The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-07-29

1t becomes our painful duty some
times to criticise insteadof praise. We
wish we could always put forth the
happy side of unionism and tell only Of
the good things that organized labor
does but it is not always possible nor
best. Sometimes a soothing power is
efficient remedy and sometimes lance
is needed. The meeting of last Sunday
afternoon in the Labor Temple, which
was addressed 10y Mr. Kaufman, is the
subject OF these few remarks This
meeting was supposed to be under the
auspices Of theTrades Council. Mr.,
Kaufman had expressed his desire to
meet the members of the Council and
the matter was taken up at regular
meeting and date set. 1t is true that
the purpose OF the meeting was to dis
cuss proposed political action but this
was not foreign to the Council. Mr..
Kauffman's ideas had been approved by
the Walla Walla convention of the
State Federation of Labor and President
Case instructed by that body to appoint
committee to cooperate with a SINH
lar committee from the farmers organi-
cation in preliminary work of the
league. The Trades Council being an
integral part of the Federation they
owed it to the parent body to at least
acquaint its members with the aims and
objects of this organization. Common
courtesy demanded that even though the
Council after investigat igation looked
unfavorably upon the plan. This meet
ing was thoroughly advertised in the
Journal and in the regular session of thu
Council and yet the humiliating fact is
that not an officer of the Council was
present at this meeting and very few
delegates Had it not been for the fact
that the printers were in session and
generously donated their attendance"
for an audience there would have been
a very small audience. A few members
of other locals and two or three visitors
from the direct observation-disclosures, made
up the balance 1t is probable that
the majority of the delegates forgot
about the meeting or perhaps had made
other arrangements for the day, each
one thinking that his neighbor would
be there so he would not be missed.
Our forgetfulness or neglect is very cost
~ sometimes however. The enemies
of organized labor and those who live
by exploiting their fellow men do not
have those lapses of memory. They
are always on the job and they count on
the apathy OF the majority of the peo-
pie That is the secret of their sue
cess. 1t is sad but true that We be
come very much enthused in the heat of
political campaign over the political
wrongs heaped upon us and after the
election is over we 60 back to our quiet
sleep, politically, until another election
rolls around. Labor should no more
sleep on the political field than on the
industrial. Eternal vigilance is the
price of safety" We regret having to
write this editorial. We would far
rather praise than scold. Labor must
be brought to realize however that if
conditions are to be bettered we must
be continually on the firing line. The
enemies of good government never rest,
neither can we if we hope to realize our
ambitions for better things. The bat
tie is never overt is a succession OF
skirmishes and we emerge from one only
to enter another. Any movement to-
ward good government challenges your
investigation at least, and your support,
if after investigation you deem it wor
thy.