The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-12-22
REVIEW OF
FEDERATION
BEING A BRIEF HISTORICAL
SKETCH OF THE ACTIVI-
TIES OF THE WASHINGTON
STATE FEDERATION OF
LABOR SINCE ITS INCEP-
TION.

to write as the history of a people. In
deed, it is the history of people, peo
pie who too often fail to preserve tn
| early records which are most essentia
to the compilation of an historical
sketch which ought to be complete.
The Washington State Federation o
Labor was preceded in its sphere of use
fulness in this state by the Washington
State Labor Congress, an organization
of few representative leaders of labo
organizations who began in early days
efforts for greater organization and ed
ucation efforts in behalf of the caus,
of unionism. Realizing that labol
congress could not have that degree o
usefulness that regularly chartered
state branch of the American Federation
of Labor would enjoy, a charter was oh
tanned from the parent body and from
that time to the present the increasing
accomplishments in legislation of inter
est and for the welfare of working peo
pie, has been apparent to all observers
of the efforts of working people for bet
| terment.
Without endeavoring to delve into an
cient history too remote to be of interest
at present, let us examine the records
of the Federation as far back as the
first Spokane convention, held in 1904
and see what magnitude the federation
had in that year. William Blackmar
was president and James Menzies secre
tary The vice-presidents were Charles
r. Case, j. Cullen, T. V. Copeland, j. L
Franklin, John Gronow. G.. O. Young
was state organizer. A four days con.
vention was held, thirty two resolution:
We're passed upon and 40 delegates at.
tended.
The following year the federation met
in Everett, the same officers were serv.
ing the organization, except that G. w
Smith succeeded ]. Cullen as second vice
president Robert Hesketch succeeded j
| h@' II"lhiiH as loul0 WIG plesiueII, anu
r. N. Moody succeeded John Gronow as
fifth vice president. The convention was
in session four days, and 215 delegates
attended. Seventeen resolutions were
considered.
In 1906 the Federation met in Aber.
deem, the session consuming three days
and 104 delegates attended. Fifty.
seven resolutions were considered. The
convention in 1907 met in Bellingham
| The session consumed four days. Thirty.
nine resolutions were considered. One
hundred and forty-two delegates attend
ed. At the Everett convention Charles
R. Case was elected president, but de
clned reelection at the Bellingham con.
vention, and F. w. Cotterill was unani
mously elected. From reports of the
proceedings, the Spokane and Belling
ham sessions were somewhat strenuous
The seventh annual convention met
in Tacoma. President Cotterill was re
| elected. Four days session were enjoyed
q
and 79 resolutions considered 1877 dele
gates attending A marked increase Of
enthusiasm marked this convention
many very interesting and educational
addresses being delivered during the ses
sions.
| The eighth annual convention met in
Walla Walla. The temperature took
a drop few degrees below zero, but
the enthusiasm in the work of the FEEDER
alton rose to a high degree. Charles
r. Case succeeded F, w. Cotterill as
president. Four days session was con
sumed in consideration of forty three res
olutions, prominent among which wa:
the one demanding direct legislation. Al
this gathering little comedy was in
iected into the proceedings by the siren
uous efforts of a delegate to remove
the unfair designation from the Alaska
Pacific Yukon fair, previously prescribed
by the local labor movement. Delegates
were treated to a parliamentary drill
worthy of the halls of congress, anC
compliments between debaters were
gems of sarcastic thought.
The ninth annual convention convened
in Hoquiam with 21S delegates pre-
sent. a four days session was held anC
sixty-four resolutions We're considered
Many of these resolutions were of vast
Importance to the legislative work oi
the Federation and later resulted il
amended state laws. Nearly all the
officers were reelected.
The tenth annual convention, the last
session, was held in Olympia, five day:
session being held and fifty-nine resolu
tions considered. This was by far the
most important convention ever held by
the Federation, being held during the
session of the state legislature, the Fed
Grafton laws having been so amended al
the Hoquiam meeting as to provide fol
conventions in Olympia during legisla
tive sessions in the future. The recently
enacted eight hour law for women wor
kers, the full crew law, and the new
workmens compensation law were direct
results of this convention.
Continued on Page Four.)