >,
r." u
The Miners Union president said :.
ople are coming back to Butte from -
her areas because in the past they "
we found work here. He said they !,
we to get assistance from the well u
re to go back home. ~
From the Flathead area, Joe Cross
1ite, business agent for Operating
lgineers Local 371, Kalispell, said f.
,bruary is usually the peak unem- 4,
oyment load in his area due to v,
Gather conditions, but that the u
aather had nothing TO do with I'M :