davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Petal paper. [volume] (Petal, Miss.) 1953-19??, 1963-12-05
Continued From Page 81

you don't talk Or try to create
some understanding?
"They think they do under
stand" he said. "They under
stand just what they want to >"
At four, Father had a confirm
alton class in the rectory. I
strolled about outside, visited the
church again.
When l stepped out of the
church, I saw P. d. East, an old
friend, famed editor of the Petal
Paper, getting from his car. He
had driven over to visit me from
Hattiesburg, Mississippi. We went
into the back door of the rectory
and remained in the kitchen with
cups of coffee. Father came into
the kitchen, his face blank with
puzzlement. Who was this white
man with the Mississippi car
licence? Had trouble already
struck?
P. D. looked his sourest and
said Father, I'm from the
Mississippi Khan and we want this
mingling CUT OUT"
Father glanced at me.
"It's UNCHRISTIAN, don't you
know that" P. D. continued.
I quickly introduced them.
Father wanted his confirmation
class to meet us, so we went into
the front room of the house and
talked
Father invited P. D. to spend
the night, but we decided that no
small southern town should be
asked to tolerate both of us over
night.
"And besides, John makes me
so nervous P. D. added. ~ never
know when he's going to start
taking those damned pills and
turning black" (Referring to the
medication I took when l toured
the South as a Negro)
We felt that it would be too
risky to go out to anyone's house
for supper that night, after I had
been seen around town, and
especially now that P. D. had ap-
peared on the scene with his
Mississippi icence plates.
One of the young men in the
confirmation class insisted on
The Petal paper. [volume] (Petal, Miss.) 1953-19??, 1963-12-05
. BOOK REVIEW
Continued from Page y

not sympathy from his wife),
Surely he will be forced to make
decision? No, he seeks the adj
vice of his former roommate.
Structurally, the story comes full
circle. When Peter Copeman goes
to another party, in borrowed
trousers, hoping to meet girl, the
reader emissions for the non-hero
continuous revolutions of the
circle.
In his first novel, Victor Young,
himself a schoolteacher in Eng
land, has pictured the little fellow
of the middle class, who always
gets pushed around, even trampled.
He is likeable, but not particularly
admirable.
He will never ch ange the
system; he is too much bound by
it. because he is a non-hero. e..
e. BALLARO).
The Petal paper. [volume] (Petal, Miss.) 1953-19??, 1963-12-05
The Empty Pew
Continued from PAGE II

in people. There are so many who
have kind hearts and gentle
natures. There are hos e who
really do forgive the injuries we
all collect in our daily living.
Some eople enjoy doing kind
things for others.
Why do we deny our own good
ness? Why do we have to have a
season" or some other excuse for
doing good things? Why do we
invent a nonresident character to
blame the goodness on? Maybe
this is what Christmas does for us:
it steals away the credit for the
goodness that men do. No big fat
fraud will get credit for the good
ness that has been done for me. I
will not write my gratitude to the
North Pole. I want to express it
to the people whom I see every
day doing wonderful things for
others.
I'm glad I went through this
season with rose : colored glasses
on. I saw the goodness in people
and l was delighted by it. And !
thought, if only they were not
ashamed of their own kindness
and love. I am not ashamed of it.
am grateful to them for it. The
only thing that keeps us from
having Christmas 1856 days year
is waiting for Santa Claus rF@'s
The Petal paper. [volume] (Petal, Miss.) 1953-19??, 1963-12-05
Journal Of A Trip South

providing the supper. He left
and soon returned with an i'm
mense steak, a watermelon and
salad green's. l cooked and the
three of us had supper in the
kitchen before p. D. drove away.
NIGHT
The tensions are tangible. Each
time the phone rings, both Father
and | go because if it is the Khan,
both of us want to hear what is
said.
The phone does ring, again and
again. Each time it is one of his
Pensioners, calling to make sure
everything is all right with us.
Father prolongs the conversations,
and l am glad he does, because SO
long as the phone is tied up, we
cannot receive the calls we ex-
pect . and dread
Certainly, we feel it is time for
me to leave.
TUESDAY
We left early this morning for
visits to Baton Rouge and an
evening lecture in Lafayette. Also
a radio interview on an independ-
ent station. The commentator
promised me that I could say
anything I please, and that moth
ing would be deleted from the
broadcast.
We finally returned here long
after midnight. Now, at four am.
prepare to retire. I am going
back to Mansfield tomorrow.
WEDNESDAY
Driving out of the little town,
two police cars picked me up at
the outskirts and accompanied
me. one in front, one behind, to
the next town. There, another
"team" took over and accom-
panied me on to the next. What
does it mean
They did not explain, did not
stop me. But each time I slowed,
they slowed; each time | acceler-
ated, they accelerated. did not
feel that they were protecting me,
but rather that they were making
sure I left this area. Police are
as bigoted as anyone else in such
localities. 49,,
They accompanied me halfway
across the State. (RAMPARTS)
The Petal paper. [volume] (Petal, Miss.) 1953-19??, 1963-12-05

Our strongest weapon is the
freedoms we preach, and our
greatest weakness is our failure to
practice those freedoms, particu-
larly in the area of civil rights.
Here is where the communists
could be put to rout if we would
put our mind to 1.-THE Suffolk
County News.
The Petal paper. [volume] (Petal, Miss.) 1953-19??, 1963-12-05

score on his wife's pretty young
secretary way back in the First
War and he was still flaring his
nostrils like stallion at this same
female as he sat beside him when
he dropped dead. His wife, as
usual, was thousand miles away
| am not member of the Birch
Society. / m too fir to the right.
But | qualify for membership, be-
cause, unlike you Democrats, not
only swear to support the Consti-
tuition but try constantly to main
tain it against ignorant Demo-
cratic dolts who pawn their poll
tical patrimony for handouts and
paltry little medals.
Somebody wrote a book which
was published under Bobby Ken
nedy's name called THE Enemy
Within" I wondered "Has this
character turned square at last"
because the Democratic Party is
the enemy within. But it turned
cut that he was rewriting dis
closures which I made many years
ago as an honest reporter about
the predatory union which are
subsidiaries of your party-and
his. He did not include the Federal
Judiciary among these enemies but
| do not expect truth of any
Kennedy.
Do you seriously believe Demo-
Gratis should be allowed to vote?
Or even breathe?
Last year Colby College in Maine
hung card board medal on an old
crud over in California for his
great courage in blasting the Birch
Society. But all the frey crosses
that have been burned in all these
years were burned in Democratic
country We had big lynching in
Waco when l was young reporter
in Dallas and they burned the
body. How many Republicans do
you reckon there were in Waco in
1918? There is no charge that any
Birch people shot tear gas at law
abiding citizens, including co-eds,
at or Miss. That was done by
your low-browed, droopy-eyed
Democratic president and his
brother with the chipmunk face.
God you Democrats scare easy.
Don't be afraid, Buster. We won't
slap your face. You used millions
of pickets to try to scare me but 1
held still. But your low browed
fuehrer tossed out the phrase Get
moving and brother, you had
better We are going to run you
down the road.
Sincerely,
WeStbrook Pegler
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-12-20
Maximum Weekly Maximum

the century following, and as in
dustrial progress and accidents in
creased, agitation for compensation
legislation to take the place of un-
certain court suits also increased.
Bismarck, the "Iron Chancellor
of Germany, facing demands of a
strong social democratic opposition in
the late 1905, put into effect the first
workmen's compensation law. Under
that law, industry paid the cost, with
workers receiving two-thirds their
wages for the duration of disability.
If the worker were killed, his widow
and children received benefits until
either the children were grown, or,
in the case of the widow, until such
time as (and if) she remarked.
In Britain, the problem was first
recognized in the Sadler report of
1888, when the Factory Labor Act
was passed which among other things.
prohibited working children over ID
hours day. 1t also gave disabled |
workers the right to sue, but still
left the hurdles or loopholes open |
to adverse decisions by: 1. the work
er had an assumption of risk" when
ne took job; 2. "contributory negli-
yence" by the worker, and 8. ''the
fellow servant rule', where dam
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-12-20
Helena Ben Franklin Store
Slams Contract with Union

covering the employees of the Ben
Franklin Store. This contract, along
with other security features and
fringe benefits, provides for Jour
neyman Clerks wage rate of $1.40
per hour for female employees, and
an additional 25c per hour premium
pay for most hours worked after
600 pm. in the evening. 1t provides
for seven CD paid holidays, time
and one-half pay after 8 hours per
day or after 40 hours per week, and
paid vacations of one week after one
year and two weeks after two years
service.
Participating in the amicable reso-
luton of the negotiations in addi-
ton to Conciliator Father Mackin
were Lois Stephenson, Local 684 Sec
rotary and AFL-CIO Region 20 Rep
resentative Len Loring from the
Union, and Ben Franklin Store Own
er Leo Sadler and Frank Capps of
Super Save for management.
Retail Clerks Local 6S4 informs
all union members and friends that
Ben Franklin Store is once again
eligible for the support and patron
age of union members.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-12-20
BE PROUD OF YOUR UNION
MEMBERSHIP

Dick Everingham, longtime min
er and steel worker who is now in
process of completing four years of
college at MISC in three, and who
contends ''life begins at 60" insofar
as his upcoming teaching career is
concerned, spoke ON the history of
workmen's compensation.
In prefacing his remarks, Dick de-
plored the fact that many members
of unions and their families have
swallowed the continuing propaganda
line that unions are not quite prop
er, and really don't belong in our
American scheme of things. Said he,
you've got to be proud of and pro-
claim your union membership" for
it has largely been through the col
festive efforts of workers over the
past $50 years that America today
has much important social legislation,
even though much still remains to be
accomplished.
Industrial accidents first began
to be of Importance with the In
dustrial Revolution and the utiliza-
ton of steam power in place of
hand power in industry, beginning
in the late 17OQs, he said. During !
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-12-20
Anderson Objects To Handing
Governor Another Political Plum,

The Capitol remodeling project
which will dissipate about six mil
lion dollars for inefficient office
accommodations precipitated another
chewing match between Gov. Tim
Babcock and Attorney General For
rest Anderson, Monday. Anderson ac-
cused Tim of "pork barreling" the
project when Controller Walter An
derson asked to have special build
ing inspector appointed for the prof.
ect.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-12-20

Tuesday, after five hours OF
negotiations under the chair
manship of Father Joseph J.
Mackin, professor of economics
at Carroll College, agreement
was reached between Local 684
Retail Clerks Union and the
Ben Franklin Store of Helena.
Father Mackin served as conciliator
at the request of Helena Trades &
Labor Councils grievance committee
and the parties involved in the dis
pute. The bargaining sessions took
place at Carroll College.
Picketing by the union at the Ben
Franklin Store in the Lundy Shop
ping Center, which had been in pro-
cess since December 10, when prev
ious negotiations had broken down,
was called off Monday night at the
request of Father Mackin by the
Union pending the outcome of the
meetings on Tuesday.
The agreement reached provides
that the Helena area standard Retail
Clerks non-food contract shall be
effective as of December 18, 1868,
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-12-20
INADEQUATE DURATION
IN MONTANA

In Montana, too, disability pay
ments can extend a maximum of SOC
weeks, even though the worker is
permanently impaired from earning
a living. This same maximum applies
to widow and her children even
though the children may be very
young when their father is killed. In
such instances, families of the dis
abled may have Ito go on Public We'll
fare (paid by all the taxpayers) sim
ply because present Montana law ex-
cuses industry from meeting its full
obligation.
Referring to the ''hodge-podge"
of state laws, Everingham said
having SO state laws covering acct
dents to workers is ridiculous
why not break it down and have
it by counties? by empIoyers?"
We should, he commended, have one
uniform federal law-just as the
NAM recommended more than one
half century ago.
George Wenstrom of the Industrial
Accident Board staff was present
and on request of Chairman Root,
gave a brief rundown on coverage
under the Montana law; pointed out
that each year Montana has 40 to so
industrial fatalities; reported on safe
ty codes now in operation for various
industries, and gave a general round
up on operations of the department.
Wenstrom made a point of telling
5he audience that workmen should |
always check to see whether an en-
oloyer is covered under the LAB be-
'ore going to work. This, because
'ome few employers attempt to OPP
,rate in hazardous fields without
'arrying the compensation required
" law.
He also stated that the lab has
o inspectors who try Ito keep a check
n hazardous operations and see
hat unsafe working conditions are
DIRECTED.
That workers may better know the
wv, Wenstrom told them that the
Alb has available easily understood |
ooklets on disability benefits and t
lies of procedure in seeking COM
payment. These may be had
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-12-20
Board Okehs New lUnit'-

From Page i
not fraternities, not traditions, not
high priced administrators or instruc-
tors-it is found where people wish
to be students so that they can be
OF greater value to the world and
themselves.
Northeastern Montana College at
Glasgow is a welcome addition to
the other six units of higher educa-
ton In Montana and perhaps can
show us the way to further stretch
the educational dollar which is so
short in Montana.-FS
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-12-20

| by writing to: Industrial Accident
Board, State Capitol, Helena.
THE EXTREMISTS
Ted Townsend. Montana Farmers
Union public relations director, sub
stituting for the AFL-CIO's Ed Lash
man who had been called to Wash
ington, spoke on the "right-wing ex-
tremist movement.
Townsend, an exceptionally able
and entertaining speaker, told his
audience that in ''the two previous
'right-to-work' campaigns Farmers
Union was with you. Well be with
you if there's another one and
we'll whip 'em again, same as we
did before :"
Pointing out that "right-to-work"
is a major objective of leading re-
dictionary organizations, Townsend
devoted most of his talk to the "es-
sentially undemocratic nature" of
the John Birch Society and similar
extremist groups, and how, basically,
they have much in common with the
Communist Party in that both "seek
an end to democracy.
eff this (right-left) fight was just
a fight between two rattlesnakes,
couldn't care less" he continued,
'but, the common enemy of both is
democracy both seek to establish
a tyranny. And, said he, zone is as
bad as the other in this respect.
The Birchers, he continued, are
'eally not fascists in the true mean
ng of the word. Actually, they want |
% return to the simpler days of their
childhood to the simpler prob
ems they faced as children.
But, he continued, while "an-
cester worship is a part of human
nature we can't turn back the
clock, even if we wanted to return
to those so-called good old days.,
such as "the depression years of the
Thirties," or "the years of World
War III" when millions of people
were being slaughtered.
The Birchers are, he asserted,
more nearly anarchists" in that !
they want no state ait all"
Contending that the flight against t
communism is mask and "front" i
nd "only small part of their pur-
ose," Townsend said that with them 8
lie Income tax is more hated than /
That, given repeal of
lie income tax, even though the fed t
'al government would have other 9
venues sufficient only to pay the f
terest on the national debt, these n
'ople who profess to fear the Sin t.
rnal threat of communism, would n
most happy. Ii
Townsend expects sreinvigorated W
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-12-20

by writing to: Industrial Accident
Board, State Capitol, Helena.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-12-20
SHOULD HAVE SUCH
MEETINGS MORE OFTEN

In briefly summarizing, Council
President Gunstone suggested two
things: 1. Such "skull sessions" on
issues of Importance to labor should
be held at least once each year, 2.
those in attendance should take the
information CLEANED back to their
locals and spearhead greater activity
at the local level on behalf of MEM
bershlp education and political action.
Audience participation throughout
the day indicated that there is a
growing realization at the rank-and-
file level of union organization that
more energy must be put into. poll
tlcal activity if labor is to achieve
needed and merited improvements in
legislation affecting working men and
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-12-20

The AG contended that the archi-
tect, Morrison & Maierle, is paid an
extra three per cent to be responsible
for the quality of the workmanship.
The state has an architect and an
assistant in the building working for
the Controller and building inspec-
tor working for the Board of Examin-
ers and to have another special state
political plum smacked of Republican
'fpork barrel'' to the AG.
The matter is to be taken up with
the architect and contractor.
How much the World War bonus
will amount to will be known before
Christmas but the checks will not be
mailed until it is known if there is
enough surplus in the cigarette tax
fund.
Western Life has Offered state
policy of six and half
cents per thousand dollars of cover
age for death, dismemberment and
accident policy. This would be pay
roll checkoff plan by departments
without the use of state funds.
Northwest Fixture will furnish food
equipment for the new
lining hall at Boulder's Training
SchOOl and HocpiEta1 for CIT 40 LC
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-12-20

a machine which would replace man
power" If the latter is the case,
will only "worsen" the unemployment
situation. To be effective, he insisted
"a tax cut must put more money a
the consumer levelp.
Unemployment compensation pro
grams, he said, are very inadequate
in the face of increasing automation
particularly, here in Montana where
the maximum weekly benefits fall
far short of the originally planned
fifty per cent of average earnings
of the worker. Benefits must be
raised, and duration of weeks ex-
| tended, he contended.
STATISTICS, STATISTICS,
AND MORE STATISTICS!
A review of Montana unemploy-
ment compensation program by four
staff members of the Unemployment
Compensation Commission, boiled
down to a largely meaningless
mumbo-jumbo of statistics which in
no-wise faced up to the pressing need
of major overhauls and improvements
in the UCC program if it is to carry
out the intent of such program
to help all Montana wage earners
over the jobless periods which are
unavoidable for many thousands of
workers whose jobs are dependent on
the weather.
Various ones in attendance ex-
pressed the opinion that the UCC
personnel appeared to be under strict
orders not to say anything which
was in the least controversial or
which would in any way cast the
present State Administration in an
light.
One bit of information provided
by the UCC spokesman which was of
had to do with the Area Re-
development and Manpower Training
and Development programs. UCC is
in the handling of both. To
late FOG workers have been in or
ire taking training. Of this number,
'06 have been placed in jobs since
December 1862. Local needs as to |
kills are first ascertained, and then |
hose best qualified for each skill
ire trained to fill the jobs open.
Much of the MTDA work has been /
n the Butte-Anaconda area.
Most telling information brought
out during this discussion was a
review of unemployment compen-
sation standards throughout the
United States by former longtime
UCC member AL Root.
Root, using facts and figures COM
lied by the u. S. Department of
abor, pointed out that Montana's
reekly benefits and duration of pay
rents, etc., are much below other
-estern and northern states; that
we compete quite favorably with
Mississippi, and other low-wage states .
the South =. ;" Disqualification
rovisions of Montana's law are
mong the most stringent in the ma
on, he added.
Compared with other western {
ates, we're bowman on the totem
Die, according to the following fig r
res revealed by Root: q
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-12-20
FIRST ACT IN USA IN 1908


FIRST ACT IN USA IN 1908
About the same time, in 1908,
President Teddy Roosevelt proposed
and secured passage of workmen's
compensation legislation for govern
ment employees. 1t was, however,
from a few to many years later be-
fore all the States had also enacted
such laws. In the meantime, workers
had only the recourse of the courts,
and the three major obstacles favor
ing the employees under common law,
as itemized in paragraph immediate
ly above.
State laws today-now that Mis-
sissippi finally has an actin ex-
change for often grossly inadequate
compensation, take from the worker
the right to sue. In turn, employers
no longer have the three common law
defenses to avoid paying comp.
Shortly after the TR act of 1908
the National Association of Manufac-
turers had a comprehensive study
made of European laws on the sub
ject. NAM reached several conclu-
sions: 1. disability comp is a cost of
doing business; 2. sound program
should make it compulsory that all
including agriculture, be
covered; 8. safety codes should be
drafted; A. all state laws should be
uniform; 5. the state should be sole
of the program (no
private insurance carriers, etc.
Today, however, the so state laws
ire a ''hodge-podge'', according to
1veringham. There are no uniform
'ules as to what employers are COW
cred, what compensation payments
ire to be, or how long benefits should
continue. Some state laws call for
:omp to be paid the duration of dis
utility. Others put a maximum of
800 weeks, no matter if the disability
S permanent. Loss of hand in Wyo-
ming is worth only $2,75O to dis
Jbled. To a federal employee, the
maximum worth of a hand is $29, 500.
n Wisconsin, its worth $14,80O. In
1ontana, the maximum is about
< am