The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-03-10
LABOR LAWS
AREENACTED
Session Just Closed the
Most Progressive From
Labor's Standpoint Held
In Many Years

ana ScOlu dU the cuSSculeSS aS VIC
term it, of legislative session. We
have been disgusted at the endless bick-
erings and trades and deals that were
so apparent and tired of endless wait
ing for the legislative mill to grind out
wheat for the people at home. Viewed
carefully and thought fully, however, the
session just ended at Olympia will be
found to be noteworthy for the legisla
tion enacted in behalf of the working
people of the state. The good will be
found to outweigh the bad, and it is
doubtful if any previous session has
accomplished so much from labor
standpoint. Organized labor centered its
efforts at the beginning of the session
on three bills, j. e., the initiative and
referendum, women's eight-hour work
day and worRmen's compensation. 1t
was thought wiser to concentrate energy
on these three measures than to take
a legislative program of a half dozen
or more bills and scatter fire. A work
ing alliance was formed with the repre-
sentatives of the farmers organizations
and sixty days of unremitting work en-
sued. The special interests fought as
usual with every weapon they knew
how to use The bills had stormy car
GERS and sometimes it looked as if they
would go down to defeat. Men there
were in plenty in both houses of the
legislature that jumped on the labor
measures and fought them from every
angle. But friends of the measures
fought back just as hard. They sent
hurry calls to the men and women of
labor throughout the state and the law
makers were buried with kilograms de-
manding in the name of humanity that
these just bills be passed
Big Business, realizing that the peo-
pie were aroused and would hold strict
ly to account the men who on final vote
went on record against the bills, sought
to soften the blow to its selfish interest
by amending the bills to death. And
they were successful in forcing amend
ments to all three of the measures, but
not to the extent of seriously crippling
any one of them. The principle embod-
led in each bill stands. The loaf has
been nibbled around the edges, but the
substance is there. If the people ap-
prove-and they surely will-the direct
legislation constitutional amendment
six per cent of the voters can initiate
legislation and 10 per cent can call for
a referendum. CampbelPs eight-hour
bill cuts two hours from the working
day of every working girl or woman en-
gagged in industrial or mercantile pur-
suits with the exception of the fruit and
fish industry. The Teats compensation
measure throws upon industry the en-
tire burden of caring for it's killed ani
injured and their dependent ones; do
ing away with the old inhuman common
law defense.
The latter bill will work industrial
revolution in the state of Washington
and to their lasting credit was backed
by many large employers of labor. Some
of the greatest legal minds in the state
worked in the drafting of that measure
and stood by it to its final passage. 1t
is declared to be the most radical de-
parture from the old order of dealing
with the victims of modern industry yet
taken by any state in the union.
We would not withhold credit from
the members in both branches who
worked and voted consistently and con-
scientiously for these measures. There
have been many of them who stood
straight and true because they believed
in the bills and in the Judgment of the
people. The Snohomish county delega-
ton in house and senate was always
right on these measures and We are
proud of them. Others there were who
voted for political reasons alone, be-
cause they feared the wrath of an
awakened citizenship if they did not line
up for progressive legislation. Others
were there wearing the collar of Big
Business and proud of it-they couldn't
have been right if they would and they
wouldn't if they could For them their
hour has struck. Direct primary and di-
rect legislation will reegate them to the
political scrap heap where lie the bones
of other politicians of other days who
defied the lightning of public opinion.
Labor has cause to rejoice over the
successful passage of the measures
enumerated. Our labor representatives
in Olympia served us well and faith
fully, but it isn't their victory alone.
1t isn't yours or your neighbors. 1t is
the victory of all the people, unorgan-
lied and organized alike. Il is the re-
suit of a public awakening, a public
protest. The people of the state of
Washington spoke through the voice of
the body of men selected to carry on
the fight in the legislative halls and
corridors. II is part of the nation wide
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