The People's Voice

THE PEOPLE'S VOICE
CO-OPERATE OR DISINTEGRATE

The New Republic announces that the check off of ration cards for Montana residents shows that there are ninety thousand less people in the state than when the war began. Only about forty-five thousand departures can be traced to inductions in the Armed Services.

Why have the other forty-five thousand, ten per cent of our entire population, departed, never to return, unless, until the arrogant company overlords and their blind allies, the big cattle and sheep men, and their political tools, the Chambers of Commerce, professional gamblers, Keno pickpockets, and other promoters of vice, change their modus operandi in the Colonial set-up.

There are only about 2,500 miners working on ore in Butte. The ACM could use, and would probably employ, if available, above 8,000. Without writing a brief for the mining company, I say that when lower rents, lower prices for abundant better dairy products, and other staple foods are considered, actual wages are as high in Butte as on the coast. Fatal accidents seem no higher in the mines here than in the industrial plants there. The government wishes men to work in the strategic metals mines in preference to many other plants.

There is a west wide unpublicised boycott of laborers against the Anaconda company. It springs from hatred of that concern's 30 year policy. It is not organized. It is effective. This dislike pervades the mining fraternity in Arizona, Green Cananea, Nevada, as well as in this colony. This silent hatred exists with thousands of young folks born and raised here. The inertia of the company to co-operate with civic welfare minded people once living here has taken the form of active hostility to the good or happiness of Butte.

When I came here fifty years ago, Butte was a large as Spokane-not far behind Denver or Seattle. Today alternate vacancies exist on Broadway from Main to Wyoming streets; the $250,000.00 Thornton Hotel has, for 10 years, been a pigeon roost. A section 700 x 6,000 feet with residences, schools, churches, hospitals costing millions, has been undermined, against express contracts not to do so, and the outraged owners (because our juries dare not go against the company) accept just what the company lawyers arrogantly pass out as if it were charity.

There is one park for children, two and one-half miles from town, opened Thursdays in summer. This exists probably as a covenant resembling a legacy from the heirs of W. A. Clark.

For thirty years the company's program in Butte has not been "Rule or ruin": it has been "Rule and ruin."

By asserting title to the Missouri river; by manipulating the state government from governor down to janitor, so that for tax assessment the valuation is 50 million dollars less than for rate assessment; by opposing the Missouri Valley Authority; the twin of the Anaconda clearly shows that the policy toward Butte of the Anaconda is the policy toward the entire colony of the power company.

Twenty-five years ago there were many public spirited men of all classes in Butte-now there are none here outside of the labor unions that dare "speak up".

All students agreed that the consolidation of city and county government had caused growth and welfare in Denver, in San Francisco and elsewhere. The movement here was so strong the company did not oppose it openly. Of course, the company could have carried it through the election by only a word to its henchmen. But under consolidation some outside mining property would have paid city taxes.

The company, secretly opposed it.

Public gambling, by impoverished workers, impairs their freedom to contract, lowers their standard of living.

Just as alcoholic addicts hoped for prohibition, many victims of gambling would, as citizens, like its prohibition. For only two years in fifty since I came to Butte has public gambling ceased. That was during the first Duncan city administration. I was city attorney. I stopped it dead in its tracks in five days. The gamblers, many of whom were not my enemies, soon knew I meant business. It did not open until I left that office. But for that, among other reasons, such as chasing the militia out of Butte, I was subjected to much company insolence, and the company imported a packed judge from Lewistown to remove from office on phony charges, Duncan, and Driscoll, a sheriff who would not shoot workingmen.

Another good mayor, Hauswirth, was not blessed by the company.

Anaconda company chiseling is not confined to Silver Bow county. The fungus legislature in 1941 enacted, Ford signed, an act putting silicosis compensation on the Welfare fund, i.e., state-wide tax payers-not on the industry causing that frequent disease. The "self insurers", A.C.M., Montana Power, etc., pay none of the operating costs of the Workman's Compensation Board-that comes out of the pockets of the company's political allies, the cattle and sheep men, whether they buy Workman's Compensation from the board, or just pay taxes.

As the Scripture says, the Pestilence walks by night-in Lobby Bar in the Placer Hotel. The present price of power thwarts all small industries throughout Montana. There is constant secret hostility of the big companies to all efforts of individuals. This hatred flames against individuals initiative when it "co-operates".

Here 'the big fellows get silly allies in Chambers of Commerce. In 1936 the WPA had a well organized, efficient tannery going and self supporting in Butte. A professional tanner from Milwaukee had trained 110 men (with families) in the work. The WPA was willing to turn it over to the men if they would form a co-operative corporation. The men hired my associate and myself to legalize the society. This was done in 36 hours. All was ready to take over and go.

Members of Butte Chamber of Commerce quickly got in touch with our senior senator. Washington, willing to turn over to the men, Thursday, peremptorily refused on Saturday. The beautiful plant was junked to speculators, trained artisans set adrift.

This expert from Milwaukee estimated that the business would employ 1,000 co-operators in one year. As he put it, "Hides bring one dollar to the farmer in Montana, they are shipped to Milwaukee, where, for three dollars cost, they are sides of sole leather, and are sold back to the Montana farmer for $43.00."

These hopeful workers. cheated by the private business worshippers, had already developed a process for leather that would resist copper water.

By now they would probably have great army contracts for leather, and have a thousand men of families in their shoe making department, and they would not be competing with any other industry in this colony. The killing of this baby industry for Butte was by leading members of our Chamber of Com. merce. The men had already engaged for hire the shoe making machinery on low. long term rental payments.

Wool is shipped with natural grease and filth from all Montana points to New England. Ten carding plants in this colony would save much on freight and insure better prices. This machinery is cheap, but cheap power is essential. The sheep growers meet, attend Butte's celebrated gambling halls, and pass a resolution, written for them by Montana Power against the Missouri Valley Authority. Fortunately for them, the idle men, after demobilization, will force through the MVA. But it would have been more