The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-11-07

ONDGn SI1f1O GR 0G ILL
AMERICAN FEDERATION.
With but little noise, blowing Of
trumpets or beating of drums, an or
ganization movement has been going
on in the Northwest during the past
| few months that means much to labor
in every branch of industry. We refer
to the organization campaign conduct
ed by the Shingle Weavers to bring
under their banner every branch of
the great timber industry. So quietly
has the work been done that but few
people outside of the organization are
aware of the great strides that have
been made in the short space of eight
months. Yet in that time the mem
bership has trebled, number of local
unions in the state nearly doubled, and
plans for the future beginning to take
definite shape. The Everett union has
grown in that time from a membership
of two hundred and fifty to member
ship of over six hundred and this ratio
of increase holds good in most Sec
tions of the state. The writer was
privileged to take part in the last
Labor Day celebration in the city of
Aberdeen and there saw sight which
sent a thrill through the breast of
every man who took part in the great
parade. Six hundred and eighty
sturdy men of the woods and camps
were in line, for the first time in their
lives taking part as union men in
union celebration.
The history of the Shingle Weavers'
Union has been remarkable one.
For a dozen years they held their Or
ganization intact, fought bitter fights
and won some hard-earned victories,
though numbering within their organi-
zation but small fraction of those
engaged in the basic timber industry.
The time came when with all their re-
seurcefulness and courage, they could
go no further and they began looking
around for the cause. 1t was not hard
to find. 1t lay in the unorganized con-
dition of the great mass of men in
their own industry. When they under
stood what was wrong they set cour-
ageously about the task of solidifying
their ranks. 1t was a monumental
task. Opposed to them were the COM
bined resources of the timber barons,
the natural mistrust and suspicion of
their movement bred in the hearts of
many loggers because of former vic
limitation by so-called labor organiza-
tions and the futile efforts of bona
fide unions. Every step of the road IN
the early months was step in the
dark, fighting hidden foes, treading
unseen precipices. The knowledge that
they were starting off right by en-
bracing in their organization every
form of labor in the timber industry
and the examples set them by older
industrial organizations, notably the
United Mine Workers, gave confidence
and power to the new movement.
They were very fortunate in finding
scattered through the woods men who
had been members of other organiza-
tions who gladly took up the work of
the new, in finding men without prev
ious union experience who we're never
theless unafraid, resourceful and earn
est. These men from the very start
have proven tireless and effective IN
the work of organization. At the pres
ent time there are fourteen organizers
at work in the different timber belts
of this country 1t is truly an interna-
tional movement. In British Columbia
and far off Ontario men are at work
building up an organization which IN
time will be second only to the United
Mine Workers in numerical strength
and second to none in its aggressive,
fighting qualities.
The most sanguine do not expect
that this great industry is going to be
organized overnight. 1t will be the
work of months and years. Reverses
will be met with as we'll as victories
disappointments as well as realized
hopes. But nothing can stop the
movement because of the pressing
need for organization in this long me-
elected industry, and the fact that the
basis of the organization is sound.
For the first time men representing
all branches of the industry will meet
in convention to discuss mutual needs.
lay mutual plans for organization ex-
tension and perfection of the union at
Aberdeen next January. 1t will with
| out doubt be an epoch making meet
| ing in the Northwest labor circles
ur,.o+ N soJid nrCa anizati0n of the men