The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-02-17
HOUSE GETS
INTO ACTION
Initiative and Refer
endum Sweeps the
House on Final Pas
sage-Vicious At
tack on WOmen'S
Eight Hour Bill by
SpecialInterestPlea-
derS

Olympia, Feb. 16, 1911.-Popular vs..
delegated government was the issue on
the floor of the house Tuesday, when
the initiative and referendum bill was
up for final passage Popular govern
ment, after a bitter fight by the op-
ponents of the measure won the day
and the bill passed 70 for and II
against. The champions of the old or
der of things hurled amendment after
amendment at the bill with the pur-
pose of slipping something over that
would at least cripple, if not wholly de
stroy the usefulness of the measure.
But its champions, led by Govnor Teats,
withstood every assault and passed the
bill without amendment. Eight per
cent of the votes cast for governor at
the preceding election for initiative an1
five per cent for referendum are the
percentages required ON petition. The
bill must now run the gauntlet of the
senate. where the same bitter opposi-
tion will be met Friends of the bill
majority are safe for the measure. This
piece of legislation will mark an epoch
in popular government in the state of
Washington and marks the beginning
of the end of ring rule. Organized la
Dor has fought for this measure at each
session of the legislature for the past
eight years. Here are the names of
the men in the house who believe in
government for the people-semi- -occa
sionally-but are strictly opposed to
government by the people. Mark them
well; they may want to break into the
They voted against the bill Beach.
Byerly, Drissler Foster, Ghent, Croft.
Martin, McArdle, Mcmillan, Sims, w.
f. Stevens, Webster-12.
The Women's Eight Hour Bill occu-
pied the center of the stage Wednesday
and experienced some high winds and
tempestuous seas. French made Il sen
sational attack upon the bill, claiming
the women did not want the work day
shortened. This brought Campbell, the
author of the bill, to his feet and a
dramatic scene ensued. III show you
whether they want it or not" he shout
ed, and leaving his desk, he marched
down the aisle to the speakers desk,
unfolding monster petition which bore
10000 names. The paper stretched
from the chamber entrance to the
speakers rostrum and back again and
was complete and satisfactory answer
to Mr.. French The same tactics as
used in the referendum fight We're used
against the eight hour measure, and ri
diculous amendments We're offered. Rep
resentative Sims, the legislative "fiNer"
of the canning interests has fought the
measure from the start and led in a
vicious attack upon the. floor. This
same representative is as slippery as
Jilt NOliiuicitldI plbuuNt III DN
his bosses, the big cannery owners, and
succeeded in tacking ON an amendment
eXempting canneries from the bill In
the opinion of many attorneys this, if
passed, will render the bill unconstitu-
tional, but the labor supporters sue
ceeded in eXacting saving clause which
they claim will place factories, stores,
laundries, etc. on an eight-hour basis.
regardless of court decision ON the
fish camery clause. The bill was ad-
vanced to third reading with no further
amendments, but it is not out of dan
ger. Every friend of the eight hour
law throughout the state should at once
telegraph his or her representative to
support the bill and not allow it to be
killed or rendered futile by further
amendments. Campbell has made tire
less fight for this measure, and has
been on the job day and night in its be-
half.