The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1913-02-27
THE SLAVES OF CANVAS MILL
BY John G. Wanhone

erected temple of profit Day and night for thirty
returned the mill to take their places in whose rules they
Year after year the industrial master loaded dice and
stacked the cards against them They have dealt him always the
calucs and willing continue while the play is his favor
Silently and meompanngy these workers toll in the of
life year. the world of and the Columbia roll past
out take heed Physically exhausted and warped mentally
these worwom wagesayes of Camas Washington return daily
Ito the task allotted them during their of life by supplying
uxes masters who Them and fe bare necessities for
themselves.
The Crown Paper slave pens of similar
Oregon City, Everett Wash and Florston CAL
but the that the subject of this article situated on the Co
sixteen miles of Vancouver Wash 1t
small plant at first and was erected to supply paper for the Ore
gonian of Portland Ore But industrial evolution has been at
work. machinery being installed from time to time, until at
plant derived from the surplus values created from the toll
and of mraby paid w9geave who have eked out an
their labor power-to the exploiting
advanageousy situated fine water power had
The grinders night and day reducing the wood pulp which
treated with acid before passing through the rollers The little
ceded rule having the town officials under their control
ddd 1o tWc shifts of twelve hours eah eleven hours one week
thirteen the with eighteen hours continuous work during the
plant operated by who receive the unficen of 81
and 81 labor When the law into effect
reducing of from ten to eight these phanropc
owners promptly reduced their to 80 cents.
This caused unable find anyone work below
the subsistence level they forced to restore the former rate
Immediately something peculiar happened The machines
per cent more Paper g Sff FROM t ytra strain and coupled
with the living the girls strike
demanding $50 per ayat present writing the strike
still January % and for day they stay
company profit from million bags To the casual
observer might be thought bad policy for the company to refuse
the women demanded here is the position they
in The employees receive from $5 50 per
time that word has the dictionary of the Crown
Columbia Paper Neither the word overtime or organHa
they pay the for eight hours it would be
more IN ralo tnan tne men, are l gg @ ir Of revolt
SO the has tried old bluff by threatening to move the
entire plant favorable spot where slaves are more
content.
This threat effective the in SURPRISING dscOn
linen of the town who act the capasc barons
the industrial castle with the picket fence around It, Under
paper from the East attempted to organize the men in that
few Of them together on outside they elected officials and
things looked bright for few hours Next day the agaor was
not desire union It was ngratude his part
try to nnrs the men VINO mao nOne n the had
been working plans that would make for the uPh ana welfare
employees club house planned and the benevolent
gentlemen preparing to care for their wants spiritual ana
material
Mr. Aator his time the others and the result
has been picket fence of club house Here prison
PEN par excellence The problem how shall these workers De
ORGANIZED The masters complete control ndusray and
politically through their political control the ORGANIZER would be
The inside organizer would find the picket fence
and his job at the the slaves themselves
Indifferent to their fate.
Light amusements the picture show factor
also keeping the depad workers quiet and for hoSr or so
nhab pictures be specially designed for this work
Ernest Jones applies for employment at the fG %9oo%n ng
nervousy lingering his while in the august presence OF the
owner This is intended to point out the blessings OF meenss
Blessed are they shall inherit the factory Ernest goes
the rapidly revolving pictures show him IN his grmy
overas Being ambitious to rise ne informs the boss oil an at
tempted strike on part dissatisfied workers They try
to burn the mill he Johnny the Spot and illustrates the
Williams His rapid and the slaves feast upon the
pictures showing him his ascent up the different grades fha
becoming superintendent later marrying the putes daughter ana
taken partnership in the firm The curtain falls with every do
the house burning the aouses OF his hands
with cappng Surely moving picture show has its place in the
capitalist scheme of things
Here is situation confined to locality. With the resist
Of the
skilled worker difficulty increases While the capitalist uses
organization on the industrial
ad he cannot very well prevent workers and others from
using their political field But in either case know
edge of the social which they robbed essential
I. nnMaLe D. mnor-el to them ~ -.---