The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-12-01
SPOKANE unions D / /! D IN. ARE.
":sT|[G.VERY ACTIVE
Several Labor Mon Have Been
Elected to Washington State
Legislature. j.
Legislation Of: Great Importance
10 Labor to be Taken Up
In Idaho.

To Labor to be Taken Up
In Idaho.
SPOKANE, WASH, NOV. o.
LABOR Is not SO we'll represented in
Inc next house Of Representatives as
II was expected 1T would be, but on
the whole there. is~ a fair representa-
tlon' the members of which will not
lose any opportunities for favorable
legislation to their cause. The labor
brigade is made up of Jesse Huxtahlo
of Spokane, railroad conductor: Jes-
Sc Jones of Tacoma, Northen Paciri.
car shops; Nicholas Klovberg of Ia
coma, stationary engineer; Edward
Tonkin of Black Diamond, miner and
George H. Armstrong Arlington, tele-
erapher There are IS lawyers, 12
merchants and large number of
lumbermen, and real estate dealers.
while the banks, hotels and newspap-
ers have small representations. There
Is not an educationalist in either
house.
Ihere is much important business
before the new legislature, estimates
already In the hands Of the governor
and state auditor indicate the largest
appropriations in the history of the
state, which has more than $1,000, 900
in the treasury. The state leyies four
Kinds Of general takes; school. gener-
a. military and state road, the total
called for in 1906 being $2,s63,l32, and
1t Is expected :. to- appropriate about
$4,5oo,o00, but it will proba IDLY be ac-
complished without increasing the pre-
sent tax levy very much.
There is considerable talk of divid-
Ing the state OF Washington, and this
Is favored on the east side, where the
manufacturers, dealers and. consum-
ers are getting the worst of the ar
gument In the matter Of freight rates.
Another thing Is the coast and puget
sound cities have arranged them
selves with the railroads, against the
inland Cities and towns to defeat the
plan of the. people of Spokane in Sc
curing equitable rates from the trans.
continental lines Another plan. which
seems to find favor with many is the
creation of new state in eastern
Washington, northeastern Oregon and
the Panhandle of Idaho. Either plan
Will be to the benefit of the worknen
from the fact that they will not be
forced to pay tribute to the railroads
In the way of exorhitant and <discrin-
!: lnatory rates, on the necessities and
luxuries of life.= ii 5j.js, 81. =: v'.'
Station fat itrsacling import
4: M slsosI Ies. 8 Ken Yg . shs ldaho
nafy Chief lan,an fhas lana n,,af-
;ters is q law providing an s j hour day
for employees In under -ground mines,
while another is the direct primary
law. 1t is certain that measure pro-
viding for primary election law, but
but there appears to be difference
Of opinion as to what extent the idea
should be carried into effect. The Or
egon law, providing that the candi
dates for United States Senator re-
ceiving the largest number of votes
shall be elected by the legislature is
favored by some, but the hitch will
come in the election of United States
Senators. Since the republican plat
form declares for an employers liza
bility law, and it is generally believed
!. 1t will be enacted. A measure with
provisions. similar to the law enacted
by the federal congress will be intro
duced. Its chief feature will be a pro-
vision which will render corporations
and employees responsible for the acts
OF employers, SO far as injury to other
employees is concerned, and the abon-
donment of the so-called fellow SER
want law"
E. A. Cooney, organizer for the
American Federation of Labor has
under considerations petition to form
union Of laundrywagon drivers in
Spokane. He has received sanction
from the International association.
This is the result Of arbitrary action Of
the Laundrymen's association maxi
ing a rule, that the drivers who quit
working for one laundry without CIV
ing his employer 80 days notice of the.
fact that he intended to quit should
not be employed by any member of the
association for "a period of 80 days
thereafter. There was formerly
laundry, wagon drivers union in Spo-
kane, but a number of the members
dropping out on the alleged ground
that it had fallen into the control of
the employers.
0pOAdA0 "a dlACN VI AAAc AAISAAAdIAOA-
al Brotherhood of Steam Shovel &
Dredge Men was organized by L.. J.
Dolan of Chicago, general secretary
of the organization, so members being
admitted. WILLIAM Henry was elected
president and J. L. Humphrey secre-
tary. Mr.. Dolan will go to Puget
Sound and coast cities to organize
branches.
Cement workers of Spokane have re-
organized their union with Peter
Mootz president and Anton Hoff secre-
tary. Louis Shears who, was appoint
ed organizer for the northwest ex-
poets to- form locals in various parts
of washington, Oregon and Idaho
The cement workers are affiliated with
the American Federation Of Labor and
the International :. Building Trades
council. The delegates have been re-
cognized by the Central Labor. union.
M. Shears says that concrete and ce-
ment are being; used. so extensively as
building material, 1t. will only be a
short time before many thousands OF
men will be engaged In construction