The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-09-06

Directly after the nominations closed
for state and county offices, Il list of
legislative pledges were sent out to every
candidate for the legislature. The meas
ures constituted the test adopted by the
Joint legislative committee representing
four progressive organizations in this
state, viz, State Federation of Labor,
Farmers Union, State Grange and Direct
Legislation League, as demonstrating the
fitness of a candidate to represent the
farmers and wage earners in our legis-
lative halls. 1t by no means covers the
legislation which labor believes ought to
be enacted and for which labor will work
in the coming session. 1t does cover
proposed legislation which the four or
carnations were able to unite on as be-
ling measures which should be made
dominant issues and as such were sent
out for the approval or rejection of the
legislative candidates. That our people
may bear clearly in mind the legislative
program of the joint legislative commit
tee we print again the list of measures
adopted as the "acid test for candi
dates:
| l. A constitutional amendment grant
ing to the people the right to amend
their constitution by the initiative. The
accompanying bill (see next page) passed
the house (l9ll SESSION. by vote of
II for, Is against and four absent Your
signature on the blank line below pledges
your support of this bill as printed with
only such amendments as may be ac-
aeptable to the joint legislative commit
tee.
2. A law permitting cooperative as
sociations to form corporations for the
transaction of any lawful business on
the cooperative plan; providing for the
payment of interest on paid-up capital
stock, setting aside a percentage of the
net profits for reserve fund and the
distribution of the remainder of said
profits by uniform dividends upon the
amount of purchases of share holders
and upon wages and salaries of employees.
3. A law making it a misdemeanor
for any person to demand or receive,
either directly or indirectly, from any
person seeking. employment, or from any
person on 4hisj behalf, any remuneration
whatever for providing him with en-
poyment. Also providing free state en-
ployment agencies in such number as to
facilitate the prompt distribution of
labor in response to demands,
4. A change in the rules of the house
and senate which will eliminate the
power of the rules committee over legis-
lation by substituting a system whereby
each senator and representative will by
vote express his preference as to what
bills shall be considered daily, those
measures having the highest vote to
have preference on the calendar.
5. A law providing for the regulation
and supervision by the state of invest
ment companies or, other corporations
organized to sell stocks or bonds to the
public, in a manner Similar to the present
system of bank examination, the pur-
pose being to prevent the Fleeing of in
nocent people by wild cat companies or
ganized for such purposes.
It will be readily seen that there is
not one of the five laws which is not
needed by four-fifths of the people and
no candidate who has the interests of
the common people at heart should de-
mur at placing himself squarely on record
as favorable to their passage.
We promised that prior to the prim-
airy election we would publish the man
ner in which the candidates received
these pledges, as a guide to the voters
who want to see representatives elected
to the legislature who are flatly on
record before the people.
There are twenty-five avowed candi-
dates running on the four tickets in Sno-
homish county for the senate and house.
At this writing tSept. p twenty have
replied while five have ignored the pledge
altogether. The majority of the candi-
dates have signed all five measures while
two candidates passed up one measure
To be absolutely fair with all candi-
dates we give verbatim all comments re-
ceiyed. We urge our readers to pay the