The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-01-24

earnings of the workman. This policy
however, it has been possible TO EN-
ploy only in the oldest and best dis
ciplined unions We may hope, some
time to reach this same point, but foI
the present perhaps it should be con.
sidered from another angle.
am of the opinion that the average
wages of loggers and woodsmen will
compare, in a measure, favOrably with
those Of shingle weavers. If this is
true, the rate OF dues for this class Of
men might be fixed at the same rate
as now paid by the shingle weavers.
In the saw mills, on the other hand,
but a very small percentage of the
men get the wages of either the
shingle weavers or the loggers. 1t
would seem, therefore, that the
monthly dues for these men should
be somewhat lower than for the 9TH
ers, with the same percentage Of the
local dues being paid the interna-
tional
We can believe that the rate of mi
tiation allowed by our present inter
national laws to members of newly
organized locals, if made to apply to
new members coming into the depart
ments to be formed, should not be
burdensome. However, no exorbitant
initiation should be charged, since it
is of vastly more Importance to get
the men than the money. This is de-
tail which, upon an exchange of views,
will no doubt, become clear.
The scale of wages to be adopted as
the official one for the men in the
new departments will be rather a
difficult matter The one in opera
tion already for the shingle mills will
answer the purpose of that depart
ment, with such changes as may seem
desirable and necessary. In consider
ing this as affecting the other depart
ments, it will probably be the better
plan to have the matter of wage scale
for woodsmen and saw mill workers
locals to work out, assisted by the ad-
vice of the officers of the interna-
tiOnal. This course seems the wisest
one to adopt, because of the lack of,
or very meager, representation Of
these branches of the industry in our
convention. By the time of the next
convention it may be hoped that we
shall have enough locals of saw mill
and woodsmen organized which will
be represented, to insure them a voice
in this and other matters vital to
their interests.
Dangers.
During the early stages of the civil
war many of the reverses sustained
by the union army was directly trace
able to the lack of preparedness of the
forces when they engaged in battles.
Much time was later spent in properly
drilling the soldiers in military tao
tics, and by that means the early dis
asters due to the premature encoun-
ters with the better disciplined enemy
were overcome.
The chief dangers We shall encoun-
ter in organizing on the enlarged
scale will be the likelihood of engag-
ing in premature strikes. The oppres-
sion heaped upon saw mill and log
ging camp employees in the past has
been so flagrant that many men will
be inclined to give way to their long
accumulated indignation by exerting
their new-found strength by strike in
an effort to obtain redress of their
crying grievances. The experiences
of the federal soldiers at the battle of
Bull Run ought to serve as a warning
and indicate the wisdom OF making
happens that men of fiery tempera-
ments, and sometimes even emissaries
of the employers themselves, precipi-
tate struggles which prove the undo.
ing of young though, perhaps, strong
and prosperous unions. To insure
success We ought to organize as thor
OuSAAN Go kOooAbAN bNAOAN iAlelhAAA- w
mands of a radical nature By doing
this we are sure, ultimately, to meet
with the same splendid success that
has marked the growth of the Shingle
Weavers' union even in their isolated
position, Merely because a thing is
right, merely because a grievance de-
mands redress, is by no means proof
that success would follow strike. In
the last analysis, power is the only
factor that will insure certain success.
Let us then develop a power sufficient
to cope with the forces against which
we shall have to contend. The gen
eral feeling of confidence which it is
our privilege to possess in the ability
of the Shingle Weavers' union to pilot
the new movement should be justified
by the care we exercise in behalf of
the men we shall draw into our organi-
zation during the coming year.