Newspaper Page Text
THE LABOR JOURNAL Mention the Journal to the merchant who solicits your patron age through these columns. Vol. XXII. We Give S. & H. Green Trading Stamps Wintry Suits and Overcoats The Season's Leading Products At Wonderful Price Cutting Every man and young man should benefit by the unusual values our great clearance sale prices offer. All styles are up to the minute and every garment hand tailored to the finest degree. All materials. BARGAINS IN HATS AND SHOES In Fact All Furnishings Excepting a Very Few Contract Lines (SPECIAL PRICES ON LADIES' SHOES) The Brodeck Co. Everett's Greatest Boys' Store—Second Floor January Clearance Sale Brings Forth Smaller Prices on All Warm Bedding WARM WOOL BLANKETS REGULAR $6.50 VALUES TO GO FOR Full size, excellent quality, Wool Blankets. Come in *k a f\ e\ white, plain colors and plaid combinations, colored V m QU borders, well bound ends. Seli everywhere for $6.50. 0 1 "UU January Clearance Sale $7.00 Wool Blankets in the Janu ary Clearance Sale at $5.50 Extra size Cotton Blankets, Jan uary Clearance Sale $1.25 $2.50 COMFORTS TO GO FOR Extra large Comforts, light or medium patterns, clean A | ft fl white cotton filled, tied or stitched. Worth $2.50. Janu- VI 1111 ary Clearance Sale V I ivU ALL FURS GO AT HALF PRICE $16.50 Furs for $8.25 $18.00 Furs for $9.00 $5.00 Furs for $2.50 W. H. CLEAVER s»^y«v£s BOTH PHONES 217 HEWITT AND ROCKEFELLER Successor to Dolson & Cleaver A Personal Matter The question of finances is a matter of vital interest to everyone. Your income may be administered with the greatest satis faction and conservatism when deposited in a strong bank like the THE BANK OF COMMERCE CALL FOR THE HAFERKORN SEAL S3UDAN SECOND Union Made by Haferkorn Cigar Go. Riley-Cooley Shoe Co. FULL LINE OF UNION MADE SHOES Both Phones 768 1712 Hewitt 1701-3 HEWITT AVENUE Extra heavy Wool Nap Blankets, January Clearance 5a1e...52.98 1-4 size heavy Cotton Blankets, January Clearance Sale 89c $8.50 Furs for $4.25 $6.50 Furs for $3.25 $2.50 Furs for. $1.25 arid 5c Cigars THE THE LABOR JOURNAL THE Of FICIAL PAPER OF THE EVERETT TRADES COUNCIL Devoted to the Interest INDUSTRIAL UNIONISM IN ENGLAND NEARLY A CENTURY AGO By Robert Hunter. (Courtesy of The National Socialist.) Jules Guesde, at the Congress of the Socialist party of France, held at Lille, said( in-condemning the General Strike: "Before taking a stand on the General Strike, it is necessary to know what this term signifies. The General Strike is, in fact, originally the weapon of the employer." He then showed that the English employers, by means of the lockout, forced what amounted to the General Strike, and by this action impoverished the work ers and destroyed the unions. Guesde is not altogether accurate. It was a General Strike that led to the lockout. The lockout was the answer of the employer to what was perhaps the greatest effort in history to para lyze industry by means of "one big union" and a General Strike. The one big union of which we hear so much today existed in England in the early thirties. Several unsuccess ful efforts were made to form a "Gen eral Union of the Productive Classes," and at last Bobert Owen, toward the end of 1833, outlined his great plan. "It is intended," he said, "that na tional arrangements shall be formed to include all working classes in the great organization, and that each de partment shall become acquainted With what is going on in other de-\ partments; that all individual compe tition is to cease; that all manufac turers are to be carried on by national companies. All trades shall first form associations of lodges, to con sist of a convenient number for carry ing on the business All individuals of the specific craft shall become members. "Immediately after this, we find in existence," say Sidney and Beatrice Webb, "a 'Grand National Consoli dated Trades Union'!" This organiz ation seems to have already actually started in January, 1834. Owen was its chief recruiter and propagandist. During the next few months his activi ty was incessant, and lodges were af filiated all over the country. Innum erable local trade clubs were ab sorbed. Early in February, 1834, a special delegate meeting was held at Owen's London Institute in Charlotte Street, Fitroy Square, at which it was resolved that the new body should take the form of a federation or separate trade lodges, each lodge to be composed usually of members of one trade, but with provision for "miscellaneous lodges" in places where the numbers were small, and even for "female miscellaneous lod ges." Each lodge retained its own funds, levies being made throughout the whole order for strike purposes. The conference urged each lodge to provide sick, funeral, and superan nuation benefits for its members, and proposals were adopted to lease land on which to employ "turn-outs," and to set up co-operative workshops. . ~ "Nothing in the annals of unionism in this country at all approached the rapidity of the growth which ensued. Within a few weeks the union appears to have been joined by at least half a million members, including tens of thousands of farm laborers and wo men. This must have been in great measure due to the fact that, as no discoverable regular contribution was exacted for central expenses, the af filiation or absorption of existing or ganizations was very easy: Still, the exteution of new lodges in previously unorganized trades and districts was enormous. ... A positive mania for trade unionism set in. In Decem ber, 1833, we are told that 'scarcely a branch of trade exists in the West of Scotland that is not now in a state of union.' The Times reports that two delegates who went to Hull enrolled in one evening a thousand men of var ious trades. . . . Shop assistants on the one hand, and journeyman chimney-sweeps on the other, were swept into the vortex. The cabinet makers of Belfast insisted on joining 'the Trades Union, or Friendly Soci ety, which had for its object the unity of all cabinet makers in the three kindoms.' We hear of 'Ploughmen's Unions' as far as Perthshire, and of a 'Shearman's Union' at Dundee. And the then rural character of the Metro politan suburbs is quaintly brought home to us by the announcement of a union of the "agricultural and other laborers' of Kensington, Walham Green, Fulham, and Hammersmith Nor were the women neglected. The 'Grand Lodge of Operative Bonnet Makers' vies In activity with the mis cellaneous 'Grand Lodge of the Wo men of Great Britain and Ireland'; and the 'Lodge of Female Tailors' asks Indignantly whether the 'Tailors' Order' is really going to prohibit wo men from making waistcoats." (His tory of Trade Unionism. Webb pp. 119-122.) Under Owen's teaching the Trade Unionist came to believe that it was possible by a universal non-political organization of wage earners to raise wages and shorten the hours "to an I extent, which at no distant time would EVERETT, WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1913. give them the whole proceeds of their labor. "Under the system pro posed by Owen the instruments of production were to become property, not of the whole community, but of the particular set of workers who used them. The Trade Unions were to be transformed into 'National com panies' to carry on all the manufac tures. The Agricultural Union was to take possession of the land, the min ers' Union of the mines, the Textile Unions of the factories. Each trade was to be carried on by its particular Trade Union, centralized In one 'Grand Lodge.'" (History of Trade Unionism, Webb, p. 144.) In the opinion of Owen, tho new Moral World would be established in six months. The change from the cap italist system to a complete organiza tion of industry, under voluntary as sociations of producers, was to come suddenly upon society, like a thief in the night. "One year," declared a disciple of Owen, "may disorganize the whole fabric of the world, and transfer by a sudden spring the whole political government of the country from the master to the servant." In this early pre-Marxian attempt to form one big Industrial Union, we find I every idea of the Revolutionary Unionist of today. The latter have I not contributed a single new thought or doctrine that was not part of the philosophy of this early Utopian So cialism. Low dues, organization by industry, the gathering together of all workmen in one big general union, the injury of one is the concern of all, the decentralization of power, the General Strike, the entire reorganization of the world in the interest of the workers, and the conduct of all industry by in dustrial unions—every idea of modern syndicalism was embraced in the movement led by Robert Owen. It spread like a conflagration throughout England. It flared up in a manner that brought terror to the ruling classes; and, after a blinding flash of light, it was smothered out and trampled into the dust by two simple weapons of the employing class—the lockout and the courts. The employers organized their op position, and every man connected with the new movement was locked out and every leader was black-listed. Instantly the new union was over whejmed with the demands for aid from its impoverished members. The General Strike was converted into a lockout, and the lockout into a com plete rout of the enormous masses of utterly helpless and impoverished Trade Unionists. The leaders were arrested, tried and convicted. Some of them were sentenced to seven years transportation. Enormous subscrip tions were raised by the General Union; stupendous petitions were cir culated. Boycotts, strikes, and riots were resorted to, but "by the end of the summer," says Sidney and Bea trice Webb, "it was obvious that the ambitious projects of the Grand Na tional Consolidated and other 'Trade Unions' had ended in invariable and complete failure. In spite of the ris ing prosperity of trade, the strikes for better conditions of labor had been uniformly unsuccessful. In July, 1834, the federal organizations all over the country were breaking up. The great association of half a million members had been completely routed. . . Of the actual dissolution of the organiza tion we have no contemporary record, but the impression which it has made on the sober Trade Unionists may be gathered from the following descip tion, which appeared in a working class journal seven years afterwards: 'We were present,' says the editor of the Trades Journal, 'at many of the meetings of the Grand National Con solidated Trades' Union, and have a distinct recollection of the excite ment that prevailed in them —of the apparent determination to carry out its principles in opposition to every obstacle —of the enthusiasm exhibited by some of the speakers—of the noisy approbation of the meeting—the loud cries of "hear, hear," "bravo!" 'hur rah!" "union forever!" etc. It was the opinion of many at that time that little real benefit would be effected by this union, as their proceedings were indicative, not of calm and dis passionate investigation of the causes of existing evils, but of an over-ex cited state of mind, which would speedly evaporate, and leave them in the same condition as before. The event proved that this opinion was not ill-founded. A little mole hill obstruc ted their onward progress, and rather than commence the labor of reniov- I ing so puny an obstacle, they chose to turn back, each taking his own path, regardless of the safety or the inter ests of his neighbor. It was painful to see the deep mortification of the generals and leaders of this quickly inflated army, when left deaerted and alone upon the field.'" (History of Trade Unloniam, Webb, pp. 187-138 ) I The bartenders' union will meet in vary 12, at 2 o'clock. Permanent offl bartender should be present. of Organized Labor GOOD CARD FOR TONIGHT The program tor the benefit smoker to be given by the Everett Trades! Council in Fraternal hall tonight has 1 , taken definite shape and promises to i be a hummer. The committee has been working hard on this affair and - has arranged a card of events that will stir the blood of the sport-loving contingent. Each event will be purely an exhibition of skill with no rough ness or brutality. Between the athletic events vaude ville stunts from the ltose theater will be pulled off through the courtesy of -Manager St. Peter. The Y. M. C. A. has promised two athletic exhibitions as preliminaries and Frank Wagner has promised to see that there will be music. The boys who will go on are fast and clever and the contests while clean in every way, will be spirited. Each bout will be a limited one (save one wrestling event, which will be best two out of three), and there will be no knockouts. Athletic exhibition turns by Y. M. C. A. athletes. Wrestling exhibition—Paul Holcomb of Snohomish versus Vie Lipp of Se attle. Finish wrestling match, best two out of three falls—L. A. Davis of Ev erett versus Knute Crandell, also of Everett; 135 pounds. Boxing exhibition —Ed. Thompson of Everett versus Biug Snow of Snohom ish; 175 pounds. Boxing exhibition—Mike Stanke of Everett versus Billy Murphy, also of Everett; 15ti pounds. The price of admission will be $1, and every seat will give a good view of the stage. As previously announced, the proceeds will be used in defray ing expenses of delegates to the State Federation convention whose unions are financially unable to bear the ex pense. Program commences at 8:15 p. m. sharp. STRIKE ON STONE-WEBSTER SYSTEM. A general strike of all electrical workers employed by the Stone-Web ster interests in the Northwest, in cluding Seattle, Tacoma, Everett and Bellingham, was called Wednesday. All union men have already walked out, and many non-union men are ex pected to join in the strike. The right of the men to organize is the chief issue between the strikers and the company. A uniform wage scale in all these cities is another de mand. Negotiations between the union men and the company officials have been going on for two years, the only con cession to the workers in that period being the right to organize one-half of the linemen. The other electrical workers, such as station operators, station wiremen, lamp trimmers and cable splicers, were permitted no or ganization whatever. "The strike was called as a last re sort," said John Morgauthaler, vice president of the Pacific District Coun cil of the Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, "rather than submit to the relinquishment of labor's inalienable right to organize." With fifty union linemen out on strike today, the Stone-Webster con cern in Seattle, Tacoma, Bellingham and Everett is without a single union laborer of any kind in any department of their gigantic enterprises. The electrical workers will make a systematic campaign in Seattle and Tacoma to promote the business of the municipal light and power plants. An appeal will be made to all or ganized labor in particular to patron ize the municipal plants. In all departmhents of electrical work, the Stone-Webster interests in the Northwest employ about 300 men. "Our negotiations with the com pany," said Morganthaler this morn ing, "have extended over a period of two and a half years and culminated on the afternoon of January 6, when with commiteemen from each local union and a representative from our general office, I waited upon the of ficials of the company, and we were told no changes would be made." While Seattle linemen have been paid a wage scale of $4.40, those In Everett and Bellingham were paid as low aa $3.60, and other electrical workers were compelled to work for as low as $25 a mouth. SINGLE TAX DEBATE On Sunday eveuing at 8 o'clock, January 12, a debate on the remedy for economic injustice will occur at Liberty hall. Phil G. Warnock of the county clerk's office will present "Single Tax" as the remedy and Joseph T. Hazard, editor of the Commonwealth, will present "Socialism." The entire debate will be a con structive comparison, devoid of per sonalities and will undoubtedly be In teresting to all who are Inclined to progreasive thought. ORGANIZATION OF LUMBER INDUSTRY AID TO ALL WORKERS 11. The lumber industry is the predom inating industry in Washington, Ore | gon, British Columbia, Northern Cali fornia, Northern Idaho and Western Montana. Not less than k50,000 work ers are employed in the forests and mills in this territory, which practic ally embraces all of what is known as the Pacific Northwest. The organized forces of labor in this same district total about 50,000. In other words, the organization of the (luarter of a million toilers would mul tiply the number of organized men by six AND THE POWER OF LABOR WOULD BE MULTIPLIED ALMOST BEYOND CALCULATION. Take the Grays Harbor district as an example. Less than 2,000 men are at present organized. These are scat tered among dozens of small trades. Barbers, bartenders, cooks, waiters, cigarniakers, tailors, musicians, elec tricians, teamsters, clerks and a few hundred mechanics in the building trades constitute the bulk of the or ganized labor movement. None of these trades are engaged in the industries that form the very basis of Grays Harbor —LUMEBR and SHIPPING. The former—the lumber industry—with the exception of the shingle mills, is wholly unorganized. The workers engaged in shipping have in the sailors and longshoremen's unions some measure of power. There are about 8,000 workers iv the lumber industry iv the district em bracing what is known as Grays Har bor. Their entire organized strength is contained in about 150 members of the shingle weavers' union. Let us look into the future for a few brief moments and see what might happen were these 8,000 producers of lumber organized for mutual protec tion and affiliated with the rest of the organized toilers of Grays Harbor. There would be no more skinning employment sharks to fatten off the hard-earned dollars of the loggers and mill workers. The members of the union would see to it that the bosses would go to the union headquarters for their employes. The hospital graft would be abol ished. The workers could, if they so desired, follow the example of the or ganized coal miners in most commun ities and organize their own hospital associations, erect their own hospitals and take care of the sick and disabled among their members and their fam ilies. The time-stealing system that is used in so many places would not be tolerated by a group of organzed workmen. Unorganized they must submit, being powerless individually. There would be no more such out rages as the Cosmopolis messhouse. Men would eat where they please and would refuse to accept whatever might be placed before them in the form of food. Nor would there be any more vic tims of the vicious company store sys tem. In Cosmopolis and other places today the workers are the slaves of the company, whether they work, eat, sleep or anything else. A good union would enable them to be free men when away from their jobs at least. The length of the workday would not be wholly determined by the boss as it is today. A maximum of work ing hours would be set and adhered to. If found necessary to exceed this limit overtime pay would be exacted. In many mills at present men are working one and a quarter time, or 12 1-2 hours per day and no more is paid per hour for the overtime than for regular time. There would be a uniformity of wages paid. The men would no longer Benefit Smoker Given by Everett Trades Council FRIDAY, JAN. 10 Fraternal Hall Wrestling Boxing Vaudeville VAUDEVILLE ACTS FROM THE ROSE THEATER ATHLETIC EXHIBITION BY Y. M. C. A. ATHLETES BOXING AND WRESTLING BOUTS WAGNER'S MUSIC Admission $1. Performance begins at 8:15 Sharp. THE LABOR JOURNAL Ii the official organ of the Trades Council, and is read by the labor ing men and women of Everett |be compelled to he victims of un scrupulous employers, some of whom pay much less than others. And wher ever wages were considered inbuffi cient the men who receive the wages would have something to say about determining them. At present, not acting together, they are powerless. These are but a few of the advan tages that would come directly to the men in the lumber industry. The added power that would come to the other branches of organized labor staggers the imagination of the aver age member, who lias become accus tomed to plod along slowly without making any material progress and without the consciousness of power that should be and is felt by members of a well-organized body. Imagine if the cooks and waiters should demand a ten-hour day instead of twelve hours as at present? That would be reasonable enough. An eight-hour day would be more than sufficiently long. Or suppose they should decide to take a day off a week like other civilized human be ings? Should the restaurant proprie tors he a little reluctant about grant ing the demands it would be an easy matter to secure a written statement from each of the lumber workers' local unions, pledging their support. Do you think the owners would be likely to risk losing the patronage to grant the demands? If he did he would probably not do it more than once. The same would hold true in the other trades. Bartenders, barbers, clerks and all the rest of them would feel the backing of the powerful or ganizations of the lumber workers. The power of the organized build ing trades would be multiplied mani fold. No construction can be carried on without lumber. Whenever the building trades or any portion of them would have a grievance against a building contractor it would need but a note from the lumber workers' locals, pledging their suport to the aggrieved fellow workers. A contrac tor would not hesitate long if he knew what the support of the lumber work ers meant. Or if he tasted the power of these hitherto scorned workers once he would probably not do it again. The fact is that the organization of the timber workers would be the most powerful single factor in the economic life of the Pacific Northwest, barring none. With power would come self respect. Power and self-respect on the part of these hundreds of thou sands of toilers would compel the re spect of all others, including that of the employers. For, after all, nothing is respected as much as POWER. Co-operating with the rest of the labor movement the lumber workers would strengthen organized labor to such an extent that the feeling of tim idity which now generally prevails In many labor unions would cease to exist. The organization of the lumber workers would also tend to encourage the organization of thousands of other unorganized members of the army of labor. Railroad construction workers, harvest hands, city laborers and many others of the so-called migratory workers, so numerous in the West, would soon follow the example set them by the men in the lumber in dustry. One of the most important phases of the proposed organization is the possibility which lies in guiding the hundreds of thousands of immigrants that are certain to land on this coast as soon as the Panama canal is ready for passage. This subject will be handled in next week's article. NO. 48.