The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-12-05

Inc TWO WEEKS COuCldFe VI Jue ul6
men of the labor movement from
every part of the United States and
Canada was the stellar attraction in
labor circles in Seattle during the
month of November. The royal man.
ner in which the unionists of Seattle
played the role of host deserved
chapter all by itself. Considering the
bitter feeling that was engendered
earlier in the year over the revocation
of the charter of the central body, it
was only natural that the feeling
should not have entirely died away
when the convention convened. In
deed, we suspect that several of the
big guns in the A. F. of L. looked for
ward to a frost in the way of local
entertainment and preparation for the
convention. They were to experience
pleasant surprise. The uuionists Of
Seattle rose to the occasion as Seattle
residents always do. We in neighbor-
mig cities are wont to take occasional
filings at the Seattle spirit" but just
the same that local pride which seems
to premeate every strata of society in
Seattle has been the making of the
old town. Beginning late to make
active arrangements, the way that
general committee worked to make
the convention a success, was cork.
er. The writer has attended several
A. F. of L. conventions, but never saw
better team work in local committee
nor finer entertainment features pro-
vided than marked the convention
just closed 1t is no small task to take
care of gathering as big as an A. F.
of L. convention. There are multi
tude of details to be planned out, each
one small in itself, but necessary, the
omission of which would spell con-
fusion to the whole program. Seattle
made good and we take off our hats
to the Seattle unionists responsible.
One of the most pleasant informal
affairs was dinner given to the rep
resentatives of the labor press in at.
tendance at the convention by Editor
Ault and Business Manager Gates of
the Union Record. 1t was given the
last Friday evening of the convention
at the beautiful home of Mr.. Gates,
Mrs. Gates and Mrs. Ault acting as
hostesses. Labor editors are a hungry
tribe as a rule but for once in their
forlorn lives they filled up. No formal
speeches marked the occasion but a
round table discussion of matters of
vital import to the labor press took
place. With all due modesty we ven
ture the assertion that the labor edi-
tors of this country are doing more
self-sacrificing work without hope of
pecuniary reward than any other ele-
ment in the labor movement Most
of them are running their papers on
shoestring, being about one jump
ahead of the sheriff. 1t ought not to
be SO. The labor press should be so
supported that the best of time and
talent our movement possesses should
go into the columns of the labor press.
The discussion brought out a need for
more reliable and more readable news
| from strike centers. Though column
after column has been printed con-
i,cerning the Michigan strike, delegates
on the floor of the convention brought
out facts that were absolutely new to
all of us-stuff that would create a
sensation if properly featured in the
press of this country. The boys agreed
that in any such strike as the Michi-
gan and Colorado struggles, the or
ganization involved ought to employ a
man who knew how to get out the
vital stuff and how to write it up, to
furnish the labor press a weekly let
ter. The cost would not be great and
the benefit derived from news stories,
accurate and containing the news
paper punch" that gets feature stories
over, cannot be overestimated. The
suggestions brought out around that
round table discussion were embodied
in letter to the convention, which
was never read. Editor Ault forcibly
expressed the feelings of the labor
editors at this omission on the part
of convention officials, so we forbear.
Anyhow, no labor paper can accomp-
lish it's mission If the editor has to
work at this trade for a living and
write his stuff when he has nothing
else to do, or worry himself sick Won
dering how he is going to pay for the
paper stock for next weeks issue.
And the labor press is a vital factor
in the labor movement of this country,
deserving the support of every man
who calls himself trade unionist