The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-11-27
A FEW SHORT JABS
By A. w. SWENSON

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Governor Lister, in the campaign
waged to defeat the first aid
amendment proposed by the labor
forces. During tn campaign it was
also charged that Governor Lister
was acting under the domination and
direction of the lumber barons of the
state, and that his promise to appoint
commission to draft suitable"
first aid amendment simply meant
that the commission, if appointed
would draft an amendment that would
CHEAT the workers of the state out
of what was their just due.
1t doesn't take particularly bright
individual to see that every effort is
going to be made to "job" the work
ers and at the same time get the rep
resentatives of Labor in the mine
hole" by participating in any commits
sion proceedings had to draft the first
al amendment that will be accept
able to the lumber interests.
Governor Lister has removed this
question from the realm Of specula-
ton entirely by announcing the per-
sonnet of the commission that is to
draft the first aid measure that will
be SATISFACTORY to the employ
ers-and to that class only. While
| have never given Lister credit for
great deal of political acumen, still
if had been playing the game under
the direction of the bosses, as Lister
has been, l certainly would not have
tipped my hand as he has done in the
appointments to that commission.
To give an appearance of fairness
to his appointments he names three
men from the employers-two lum-
bermen and man who furnishes ma
chinery to lumbermen. Then he
names the individual insurance COM
mission-two of whom are represen-
tatvies of the employers and the
third, Clarence Parker, is PRESUMED
to represent Labor. The list is COM
pleted by the appointment of E. P.
Marsh, president of the State FEEDER
alton of Labor; Martin Flyzik presi-
dent Of District No. 10, United Mine
Workers of America, and ]. w Clark,
editor of the Grays Harbor Post a
member of the Carpenters Union.
When this list of appointments is
analysed, it is found that Labor is
represented by two men, while the
employers are represented by seven.
f. p Marsh and Martin Flyzik are
REAL representatives of Labor and
can be counted on to see that Labor's
side is properly presented. AS for
Parker and Clark-well both are en-
ployers of labor. Further, it may be
said that so far as Clark is concerned
he and his rag, the Grays Harbor
Post, have become notorious as sup
porters of the program of the stop
Look-Listeners" and their ilk Clark's
function is nothing more or less than
conducting a paper that serves the In
terests of the lumber barons on Grays
Harbor, and his membership in the
Carpenters Union is simply a stalk
ing horse to permit him to get on the
inside and there do the work that
brings the advertising patronage of
lumber-controlled merchants
Listers scheme-and the plan of
those who control him-is to get the
State Federation of Labor tied in with
this bunch of employers and what
these seven men may do in drafting
first aid measure and in that way
preclude a protest on the part of the
Federation against the bill that will
be reported to the next legislature
Of course, the claim will be made in
all the kept" press of the state that
Labor was equally represented with
the employers in drafting the bill.
The truth of the matter will be,
though, that Labor has two-and only
WO-representative on the com
mission while the lumber barons or
the state have SEVEN.
As I have said before, the governor
had a chance to muddy up the issue
through the appointment of the com
mission but I never thought he would
everyday his hand to the extent he
has. Had he appointed three bona
fide Labor men on the commission
men who were really and truly repre-
sentative of the thought of Labor in
the state-he might have put a pretty
good face to his little scheme to as
sist in the further spollation of the
workers through a bad compensation