The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-06-09
More Unity
of Action
Is Shown by the Farmers
Organizations and the
Labor Unions Than Ever
BefOre-Remedial Leg
islature Has Been Sc
cured Through Their
Efforts.
by C. r. Case, President Washington
State Federation of Labor.)

lBy c. r. Case, President Washington
State Federation of Labor)
But a few years ago organizations OF
farmers and wage earners were of the
honest belief that they had nothing in
common-that they must ever oppose
the aims and objects of one another. The
farmer wanted cheap labor and long
hours, the wage worker wanted higher
wages and shorter hours. Beyond these
principles neither investigated the posi-
bilities of common ground. Capital
organized to pauperize both the farmer
and the laborer and had they not awak-
ened to the necessity of uniting their
forces complete success would have been
| theirs.
| With the growth of organization came
the educational advantages, first in the
sense of better understanding of the
possibilities of Improvement each in his
own vocation. then of a gradual awaken
ing to a realization of the fact that it
mattered not how long hours the one
worked or how great the pay of the
other, neither was enjoying anywhere
near the full fruits of his labor-organ-
lied capital was reaping the real reward.
Both worked industriously to extend
their organization to all that could be
induced to participate yet each lacked
sufficient strength to be the factor in
the industrial or political field that was
essential to the complete success of their
cause.
Farmers today represent less than 80
per cent of our population, while that
portion of labor which it was possible
| t oorganize and through organization Sc
cure united action represents not to ex-
ceed one third of those who live by labor
Neither can hope to attain any degree
of success without the other United.
with such additional strength as they
can develop among others who are
friendly but lack the courage to belong
to the organization and lead in the fight,
they Immediately become a controlln !
factor in any cause upon which they
unite.
This was plainly manifest in the con
test at the last general election in this
state. Neither farmers or workingmen
had received any consideration at the
hands of Senator Piles or Representative
AlcCreedie. After careful canvass they
united their forces on Senator Poindexter
and Congressman Warburton. You know
the results. Congressman Humphreys
would have got his if these two forces
had gotten closer together in this dis
trict.
Again in the equal suffrage campaign.
Organized farmers and wage workers
hand in hand and the result was a sur
prise to even the most hopeful enthusi-
asst.
In the legislative session which fol-
lowed, the representatives OF the Farm
ers' Union, State Grange. State Fedora
tion of Labor and State Direct Legisla-
tion league held daily meetings. planned
their work Systematically and worked
unitedly to the end that more legisla
tion in behalf OF the people was adopted
than at any previous session in the his
tory of the state.
BY united action on the part Of these
forces, the initiative, referendum and re-
call are before the people for adoption
as constitutional amendments, women
employed in industrial pursuits have an
eight-hour day. workingmen will soon
come under the best compensation act
enacted in any state in this Union, farm
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