The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-01-23
(By E. p. Marsh)

I have attended some remarkable
conventions, have listened to ad-
dresses eloquent and inspiring, parti-
cipated in debates that ranged from
believe | ever attended a convention
more remarkable than the one held
last week in the city of Aberdeen by
the International Union of Shingle
Weavers, Sawmill Workers e Woods
men. The place of meeting, the vital
import of the subjects under consd-
GRAFTON, gave to the convention dram
attic possibilities such as set it apart
from the usual run of labor gatherings.
1t was in the city of Aberdeen lit
tie over a year ago that business and
professional forces united to crush
out of existence an organized protest
to unbearable industrial labor condi-
tions. The strike of the mill workers
of that city, participated in largely by
foreigners, was a revolt upon the part
of an army of unorganized mill work
ers for wage that would permit them
and their dependents to live half way
decently. The lumber barons, while
themselves piling up great profits, had
reduced wages to a point below that
actually necessary to maintain life in
decency and the revolt was the answer
of men pushed to the wall and strik-
ing out largely by instinct. A reign
of terror existed for weeks in that city.
Under the folds of the flag, and shrek
ing patriotism at the top of their lungs,
the employers called to their aid the
business men of the locality and tac-
tics worthy the efforts of strikebreak-
er Farley in his palmiest days, were
the order. The workmen were beaten,
But the spirit of revolt
only smouldered, it was never ex-
When the gavel in the hands of
President Brown called to order the
twelfth annual session of his organiza-
ton, nearly a hundred delegates rep
resenting thousands of organized men
in the timber industry and speaking
for hundreds of thousands potential
answered roll-call there
capital had but yesterday tried vainly
to wipe out the spirit of protest in the
= n n lyC Of thn +N;l -, H.
Der industry. To crush the longing for
economic freedom in the breasts of
the workers of this country, is as i'm
possible as to change movement of
the tides or the course of the planets
in the heavens.
Twelve years ago the shingle weav-
ers union, a mere handful of men in
the timber industry, came into exist
ence. The charter members were at
that time ignorant concerning any of
the phases of the organized labor
movement, ignorant of parliamentary
procedure, confused, hesitant, but
grimly determined to win better work
ing conditions. The Aberdeen con-
vention had many delegates who were
seasoned veterans in the labor strug-
gle, men who had taken part in sew
eral severe battles, disciplined and
schooled in labor tactics. For the
first time new element sat in that
convention along with the veterans.
Recruits, but filled with the same de-
termination which marked the shingle
weavers dozen years ago. Repre-
sentatives of the logging and sawmill
branches of the industry were pres
ent as members of that convention,
on equal terms with the shingle weav-
ers. The chain was complete. From
the man who felled the tree in the
forest to the man who loaded the last
stick of lumber in the railroad car
bound for the eastern or foreign mar
ket, all were alike concerned and all
were alike represented in the deliber-
ations of that convention. 1t marked
in truth the passing of the craft of in
tegral form of organization within the
industry to the massed form of indus
trial organization destined to play
new part in the great struggle for
more and better material necessities
and comforts of life.
Every shingle weavers' convention
has witnessed discussion on the prob
lem of the shorter work-day problem.
But never before did it seem advisable
or feasible to make that the over
shadowing, dominant issue before the