The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-11-26
MEN
in MONTANA

prior to ls9s; the American Labor
Union. launched at Salt Lake City in
May, 1898, and the Industrial Workers
of the World. At their 1906 convention
II split between the DaLeon- Troutman
faction and the sherman Western Fed
contamination. This caused a split in
the woodsmen organization in Montana,
and part of the locals went over to the
State Federation of Labor independent
of American Federation of Labor.
which, at that time, issued charters.
The Western Federation was dis
pleased at the State Federation, and
launched Il dual movement to State Fed
Grafton, called the Montana State
Union. The woodsmen and mill work
chs concluded that if the Western Fed
Grafton was behind the Montana State
Union perhaps they could unite the two
factions. W. W. and State Fedora
1i'It ltt'ti'lo NlIhtl INC DiilIti VI tic
State Union. President Shannon, of tine
State Union, led them to believe that
the Western Federation would issue
charters to the Lumber Workers locals,
and stand behind them in their troubles
They were doomed to disappointment
as history proves. The Lumber Work
ers' locals went over to the State
Union, and waited for charters and
finally went on strike for an increase
in the wage scale, and received no sup
port. They found they had been bun
coed again and We're left stranded upon
the rocks. The State Federation OF
Labor had. in the meantime taken a
charter from the American Federation
of Labor and under that utilization,
could not issue charters So the Lum-
Der Workers locals could not 90 back
to that organization. They found, how
ever, that there was an International
Brotherhood of Woodsmen and SawmilI
Workers, with headquarters at Eureka,
California, which they took charters
from After paving per capita tax for
a short time to THAT international they
found that the Montana locals We're pay
ing 90 per cent of tax. At once an in
dignation meeting was called. The name
they gave it was % inference AMI they
resolved to pay ore tax d dead
one" The fut A. was d. lssc' and
plans laid for a new I'M uai iual. T.
p. Wibun, who ual never worked a
day in the woods OF mills but who at
one time belonged to tn. painters. bat
subsequently had withdrawn from the
painters TO 90 as organizer for the l.
Il w. W. in the mills and camps, was
made chairman of this Indignation meet
ing, or conference. S. G. Chaffey, an
Electrical Workers, who had not worked
at the lumber industry for four years
was made secretary treasurer They
resolved to have n new international t,
be known as the United Federation o
Lumber Workers, and sent T. p vii
burn to Washington City to see Presi
dent Gompers. He went and when h,
came back, he told the members that
they We're sure to get an 4. F. of L
charter. \ convention was called. con
stitution adopted and officers elected
Wilburn was elected president and
Chaffey secretary treasurer. Printing
at a cost of more than $500 was order
ed. and an office established. Organi-
ger Roach was sent out TO Montana
about June LIST. 1909 He first saw Viii
burn ana Chaffev, after having been
with them more than a week, got them
TO send for more men in the other To-
Gals: urged thenr to pay back per capita
to Pape. secretary of the international
Brotherhood of Woodsmen and Sawmill
Workers. so as to be able to have
vote on international officers in July.
Brother Roach organized district
council for Montana SO as to put or
GAMERS in the field. They voted TO as
sess locals of Montana 10 cents per
capita for organizing purposes. Elected
Wilburn as president and organizer Of
district. and Chaffey as secretary treas
urer. Organizer Roach then left tor
Portland via Everett The district coun-
ell was formed on June G, and on June
IL. Wilbur and Chaffey induced the
Bonner local to submit a referendum
resolution to destroy the International
In the meantime officers were elected
for International Brotherhood Of Woods
men and Sawmill Workers, all of whom
resided in Montana, and an lnterna
tionaI convention was called for Everett.
Washington Wilburn and Chaffey
tried to have place of meeting OF Inter
national convention changed from Ev-
erett to Missoula, which failed. They
circulated the report that the officers
elect had agreed TO resign Immediately
following the Everett convention and
TO substitute the new international in.
stead OF the old, and to elect new Off
GERS. This report caused considerable
comment from some Of the locals who
had supported the present officers, and
when the Officers returned home and
made il known that they had not
agreed to resign. the Wilburn- Chaffey