The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1910-01-14

In their places were men who had
secured their nomination and election
because of the belief in their integrity
and ability to fill the position with
credit to themselves and in accordance
with the wishes of their constituents
That some failed in both is no doubt
true. OF others the most charitable
thing to be said is that they were often
times wrong because they believed
that partyism and capitalism were their
constituents instead of those who had
elected them.
Two chief issues predominated
throughout the session.
First, local option commanded the at
tention of all members from the first
stages of organization to the day Of
its final disposition. The intense feel
ing engendcred during its consideration
tended to alien the opposing forces UNI
til many other measures met with sue
cess or defeat accordingly as their ad-
vocates belonged to the wet or dry fac
ton.
Your representative took no part in
the discussion of this issue and refused
repeatedly to be drawn into it although
many propositions Of assistance for our
cause were made conditional upon our
participation in the fight.
As individuals, as representatives of
crafts directly interested in the manu-
facture and sale of liquors, and in one
instance as a section of a central body
trades unionists participated in the bat
tie as they saw fit. The question is far
from solution and future sessions may
witness more bitter. struggles than the
past but the policy of the federation
under its system OF organization must
of necessity be neutral.
The second issue which prompted and
influenced some grossly unjust legisla-
ton was that of partyism The ma
iority of the dominant party of our
state. although so overwhelmingly vic
torious in its recent campaigns, fears
the fate which it realizes must come
soon or later to all organizations fost-
cred by corporate greed. The desire
to delay this fate, together viii dis
position to reward the party financiers
is accountable for two of the most
brazen acts committed by the legisla
ture of our state in many years.
Supreme Court.
The campaign preceding the 1908
election had witnessed the exposure of
corruption in our supreme court and
had resulted prior to the converting of
the legislature in the resignation of
Judge Root. Judge Goss was selected
to fill the vacancy. Corporate inter-
ests. with Goss and Chadwick on the
bench at once foresaw the possibility
of a majority of the court becoming
friendly to the interests of the people
and concluded that a larger court was
necessary. The possibility of friend
of some legislator who was doubtful
but needed, being appointed to a SUI
preme judgship induced to vote for a
measure which added two more Judges
to an already too large court. The lot
of appointing fell to Acting Governor
Hay. and Morris of King county, and
Parker of Pierce county, were selected
thus insuring in the belief OF all who
had followed the previous careers OF
these gentlemen, the stability of the
court in the interests OF corporate
greed
Fully realizing that the action was
so brazen as to draw the fire of the
common people and again forseeing the
possibility OF these appointees and
pire in January, 1911, meeting with
defeat under the direct primary system,
the legislature then proceeded to an
null the direct primary law by declaring
that the people should not have voice
in the nominations of supreme court
Judges and that they should be nomi-
mated by party conventions. You all
know who manipulated party conven.
tions in the past and there is no pos
sibility OF doubt as to who viii con-
troll the nominations of our five Ia
ma iority) supreme court judges in
1910. Right here permit me to express
the belief that there are but few mem
WHO, realizing that particular interests
will control the selection of their sue
cessors in office, would not cater to the
welfare of those interests, and that
none of those few occupy supreme court
iudgships in our state.
You may have been impressed with
the fact that, with the resignation of
Judge Root, our supreme court was,
after necessary fumigation again clean,
but you have but to follow the acts
of the special session of the legislature
through the house committee appointed
to investigate corruption, TO form an
entirely different opinion.
Did il ever occur TO you that this
tthe Halsayl committee was discharged
without being permitted 20 report Its
findings Whyf Is Il, possible that they
unearthed that which would verify pub.
lie nimor and further discredit an al
ready unpopular courts Had nothing
wrong been mearthed the COMMITTEES
would surely have reported and done