The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-10-10

(By e. p. Marsh, President Washing
ton State Federation of Labor)
Two years ago a little gathering of
farmers, trades unionists and other
friends of the principle of direct leg
islation" met in the city of North
Yakima for a two days conference.
Last month the same organized forces
met again in the same city. Both of
these gatherings hau an important
bearing upon the political history of
the State of Washington. And the
political history of this or any other
state bears an intimate relation in
the last analysis to the everyday life
of every man, woman and child in it.
The Yakima conference of two years
ago made political history; the confer
ence of last month is going to make
some more.
In this and the next two or three
issues of the Journal l am going to
relate to you some of the history of
this coalition of progressive forces,
some of the joint accomplishments,
give you a comprehensive grasp of the
immediate legislative program and its
meaning to you and to me. l want to
beg of you that you follow each one
of these articles that | shall write,
CLOSELY, for I want every organized
man and woman in this state to un-
derstand clearly the principles in
volved, the source and strength of our
opposition, the need for united, de-
termined labor movement for the con-
flict that is to follow.
The People the Court of Last Resort.
Last months Yakima conference
adopted a legislative program for next
year via the initiative route, rather
subjects that interest vitality you and
II. AS one delegate expressed it, ''our
program hits the POCKET MUSCLE,
the most sensitive organ of the body"
There is no Disgusting the fact that
that program spells danger" for the
big interests that have held for years
Those interests know it and are even
now laying their plans accordingly.
am not afraid of the outcome. | am
willing always to trust the people to
settle an issue right, IF THAT ISSUE
CAN BE BROUGHT BEFORE THEM,
CLEAR CUT. Let the people under
stand a measure and they can be de-
pended upon to settle it in the end
with that sound Judgment that has al
ways characterized the Anglo-Saxon
race. All our problems are primarily
problems of interest and education.
Publicity must be one of our chief
weapons in the coming initiative cam
paign.
How the Legislative Game Worked.
To understand the significance of
this recent Yakima conference it is
necessary to go back few years and
briefly trace the causes that led up
to this coalition of forces Those of
us familiar with the process of leg
islation know the heart-breaking strug-
gle it has been to wrest from legis-
lature almost wholly composed of law
yers manufacturers and businessmen,
any legislation to tighten the load
| borne by the toilers, both in industry
and on the farm Public sentiment on
the question of property rights versus
human rights, for many years lay dor
mant. The main avenues of publicity
were closed to proponents of progress
sive measures. The lobbies, cham
bers and galleries of the capitol
swarmed with the lobbyists of the big
interests. The railroads, the timber
barons, the fishing interests, the
Stone Webster syndicate, dominated
legislative halls and dictated legisla-
ton. Their resources were great. Able
men, unlimited money at their back,
opposed to a formidable array of
wealth and power were our poorly
organized, poorly disciplined, poorly
equipped financially, industrial and
farm organizations We were build
ing a new state and struggling in the
making. Our working population was
concerned mainly with the individual
bread and butter problem and failed
to realize the relation between con-
troll of natural resources by selfish in
terests and our future well being as
a working people. Only the minority
the best organized portion, saw the
danger and cried aloud against the
ravages of the plunderbund. Organ
j ized labor (and when | speak of or