The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-01-31
ONE INDUSTRY;
ONE UNION

v.
The workers in the timber industry
are going to organize. They will be
compelled to organize, sooner or lat
er. This series of articles, of which
this is the fifth, is aiming to familiar
ize the labor movement as we'll as the
unorganized workers with plan now
under way to unite all timber work
ers into one union with the shingle
weavers' union.
In the first article general outline
of the plan was given, together with
very brief history of some of the
unsuccessful attempts at organizing
these workers.
In the second articles some of the
many possibilities that would result
from such an organization were point
ed out.
The effect on Labor of the opening
of the Panama Canal and the result
ing tide of immigration was discussed
in the third article.
Last week, in the fourth article Of
this series, extracts of the report of
President J. G. Brown of the Inter
national Shingle Weavers Union to
the annual convention, held in Port
land a couple of weeks ago, were pub
/, lished, showing, in some detail, the
plan of organization, suggested by
.,;, oIo
visions in the constitution of the or.
ganization which will henceforth be
known as The International Union of
Shingle Weavers, Sawmill Workers
and Woodsmen of North America.
To Get Together-The Problem.
That the timber workers should be
organized seems to be a unanimous
sentiment among the men concerned.
At any rate, it is nearly unanimous.
Then, it is agreed we should organize.
That much is settled. The only ques-
ton now is to determine HOW.
Some of us have not made up our
minds about the method. Others have
formed some sort of an opinion. We
are all fairly we'll agreed that the men
in the timber industry should all be
in one union. Most of us seem in
clined to think that the most feasible
plan is to follow che method outlined
in former articles Of this series, join
ing hands with the shingle weavers'
union. A few of us seem to believe
that the thing to do is to affiliate with
the Industrial Workers of the World.
Now, let us discuss this proposition.
1t is necessary that we agree on
plan. We must ALL get together.
Not a FEW of us. But ALL of us.
That's the important thing. TO GET
TOGETHER.
ShingIe Weavers.
The shingle weavers have gotten
together themselves. They are part
of the toilers in the timber industry
They have developed some power.
They are the pioneers. Others might
have started here and there before the
shingle weavers. But if so, they have
failed. THE SHINGLE WEAVERS'
UNION is THE OLDEST EXISTING
ORGANIZATION IN THE TIMBER
INDUSTRY.
1t appears natural that when the
other workers in the timber industry
plan to get together they would try to
get together with the men already or
ganized, the shingle weavers. One
would naturally suppose that this
course would be taken especially when
it is announced that what is wanted is
ONE UNION IN THE TIMBER IN
DUSTRY.
But the fact is that up to date in all
past attempts at organizing these toll
ers the shingle weavers have been dis
regarded 1t is also fact that all
these attempts have failed. Whether
or not these two facts have any con-
nection, one with the other, might be
difficult to prove. But it is fact that
they exist.
The American Labor Union.
About eight or nine years ago the
American Labor Union began organiz-
ing the mills and camps of Western
Montana In 1905 this union merged
into the l. W. W. 1t took no consider
alton of the Shingle Weavers' Union.
There being no shingle industry of
any consequence in Montana, this
might have been the reason, for the
failure of taking notice of the existing
union in the timber industry. But any
way NO NOTICE WAS TAKEN. That
the union is no longer in existence,
that whatever scattered membership
the l. w. w. have in this territory at
this time is without any power are
facts. Whether or not the failure
to consider the shingle weavers'
union is responsible for the breaking
up of this organization no one can
say. BUT THE FACT REMAINS
i THAT IT FAILED.
], The brotherhood"
Another union was organized around
Eureka, Cal, about six or seven years
I ago. 1t was called the Brotherhood.