Montana labor news. [volume], December 01, 1932, Page Page Two, Image 2

About Montana labor news. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 19??-1951

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
MONTANA LABOR NEWS
PUBLISHED KVKUV THURSDAY AT 120 EAST BROADWAY
BY THE SILVER BOW TRADES AM) LABOR UOUNUIL
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II matter May 23rd, 1
at the Post Office Butte, Mon
ond class
Entered
•t of Marcl
3rd, 1871».
. under the
♦ ♦♦ ♦ ora
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HALF-TRUTHS
The present labor difficulties in Butte show clearly the
extent to which the daily press will go in telling direct
untruths and stating half-truths to mislead the public.
Both papers stated, baldly, that there was no effort made
by the Employers' Association to cut the wages of girl
clerks. The wages of girl clerks WERE to be CUT to
$16 per week, for a week of 48 hours. They also failed
to state that the girl was to be paid only'for the time she
worked. They did state that she would be paid a half
day's wages if called to work. They failed to state that
they could call her at 11 a. m. and work her until 3 p. m.
and then pay her only a half-day's wages. It is true that
she would have only worked four hours, but what could
be done toward putting that broken day to gainful occu
pation. The employers were acting in this matter like the
one-legged man who only wanted to pay for one shoe
and asked the store to keep the other. The papers also
failed to state that the drug clerks were to be paid their
$35 for a 58-hour week. This is a small wage when one
considers the long hours, seven years' education and
training, and the thousands of dollars spent in acquiring
that education.
They also failed to state that the employers cut out all
summer half-holidays and three full holidays. They did
not state that the summer half-holidays were abolished
after a solemn promise on the part of the Employers'
Association that this one holiday would never be inter
fered with.
If such tactics are to continue, Butte can very well
dispense with the Employers' Association and the kept
press of this city. Workingmen are the subscribers to
these papers and it is for the benefit of this class that
advertisements are secured that keep the press from total
bankruptcy. The reader's demand a semblance of hon
esty at least.
PROFIT FROM WORKERS
The employers stated that a cut was necessary in clerks'
salaries because they could not make a profit at the pres
ent scale of wages. What lies behind this truth?
The merchants of Butte have engaged in cut-throat
competition during the past years and have even been
selling their goods at cost in many cases, and in some
cases below cost, in order to get business away from a
competitor. Goods sold at such low prices are known
11C tiade as leads. The Butte public has purchased |
the leads and has expected other articles to come down to
this low price. No profit has been made from these leads
This Overhead
but overhead costs go on just the same,
has to be met. It couldn't be met from profits off the
articles sold, so it had to be taken from the wages of
the clerks.
The employers of Butte might do well if they lived
and let live. What is to be gained from forcing a com
petitor into bankruptcy? Nothing for the merchant or
clerk. In the first place the public is given a false sense
of values. In the second place bankruptcies produce an
unhealthy psychology. It the third place unemployment
increases and the depression is prolonged.
If wages are maintained in Butte, the value of the ar
ticle plus a fair profit can be obtained. If a fair profit
is added to the cost of the article when sold, wages can
be maintained. Cutting the wages of the employe merely
lowers the margin of profit on products, and the employ
er suffers a still larger loss. We don't want "cheap
merchandise. Cheapness merely symbolizes the financial
condition of a community. Cheapness shows that people
have no money with which to purchase articles. During
the summer the editor visited one of our eastern cities
where profits were made from the wages of clerks. He
saw articles, purchased by merchants to sell at $2 begging
for buyers at 49 cents. Mr. Merchant, pay decent wages.
Mr. and Mrs. Buyer, don't be hunting bargains, for in the
long run you pay dearly for each bargain that you buy.
Let us work together, employer and employes, all for
each and each for all. Get rid of your associations crazed
with a union-busting mania. Good wages never ruined
any business. Well paid, well nourished and happy em
ployes are the most efficient and the best advertisement
any business establishment can have.
' ■
UNION ORGANIZATION IMPERATIVE
The executive council of the American Federation of
Labor, in its report to the annual convention of the Fed
eration at Cncinnati, emphasized the fact that trade union
organization is the only sure way to protect the workers
and advance their welfare both in times of prosperity
and depression. The council said:
"Despite depression handicaps, the Federation has
continued to aid organizing work during the past
year. The unusual amount of fundamental thinking
and questioning of existing practices provide
ceptional opportunity for organizing work. On all
sides we are confronted with the fallacy of expecting
improvements from letting things alone.
"Many wage-earners have let alone the problems
of increasing their wages and gaining more leisure,
an ex
BUY ANY CAR BUT A FORD
thinking they could get along without giving the
time or making the investments necessary for direct
ing their betterment through trade unions.
"Trade unionism requires initiative, responsibility,
understanding of industrial and social relationships.
"This breakdown of industry shows up the barren
ness of material progress without the spiritual under
standing and ethical standards to assure equitable
distribution of the returns from joint production.
The situation brings us again to those motives of
human .justice that are the power of the labor move
ment.
"We extended union organization to its highest lev
els in war-time peak production. But that was a
growth based upon desire for the material benefits of
unionism.
"Expansion of unionism in the period of greatest
depression brings members who face adversity and
who want the social and economic justice that union
ism can provide. Additions to unions in depression
will bring members who believe in the ideals for
which our movement stands.
"Adversity is a character-building experience. Let
us seize the opportunity to get into our trade union
movement those who turn to constructive methods.
"In the coming year we must depend upon per
sonal appeal as our chief reliance in spreading the
cause of unionism. This personal method emphasizes
the responsibility upon each union member for help
ing his fellow-workers to understand their own re
sponsibility. The union needs the unorganized just
as much as the unorganzed need the union.
"In this extension of unionism by personal appeal
our volunteer organizers have for years done good
service. We need them this year as never before,
and we need the co-operation of every individual
wage-earner and small salaried worker.
"We urge unions in all localities to begin continu
ous effoils for organizing workers during this com
ing year."
These fundamental truths expressed by the executive
council should result in intensive organization campaigns
which will bring the oppressed masses by hundreds of
thousands into the ranks of the organized labor move
ment. There and there alone the strength of unity and
high purpose will bring outstanding improvements in the
wages and conditions under which they toil for a living.
SCHARRENBERG STRESSES NEED
FOR LABOR PROTECTIVE LAWS
California Labor Federation
Secretary Explains Prin
ciples of Legislation Spon
sored by Trade Unions.
ence the trade unions in seeming
their enactment - wt ' re emphasized by
Scharrenberg secretary of the,
an d editor of the "Seamen's Journal,"
in a radio address here on "Labor
Legislation."
On the general subject of Ameri
can labor laws, Mr. Scharrenberg
said, in part:
-
SAN FRANCISCO.—The import
ance of certain types of labor laws
for the protection of working men,
women and children and the influ
"With respect to labor legislation
in general, we must remember that
the policy of the American labor
movement has differed fundamentally
from European policy.
American Labor Legislation.
"In America organized labor de
mands legislation for such purposes
only as the individuals or groups of
workers cannot obtain for them
selves.
"In other words, the American
workers, in Congress and in the
various state legislatures, have
fought for legislation for the protec
tion and promotion of their rights
and interests and for the accom
plishment of their highest ideals.
Protective Laws Advocated.
"Thus Labor has fought for legis
lation providing for the abolition of
child labor; security and safety in
life and work; sanitation in factory,
shop, mill and home; workmen's com
pensation in preference to employ
ers' liability: the regulation of con
vict labor; the enactment of laws
such as the LaFollette Seamen's bill,
the labor provisions of the Clayton
law, and the more recent limitation
of injunctions in labor disputes, to
gether with trials of contempt cases
as provided in the Norris-LaGuardia
anti-injunction bill.
"Labor also played a conspicuous
part in the securing of a secret bal
lot through the introduction of the
Australian ballot system in the 90's.
"All these laws work for freedom,
for right, for justice.
"These reforms the workers
can
not secure without law, because they
are governmental functions and can
not be accomplished by private
agencies.
"To summarize, the American labor
ent is founded upon the prin
ciple that self-help is the best help,
and that the exercise by the workers
of their economic power if after all
the greatest and most potent power
which they can wield.
Social Legislation.
"In recent years, social trends and
economic pressure have modified the
movei
policy of the American Federation
of Labor, particularly with respect
to social insurance.
of unemployment insurance, the ex
; ecutive council of the American Fed
oration of Labor has also declared
ployment insurance by the Federal
government,
"For example, the American Fed
eration of Labor is now committed
to the principle of old-age pensions
and has prepared a model bill for in
I troduction in the various states,
"Following an increasing approval
by affiliated groups of the principle
Free Employment Agencies.
"Among the many labor laws spon
sored by the American Federation
of Labor or its various state branches
the following may be mentioned in
ad ^ on to t ho8e al '' ( ' ad >' " oted -
J Fre ® 1,ubIlc «"'Pjoyment Renews
and , effect,ve relation of private
employment agencles: labor eam P
samtation and better housing laws;
better sanitary conditions in fac
tories, foundries, bakeries and other
workshops; preference for citizens
on public works; requiring the pay
ment of the prevailing rate of wages
on all public works; compelling truth
ful advertising during strikes and
lockouts; legal protection for the
union label; the semi-monthly pay
day; greater educational opportunity
for the workers, such as university
extension, vocational education, part
time schools, free textbooks; and,
last but not least, the effective ex
clusion of Oriental labor."
Scharrenberg's addres
series on current
Mr.
was
the last one in
labor problems given every Sunday
for ten weeks under the sponsorship
of the National Advisory Committee
on Radio in Education, with the co
operation of the Workers' Education
Bureau of America, the American
Federation of Labor, and the Uni
versity of Chicago Press, which pub
lishes the lectures in pamphlet form.
The addresses were broadcast over
the network of the Columbia Broad
casting System.
The first address in this series was
given on Labor Sunday, Sept. 4, by
Frank Morrison, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor, who
discussed the open and closed shop.
GARNER WAITS FOR MIRACLE.
WASHINGTON— (F. P.)—Speaker
Garner, who will be Vice President
Garner after March 4, returned to
the capital Nov. 21 with the announce
ment to the press, that "We have
plenty of tax legislation already; what
is wrong is that business is flat on
its back."
He had no suggestion as to how
business would be restored to an up
right position. He was doubtful as to
the efficacy of a beer tax as a life
saver for the Treasury.
TIMELY AND
UNTIMELY
OBSERVATIONS
[Contll
Page One]
ie<1 fro
Second quarter: Landlords rob
tenants.
Third quarter: Money lenders rob
landlords.
Fourth luarter: Taxes rob money
lenders.
FINISH!
The essential difference between
granting and not granting a mora
torium to our European debtors is,
if we grant them we won't get paid,
and if we don't, they won't pay us.
IT'S VERY SIMI'LE
Come to think about it, the task
before Mr. Roosevelt isn't nearly as
tough as some people imagine.
I he's got to do to keep things pleasant
is to—
All
Raise a few billions more rev
enue without hurting anybody's
feelings;
Reduce the tariff to help the
farmers;
Raise import duties in behalf of
industry ;
Find work for twelve million
unemployed, and pay them with
money he ean'l get from the folks
who have got it;
Explain to the American people
why they must pay what Europe
ves them;
Satisfy some twenty million hun
gry devils with the assurance that
they arc only starving because
there is too much to eat;
And refuse (he bonus to four
million veterans who voted for him
because Hoover turned them down.
Oh, well, the Presidency is the
greatest honor within the gift of a
sovereign people, but if my friends
and admirers don't mind, I'd rather
have them put a wild-cat in my
Christmas stocking. One can shoot
a wild-cat.
No offense meant, but please ex
plain which is the craziest—suffer
I ing from lack of food on account of
I crop failures as they do v in Russia,
or going hungry by the millions on
account of bumper crops as in the
U. S. A.?
A BUSINESS DICTIONARY.
In order to fill a crying need, I am
herewith presenting a number of new
definitions of popular business terms
to take the place of the obsolete
junk found in Webster's dictionary.
Bank—A cold storage house for
frozen assets.
Banker—A dispenser of chills, cold
shoulders, and frozen mitts.
Bonds—First claim to what is left
after the receiver got his.
Business—See "Memory."
Profit—The margin between cost
and selling price that vanished when
the sheriff turned sales manager.
Investments—Money in holes from
which the bottom dropped out.
Interest—A pardonable curiosity to
learn what became of the principal.
Millionaire—A person owing $100,
000 or over.
Railroad—Two or more streaks of
rust connecting a number of rusty
sidetracks for the accommodation of
dead engines and decaying box-cars.
Profession—Calling of educated
person wishing he could exchange
degree for card in Hod-carriers'
Union.
Hod-carrier—Gentleman of leisure.
Savings—What one would still
have in the bank if the bank was
still there.
Home—A place to owe rent on.
Home Owner—A person of either
sex worrying whether it is cheaper
to move than pay taxes, who is
usually evicted because he can't af
ford either.
Farm—A given area of agricul
tural land surrounded by creditors
and covered by mortgages, on which
a family of seven is trying to sup
port a second-hand ear with empty
gasoline tank.
Landlord—A tired business man or
retired farmer who can't buy tires
by reason of having a farm living
off him.
Also, the guy who can't
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APPRECIATION
I
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I wish to extend through the Mon
tana Labor News my sincere thanks
for the expression of loyalty and con
fidence extended to me by the voters
of Silver Bow county.
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LARRY WEIR.
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Anti-Hoover Landslide
May Mean Protection
For Hunger Marchers
WASHINGTON— (F. P.)—Worried
by rumors that General Glassford
may be restored to his old com
mand of the metropolitan police
force when Roosevelt comes into
the White House, the tone of hia
successor, Major Brown, has sud
denly grown less threatening toward
the coming hunger marchers since
the election returns came in.
Herbert Benjamin, who directed
the national hunger march of 1,800
Communists and sympathizers which
conducted its orderly and impressive
demonstration in the capital Dec. 7
last, arrived in the city Nov. 10 to
find that the attitude of the police
was leas autocratic than it had been
a few days earlier.
True, Judge Hitty, in police court,
had just sentenced 13 men and wom
en arrested at the capitol on Nov. 7
for attempting to picket the Supreme
Court in connection with the Scotts
boro case. He had ordered that
they spend 60 days in jail and pay
fines of $100 each, for parading
without a permit. Six were also
charged with assaulting the police.
But their offense was considered far
more serious, since it challenged the
sanctity of the Supreme Court, than
would have been the mere picketing
of Congress.
Lem Harris, spokesman for the
Farmers' National Relief Conference,
which is sending 500 destitute farm
ers to Washington on Dee. 5 to pe
tition Congress for relief from hun
ger, foreclosures and evictions, was
told by Brown that his group would
be permitted to enter the city if they
did not try to parade in, Harris
promised that the farmers would
bring their own food, and would
leave town within a few days. On
July 29 last, during the "cleaning
up" of the bonus army, the District
commissioners ordered that no or
ganized group bent on "violation of
law and police regulations" should
be permitted to enter the District.
This order is now to be abandoned
in fact, since it was designed to for
bid any radical group from exercis
ing its right to present a mass pe
tition to Congress or to the White
House.
Press correspondents are beginning
to write of the coming farmer in
vasion and the Communist hunger
march, and to predict that many
thousands of the unemployed will
converge on Washington this winter
unless Congress promptly votes a
big additional appropriation for hun
ger relief. The tremendous anti-Hoo
ver vote in all centers of unemploy
ment is interpreted as merely the
first symptom of growing despera
tion among millions of jobless wage
earners who see no hope in a policy
of waiting for something fortunate
to happen.
DRIVE AGAINST RECOGNITION
WASHINGTON— (F. P.)—Appeal
ing to President-elect Roosevelt to
consult Father Edmund Walsh, S. J.,
and Matthew Woll and Representative
Ham. Fish, among other anti-radicals,
before making up his mind to recog
nition of the Soviet Union, the Ameri
can Alliance began Nov. 25 a publicity
drive to stop the alleged plan of
Roosevelt to dispose of the recogni
tion issue.
pay the taxes on the empty flat over
there.
Competition—Two or more parties
trying to escape bankruptcy by bank
rupting each other.
Socialism—A dream.
Capitalism—A nightmare.
Individualism—A conglomeration of
human suspects animated by mutual
dislike and conflicting interests, go
ing to hell with the slogan, "Let
well enough alone."
The outstanding lesson of the last
campaign is, you can fool all the
people some of the time, and some of
the people all the time, but you can
always fool a majority.
Cheer up!
We're on the upgrade
and right over the hill is the poor
house.