The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1910-09-30
SPECIAL POLICE
OFFICER MAKES
MONKEY OF
HIMSELF

Case is dismissed,' declared Justice
Shelter Tuesday morning at the conclu-
sion of the trial of William Botting, u
striking machinist formerly employed
at the Sumner Iron Works, charged
with disorderly conduct.
Botting was a picket who had been
stationed at the Snohomish river bridge
to lay their side of the troutis and the
real conditions before the men hired to
take the places of men who are on
strike for the eight hour day. An
alteration between him and officers
stationed there to prevent interference
with prospective strike breakers re-
suited in his arrest. The trial brought
out some very peculiar conditions and
it is the purpose of this article to deal
with them. Follow this story closely,
you will be interested in reading the
underground methods employed by the
metal trades association to beat into
submission the striking machinists of
this city.
The machnists on the Pacific Coast
have been on strike for about four
months. The metal trades association
is the factor handling the employers
end of the struggle. Individual shop
owners have been induced to turn over
the prosecution of the struggle to the
association.
Shop owners who wanted 10 conflict,
who We're willing to concede the eight
hour day to the men, have been whip
ped into line under promise of protec
tion to their business and their finan-
cial interests if they would stand pat
and an lily concealed threat of future
punishment ii they yielded to the de-
mands of the men. The metal trades
association, backed by the national
manufacturers association, determined
on the determination of unonism on
this coast.
Financial interests were lined up.
manufacturers, passed open shop reso-
lutions Anti ipicketing ordinances were
introduced into city councils. Police
departments and the forces of county
sheriffs worked for protection under a
suave plea for an upholding of the peace
of the community. This is pretty gen
IL TO- hxV
of the Pacific Coast and they realize
that successful termination of the
strike from an employers standpoint
will be followed up with a lightning
stroke at some other craft and the i'm
portation of cheap coolie labor But
we will get back TO the local situation
The dominating factor locally for the
employers have been and are still the
owners and managers of the Sumner
Iron Works. They have been and are
hand in glove with the Metal Trades
Association. 1t was their superintend-
ent, or manager, who, as President OF
the Chamber of Commerce, rammed an
open shop resolution through that body.
The machinists when they struck, cen
tered their attack upon the Sumner
Iron Works as the logical point of at
tack. They picketed the road to the
works with a well organized band of
pickets whose duty it was to tell any
men that might be on the point of ae-
cepting employment the nature of the
struggle and what the boys were fight
ing for. Now bear tins in mind, be.
cause il is important, that from the
moment the strike was called up to
this day no prospective strike breaker
has been offered physical violence OF
vituperation by picket while on duty
at the Snohomish river bridge I'm
pressed at the outset by their leaders
of the absolute necessity of patience
they have held themselves in wonder
Continued on page three,l