The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-06-09
Review of
Years Work

Continued from Page One.l
Der, when the National Grange meets il
regular session.
RECIPROCITY AND THE TARIFF.
Since we met last the sinister and un
fair nature of the tariff, so far as il
affects the farmer, has been revealed by
the move on the part of the Taft admin.
istration to negotiate reciprocity
treaty with Canada which in effect plac.
es all farmers products on the free list,
while leaving a heavy duty on all the
farmer has to buy. This is neither
honest reciprocity nor fair free trade. 1t
is simply demand on the farmer to
sell all that he produces in competition
with the world and pay the high tariff
monopoly prices on all he has to buy.
We have previously protested against
this unjust treatment, and having been
forced to become free traders in all we
sell whether we would or not. | recon-
mend that you go on and record at this
meeting as in favor of giving the mon
opolistic manufacturers full measure
of the same medicine. Our slogan has
always been, tariff for one, tariff for
all; free trade for one, free trade for
all.
STATE LEGISLATION.
During the last session of the Legisla
ture we had a working arrangement
with the Farmers Union, Federation of
Labor, and Direct Legislation forces
Through this working arrangement we
were able to block vicious legislation and
force the enactment of legislation in TIE
interests of the people, for which the
Grange stands. But for this we would
never have been able to push through
the direct legislation and recall bill and
save our insurance from total annihi
lation.
1t is my hope and desire to establish
working arrangements on permanent
basis by the establishment of a Joint
permanent conference with headquarters
in Olympia, where we can keep legis
lative delegation during the entire SEES
sion of the Legislature. 1t is our plan
now working with the Farmers Union
and Labor organizations, and Direct Le-
gislation forces, to meet in Yakima at
some date this fall and again next sum
mer (19l2) and plan campaign which
shall win for the people a victory that
will be effective in accomplishing, what
we want and in eliminating undesirable
office seekers who are in politics either
for their own advancement, or for some
Interior purpose, and who have little
or no interest in the demands of the
people. ...
l especially desire to call your atten-
ton to the able and efficient work of
Brothers George Kingston, H. d. Jorey,
Fred J. Chamberlain and J. O. Wing,
acting as legislative committee, and
also to express my appreciation of the
loyal support given by the membership
throughout the state, to our efforts to
prevent the enactment of legislation to
which the Grange is opposed. With such
unity of action and steadfastiness of
purpose we can go rapidly forward to
accomplish the legislative work demand
ed by you.
Among the laws enacted in which the
Grange is especially interested are the
following:
The judges of the Supreme Court were
restored to the direct primary law.
The primary law was assailed, with an
attempt to cripple its effectiveness, and
to repeal its Second choice" provisions,
but the attempt was defeated after pas
sing the House, and our primary law re-
mains unchanged except as to Supreme
Judges.
The initiative and referendum bill and
the recall bill, both of which required
two thirds majority vote of each
house to enact.
The recall bill will apply to all public
officials other than those of courts OF
record.
The grain and hay bill, establishing
standards and weights, and preventing
frauds in the same, became law, and
will be of immense value to the farmers
of Eastern Washington.
A new horticultural act was passed
which will make the department OF
more value to the fruit growers of this
State than heretofore, and which will
result in more thorough inspection OF
orchards.
A new insurance code was passed.
which when first introduced left out any
provision for our Grange insurance, but
through our efforts was remedied by
subsequent amendment so as to recog-
nizze us as IA regular company and gives
us a better standing than under the
old law.
The township law was amended and
improved, but it is not yet entirely sa-
tisfactory.
The employers liability bill was also
passed, which requires employers in eX-
ira hazardous labor to compensate their
employees or their families for injuries
or death resulting from such occupation
while in such employment, practically