The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1910-01-28

business of the situation and we have
have discussed the situation from every
standpoint. We have taken no action
because we have seen the futility of
every plan yet devised to accomplish
the desired results by peaceful meas
ures. And the methods must be peace
able if they would have our sanction
and support. We will not countenance
resort to force or violence"
For a period of six years and over
japanese labor has been the whole
thing in Mukilteo. Nothing that men
could do has availed in changing the
situation Enter, the women. Will they
win? 1t will not be the first time in
the world that womens influence has
accomplished what mans efforts have
failed. The Seaview Improvement
Club has taken up the fight for a white
mans community and say there will be
no compromise or failure. It does one
good to talk with the leader of this
movement, the president of the club,
Mrs. S. j. Wetstein. This little wom-
an is human dynamo, radiating force
in every word, every gesture, every
flash of the eye. Her motto is, "In the
bright lexicon of success there is no
such word as failure" She knows the
herculean task she and her sisters have
taken up but she is confident of win
ming. Let her tell it in her own words:
"Why, we've got to win, that's all.
If the men have failed, it just means
we women have got to get into the
fight. Don't you know this condition
hits we women, the hardest Why,
those white men in the mill are in slav
cry and our husbands have got to en-
dure that slavery or they can't get
work here. And if our men can't get
work, we women have to go out and
get work. There isn't any ifs about
this proposition, we're just going to
win"
Again she said: "The people are
learning a whole lot about the moral
character of the japanese. We've just
had an example of it in Mukilteo and
do you think we women are going to
stand for this sort OF thing?"
Right there this little lady put her
finger on a vital spot that may jar
the whole federal government on the
subject of japanese immigration. If
the government follows out whole
heartedly its avowed intent of stamping
out the "white slave traffic." its in
vestigations are going to lead it into
the heart of this whole japanese ques-
tion.
Now, what are these women going to
do? Well, like good generals, they are
not telling all their plans, but this much
they have made public:
They are going to bring the pressure
of public sentiment to bear upon the
officials of the corporation. They are
circulating petitions through Seattle,
Bremerton, Ballard, Everett and Mukil-
teo, showing the sentiment of the peo-
pie of these cities on this Asiatic ques-
ton. And they are getting them signed
by all classes of citizens, business men,
professional men, working men. The
following is the text of the petition.
The Crown Lumber Company.
Gentlemen: - Undersigned property
owners and residents of ---------- re-
spectfully request that white men,
American citizens, be employed in your
mill and in your logging operations as
against Japs and Aliens
eve call your attention to the fact
that as rule, Japs are not taxpayers
and contribute nothing towards main
tanning our schools, our state, county
and municipal government, and are not
interested in maintaining the same; but,
on the contrary, their earnings are
either sent or taken abroad to be used
in maintaining their families and their
own form of government where they
were born.
"For these reasons, and others, we
urge that white men and American
citizens, with families, be employed as
far as may be possible by your COM
pany, in place of the Japs, for the rea-
son that it would be to the great good
and advantage of the business interests
of the community, to the county, state
and nation"
Mrs. Wetstein and Mrs. Birge, secre-
> tary of the club, are devoting theiI
time and strength just now to the work
of crystallizing public sentiment. Next
week they declare they will call pub
lie mass meeting of those interested in
a white mans town. Mrs. Wetstein
says it is reported that the manager
of the mill has threatened to fire any
employee that will sign the petition
This, she says, is but proof of her state
ment that they are in virtual slavery.
Their next stepH If they know, they
won't tell, but they are not the kind
of women who are going to quit if the
first skirmish goes against them. Nc
greater tribute to these women could
be paid than their own townspeople
when they say, eve don't know what
is to be done but if anybody can do
anything, they can"
Here's to your health, good women,
and your friends health, and may you