The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-04-26
The TROUBLE
ON The HARBOR
AS VIEWED BY PRESIDENT
CASE OF THE STATE FED
GRAFTON WHO HAS BEEN
ON THE GROUND FOR TEN
DAYS PAST INVESTIGATING
THE SITUATION.

4
state Federation OF Labor I called atten-
tion to the spirit of discomfort that was
|arousing the employees of the saw dust
ring Of southwestern Washington, to
the suppression of free speech and free
press by city officials who were owned
or controlled by these vast lumber bar
ons and to the probabilities of an early
outbreak against the damnable un-
American and uncomfortable conditions of
employment.
Efforts of administrative forces to
suppress meetings and prohibit street
speaking only hastened its elimination.
\ month ago it broke. Bob Lytle, op-
orator Of a scab shingle mill in Hoquiam,
had cut wages 10 per cent. Common
labor was ground down to $3.50 for ten
hours. Other mills in order to compete
with Lytle We're forced to reduce wages.
Men who were imported several years
ago to break longshoremen's strike had
also suffered repeated reductions. They
had learned that methods Of a scab in
time caused that same scab to suffer-
Prosecuted and driven from the city,
they returned undaunted to continue the
work. Others enlisted, organization
sentiment grew and finally without
warning the storm broke A crew left
one mill, marched to another. 1t will
ingly joined the movement which went
on and on until all the sawmills on
Grays Harbor labout twenty were en-
tirely shut down. Every crew in every
mill had responded. No threats, no in
Intimidation, no violence, nothing but
peaceable persuasion had thus far been
resorted to.
Negotiations for settlement between
employers and employees were opened,
but never seriously considered by en-
ployers, who said they We're paying as
high wages C$1.SO a day minimum) as
conditions would warrant A committee
Of citizens began ain investigation and
mill men lpublicIy) welcomed it. Rather
than permit a thorough investigation and
resultant exposure of true conditions,
however. they suddenly announced that
they would reopen the mills at a mini.
mum wage Of 1925 per day, that they
would replace their Austrians, Firms,
Greeks. Italians Hindus and other for
eigners Whom they had suddenly learned
to despise because they We're no longer
fully subservient slaves) with Americans,
men with families.
Splendid resolve said smaller business
men and citizens. Yes, We'll assist YOU.
Call on the sheriff militia and citizens
to preserve order
\ call was sent out but governor
facing an election he-itated The county
sheriff sent word to the mill owners to
pay a living American wage ana depu-
ties would not be needed.
The last resort, a military city gov
elnment unauthorized by Iaw) was
established in Aberdeen The mayor
proclaimed it. Special deputies with
courage to carry guns and clubs against
unalmed working men were hired to de-
fend militaryism and the mills began
one by one to resume operations.
In Hoquiam where the mayor refused
to obey the mandates of mill owners. a
citizens committee of mill superintend
ents, foremen. corporation attorneys.
doctors and small business men whom
they could coerce formed an armed mob.
gave notice that all men who did not
return to work would be deported.
marched many working men who refused
to return to work to a barn and later
herded them into box ears $50 in a carl
closing the doors and mailing hem shut.
But for the iuter,eutio of Sheriff Pay
ette and the refusal of railway agents
to accept them they would mquestion-
ably have been deported They We're
finally released and under most dire
threats many returned to work under
fear Of torture if they refused.
Persecution of those who refused to
return to work, the closing of all places
of assembling. the deportation of agita-
tors, organizers and leaders from Aber-
deem has continued. Men who have
made their home in the city for many
years have been run ont by special dep
uties in the city'7 employ and told that
TO return meant most severe punishment.
some who have saved sufficient to do
so are returning to their native country
declaring their native land preferable to
\ free America
The strike has involved shingle weav-
ers, longshoremen and saw mill work
ers. The latter were being organized
under the T. W. w. Much comment has
been heard relative TO A. r. of l.. and
l. w. W.'s joining forces in this fight.
OF these relations I will endeavor to
give your readers a brief review in
later article.
BY coercion, intimidation, importation
of more foreigners but few Americans
have been secured-closing of all places
Of assemblage and other kindred meth
ods the strike is practically broken. All