The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-02-07
TRACING THE GROWTH OF
THE SHINGLE WEAVERS UNION

| was steady from this time on. In
| January, 1913, delegates from the vari-
GUS locals met in Everett and formed
what is now known as the Interna-
tional Shingle Weavers' Union, The
organization was perfected without
the aid of even an A. F. of L. organ
izer. VIM. Blackman, State Labor
Commissioner, and president of the
newly organized Washington State
Federation of Labor, addressed the
convention at its opening and left for
other duties.
Some of those present at this his
torcal convention were: J. G. Brown,
representing Elma, now president of
the International; A. J. Larsen, Sedro-
Woolley, at present fifth vice presi-
dent of the international; Donald Nc
Rae, Marysville, later secretary-treas-
county; VIM. Hubble, Ballard, elected
president at the convention; Frank
Carpenter and Willard Hyde, Belling
ham; Rolla Beebe, Sedro- Woolley;
Guy Stratton, Edmonds; w. H. Clock
Everett George Campbell, Castle
Rock; AL Case, Olympia; Jack Coats
Elma; VIM. Ingram, Aberdeen;
Charles Cole, Hartford, president of
the convention; Fred Vanderhoof, Ar
iington, and Thos. Burns, Marinette
Wis.
The Big Strike
From the time of forming the in
ternational until 1906 the new union
grew constantly in strength. The
weavers went from victory to victory
until they had come to believe that
they couldn't be licked" But they
failed to recognize the growing power
Of the organized manufacturers.
AS in 1898, the trouble began in
Ballard in 1906. A strike was de
clared April 1. On July II a general
strike of all shingle mills in the state
was called. 1t was the most complete
tie-up of the shingle industry in all
its history.
But the manufacturers were too
strong for the fighting weavers. In
August a special convention was
called in Tacoma. The strike was de-
elared off The men went back to
work wherever they could get union
conditions. Ballard was utterly dis
organized. Scabs occupied the jobs
formerly held by union men. In Bel
lingham and on Grays Harbor the
strike also left its disastrous effect.
But the weavers were not licked"
They had come to realize that they
would have to organize more yet. |
They felt the need of still more train.
ing.
Still on Top
The year following the big strike in
Ballard, the union secured a general
advance in wages amounting to ap-
proXimately so cents per day in the
different branches. Then came the
1907 panic, and a crash in shingle |
prices. Wages in nearly all lines
went down, but the union weavers |
for the most part held their scale
with the advance of the previous |
year. They went through this
struggle united and despite the poor
est of market conditions for three
years just past, are now on top.
In Ballard the basis of strong or
ganization has been formed since last
summer In Bellingham is now a
prosperous local and union conditions
prevail in every mill. On Grays Har-
Dor the Shingle Weavers union was
never in better fighting. trim and is
steadily growing in strength with
every mill paying the scale. In Ana
cortes much the same conditions pre-
vail In and around Portland, Oreo
where not mill last summer was
paying the union scale now every one
of them is working under union scale
of wages.
In the East in Michigan and Wis
consin the union weavers have had
no serious trouble in maintaining
their end. President James Jondro,
of that district reported a prosper
Gus condition in every shingle center
at the Portland convention.
The New Union
The early attempt at organization,
coupled with the past decade of all
most continuous fighting against big
odds, have developed sterling quail
ties in the ranks of the shingle weav-
ers. In the Everett convention in
1903 none of the delegates felt cap
able of drafting a resolution At the
Portland convention closed a few