davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18
SALTER HOLDS TO
PLATFORM PLEDGE
Insists Upon Day-Labor Plan for
City Work.
Kelly Votes for Contract System
Clay Follows Salters Lead.

True to his principles as represen-
tative of Labor in the city council,
Commissioner of Public Works ]. M.
Salter has, from the day of his cleo
labor plan on all city work within his
department. Commissioner Salter rea-
Lies full we'll that the patriotic" citi-
zens of Everett are much more con-
cerned with saving few pennies less
per capita for taxes than they are
with the welfare of our resident day
laborers. Itinerant, non-English.
speaking low-standard aliens look good
to your average taxpayer, so long as
a dollar or two can be saved on public
works through the letting of contracts.
AS Mr. Kelly and Mr.. Clay represent
this element of our citizenship, they
naturally vote and act accordingly.
Salter takes the opposite position,
thinking always of the unemployed
citizen with his wife and family, part
and parcel of Everett's municipal
household.
The attitude of the three commits
sioner's is we'll shown in a recent re-
port of their activities published in
the Evening Herald. We quote it in
full below:
City to Build Sewer by Day Labor
Plan; Kelly Votes in Negative.
Commissioner j. NJ. Salter, of the
board of public works. elected, he
said. on a platform that promised the
fulfillment of contracts by day labor
on the part of the city of Everett,
managed to secure majority sup
port to his plan for laying a sewer
system in an alley extending from
Nineteenth to Twentieth streets be-
tween Highland avenue and State
street Mayor Clay voted for the day
labor plan, while Commissioner Kelly
registered an adverse vote, because he
feared the department could not per
form the contract within the limit OF
the engineers estimate.
Two bids had been received from
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18
ACCIDENTS REDUCED

During the three years and eight
months during which the Washington
compensation law has been effective,
there have been 51,409 accidents re-
ported and $5,147.S91 has been COL
lected from employers to meet injury
claims, or almost exactly 800 per ac.
cident.
The May report of the industrial in
surance commission shows that the
record of accident reductions is being
continued There were lip acci-
dents reported last month, as com
pared with 1868 for the same month
in 1914 and 1919 for the same month
in 1913.
During the first five months of this
wear there have been 4,92S accidents
reported, as compared with 6,0S2 dur
ing the first five months of 1914 and
6,764 during the corresponding five
months of 1913.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18
9 Who Gets the Advantage?

Are the transportation companies
and certain employers who employ
aliens in large numbers, responsible
for this "hold-out" of funds? Some
body in authority needs jarring up,
and needs it bad.
1t might not be stretching the truth
to assert that as many aliens are en-
tering the country illegally, to COM
pete with American workmen in the
labor market, as are leaving it to take
up arms in the European combat. The
immigration department has announc-
ed that no more aliens, subjects of
countries involved in the war, will be
deported until the conflict is over. A
nice prospect, indeed.
Our own industries are stagnant.
There isn't work enough to anywhere
near go round. l have had men come
into my Everett office during the past
week-two came in this morning
and beg for any kind of work to en-
able them to get a meal and a bed.
man, be he resident or alien, who is
up against it. But self-preservation is
just as much the first law of nations
as it is of individuals Where are we
going to get off at in this state if
aliens by the thousands are going to
come sweeping across the border from
Canada? Men ignorant of our GUS
toms, our standard of living, willing to
work for a pittance, undermining all
our labor standards in this state.
While the American Eagle sits upon
it's perch, preening it's feathers, and
screaming neutrality" and axioms of
peace and good will" to the harassed
nations of Europe, it can't see this
condition of affairs along it's border
where a motley horde seek unlawful
entry.
a The state of Washington faces a
serious industrial crisis unless a stop
is put to this living tide of alien labor.
There are employers who welcome
such condition. Some of our large
construction projects are said to be
swarming with newly arrived work.
men, who cannot speak the language
and who accept uncomplainingly hous-
ing and living conditions unspeakably
bad, and a wage upon which a work
man with American ideas could not
live What is Uncle Sam going to do
about it?
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18
BY e. P. MARSH

President Washington State Fedora
tion Of Labor.
A u. S. immigration official was
quoted recently in the Seattle Times,
as follows:
Canada encouraged immigration
for several years. Now, when war
has broken out and when employment
and business conditions are upset, we
find a big army of aliens in the north
ern country who cannot find employ
ment there, who cannot do business
there, or who even may be regarded
as enemies of the country. They are
eager to cross to the United States,
and in many instances Canada would
be glad to be rid of them.
"It is not a Mongolian fight for en-
try, as a rule. We are fighting prin-
cipally against the influx of Russians,
Austrains and Italians of dependent
class, thus far. In roundup around
Seattle, one immigration officer with
in five days time rounded up $50 Rus
slams who had no right to be in this
country What could have been done
if we had facilities for drawing the
net closer or of deporting the aliens
after they were located, is problemati-
cal.
1--WE are confident we are stopping
most of these immigrants at the bord-
er. We are turning them back through
the offices at Victoria, Vancouver,
Blaine, Sumas, and at other points,
but that they are slipping through is
generally known. The rush is so great
that our small force cannot combat it
successfully.
$50 far as possible, we are trying
to enforce the letter of the law, but it
is impossible to pick up and return
to Canada some of that country's enc
mics who demonstrate their complete
innocence of any political crime in
English territory, and who merely are
seeking refuge in this country. I have
in mind two of these cases where
Canadian authorities were glad to get
rid of the aliens unlawfully here. but
who would not cooperate with us in
their deportation. We have no means
of shipping them to their home coun-
tries.
"The unlawful immigration of Chin
ese, too, is increasing, but we are con-
fident that ultimately we can solve
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18
TO TEACH WORKING
WOMEN THE TRUE VALUE
OF THEIR LABOR POWER

To teach girls of IA receiving 5
cents an hour and women working
for So week the TRUE VALUE OF
THEIR LABOR POWER; to show
and interpret to them the tragedy of
the underbidder and the certainty
with which low wages react in injury
to women and the ruin of the home
to develop sense OF group fellow
ship and responsibility for working
conditions in their factory and trade:
to help the average working girl to
feel that upon her knowledge, cour-
age and cooperation depend her per.
sonal well-being and the well-being of
her fellow workers-this is one of the
important tasks of the Women's
Trade Union League.
MRS. RAYMOND ROBINS,
National President
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18
CHICAGO STREET CARS ARE
TIED UP
14,5oo EMPLOYEES QUIT WORK
1910 Miles of Trackage Idle

1910 Miles of Trackage Idle
CHICAGO, June 14.-What is said
to be the greatest street car strike
the United States has known began
at a. m. today. Fourteen thousand
persons were thrown out of employ
Ment and 1910 miles of surface and
elevated tracks were rendered idle,
and the burden thrown on steam
roads, automobiles and other vehicles.
For four hours not a car moved.
Then South Side elevated train,
carrying only a few passengers, made
a round trip. AS a result it was an
nounced that trains with strikebreak-
ers would run every Is minutes. The
strikers demand more pay and shorter
hours.
Taxicabs did a rushing business and
five cent fare automobiles which here
tofore have failed to make much pro-
gress, were loaded with passengers.
Roller skates were brought into use
and thousands pedaled to work on BIZ
cycles. Arrangements to furnish s.
600 strikebreakers were put into oper
alton today.
The police chief asked the council
to appropriate about 100000 to en-
ploy 1000 extra police in case of dis
order when the companies make
real effort to operate their cars. The
committee decided to take the request
under consideration for two weeks.
Drizzling rain most of the day add
ed to the discomfort.
The state board of arbitration under
dressing letters to both sides asking
each TO apply for arbitration through
that organization A detective report
ed the first injury. He was cut by
flying glass when a brick was thrown
through the window of the elevated
train, Officials deny they have i'm
ported strikebreakers, but say they
have sufficient old employees to take
the cars when they want to resume
service. The school superintendent
reported the school system thrown
into disorder
The council adopted an ordinance
planned to restrict the employment
of sttikebreakers This ordinance
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18
A DUMPING GROUND

the Chinese problem. 1t is pretty gen
orally known just who among the
Chinese residents are entitled to re.
main, and eventually we will round up
the others. The Chinese problem is
not one that need be considered as
serious now"
Why This Nigeardliness?
At the time of the outbreak of Eu-
ropean hostilities, Canada was full of
Russian. Austrian and Southern Eu-
ropean laborers. Many thousands of
them are working on railroad and
other large construction projects; with
an utter suspension of these projects
throughout the Canadian empire, these
destitute thousands turned toward the
border. The U. S. government has
been criminally lax in it's enforcement
of immigration laws. This has been
no fault of the men comprising the
field service, for Commissioner Henry
White, of Seattle, and force under him,
believe earnestly in keeping up the
bars against the floodtide of alien la
bor. The fault lies somewhere higher
up. The niggardliness of the U. S.
government toward the immigration
service is notorious. Commissioner
White has been hamstrung by a pitt
fully inadequate appropriation to ade-
ouately patrol our borders. The wat
ers of Puget Sound ought to be pat
rolled constantly, as it has long been
known that smuggling via water has
been a profitable pastime. No money
for either men or boats. 1t is not long
ago that several inspectors were CIV
en- "sixty day" furloughs by the gov
ernment for lack of money with which
to pay them. Every other branch of
the federal government seems to get
all the money it needs. Why this dis
elimination?
The immigration department is the
only department of our government
which is sustained without cent Of
taxation from the American people.
1t is maintained from head tax OF
$4.OO per immigrant collected from in
coming aliens. During the past 10
years $S,OOO,000 in excess OF the
amount expended has been collected
from aliens in this manner and TURN
ED BACK INTO THE U. s. TREAS
URY. During the last fiscal year
$6,OOO,OO0 was collected in head tax
and but $2,6O0,OOO was expended
Where did the rest of it go?
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18
So Called Industrial Peace

Many people seem to think that IN
dustrial peace is synonymous with
| their peace of mind. If nobody com
plains, if they are able to conduct
business without strikes or agitation,
they are satisfied. But as a matter
of fact such a state of non-resistance
may signify a profound disease The
most docile of all laborers are the
children. We hear of no strikes where
child labor prevails. Young girls, in
fact, most women workers, accept the
conditions imposed upon them with
out creating much disturbance. Wom-
en- are difficult to unionize, the shops
where they work are generally "open,"
they show few signs of envy" they
rarely follow "agitators" But the in
dustrial peace which these women and
children endure is for imaginative peo-
pie the most terrible fact in the situa-
ton.
There are, moreover, all over the
country industries in which every at
tempt at collective action is crushed
with an iron hand. 1t may be that the
men live in privately owned towns,
with their homes, their schools, their
churches, their jobs, their politics, all
at the mercy Of one control. 1t may
be that they are forbidden to meet,
'as in the steel district, where men do
not dare to discuss their own inter
ests. 1t may be that every attempt
to unionize is met by discharging the
"ringleaders," by mixing races and re-
ligions so that any kind of homogene-
ity is impossible. There is in many
places an atmosphere of terrorism, a
fear of spies, and a general ruthless
domination of private affairs, against
which few men have the courage to
rebel. When beneath it all there is
rumbling and ugly threat, we hear
about industrial unrest" and we'll
meaning men set out to establish
pSdCe ne u6SpOI becomes D6Q6V-
olent. Hospitals, swimming pools, Y.
NJ. c. AS, "profit-sharing," are be-
slowed, evidently in complete oblivion
of the fact that there would be little
manhood in men who accept these
benefits at the price of submission.
When Circe changed warriors into
swine she fed them well, but their
tragedy was that they liked it.
The Real Problem
The problem of industrial peace is
not to keep people quiet. The problem
is to create conditions in which men
can meet each other as equals, where
they must treat each other with so
much respect that no haphazard, care
less despotism is possible. In that
frame of mind alone will it become
possible to develop the habit of set
tling their questions on the evidence
in accord with reason. But the mere
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18

men desirous of doing the work. John
B. Snyder offered to perform the con-
tract for s1,365 Antonis Costantino's
bid was $94O, or $40 more than En-
gineer Hoover's estimate.
Can you do the work within the
engineers estimator" asked Mayor
Clay, when Commissioner Salter had
stated his desire to live up 70 his cleo
ton promise along this particular line
of activity.
81 cannot promise" returned the
commissioner of public works, mo
more than you or Commissioner Kelly
could, though / will try"
ut might easily get the city in trou-
ble," suggested Commissioner Kelly
'if the cost went ahead of the estim-
ate. The estimate was so low that
contractors refused to bid on the job"
"The public works department
would be blamed if the expense proved
greater" interposed Mayor Clay.
I'VE would all get in bad" stated
Kelly.
The mayor spoke of the successful
issue in the instance of an alley be-
tween Wetmore and Rockefeller ave-
nues, from Hewitt avenue and Cali
fornia street that was put in by the
board of public works.
IF you think you can do this with
in the cost, will support you" added
the mayor but if it is a mistake we
shall have to take what comes"
Salter moved that bids should be re-
jected and the board of public works
be instructed to perform the contract.
Mayor Clay seconded the motion,
while in the vote taken. Commissioner
Kelly registered NO"
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18
LABEL LEAGUE TO
ENTERTAIN JUNE %

The regular meeting of the Label
League was held at the Labor Temple
last Monday evening. The president,
Mrs, Tyler, being indisposed. Mrs.
Francois acted as chairman pro TEN.
Brothers Bepler and Wefferling were
initiated, and an application for mem
bership from c, P. Taylor was read
and accepted.
The League will have an open meet
ing on Monday evening, June 2S, at
the Labor Temple. Mrs. Love, Miss
Riddle, Mrs. Stevens and Mr.. Pilon
were elected as committee on ar
rangements. A big time" is antici-
pated :
A committee was appointed to visit
merchants and ask them to put in
better stock of union made goods.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18

statement of the goal shows how far
away from it we are today. In the re-
cent hearings held before the indus
trial relations commissions, the econ
omIc leaders of the nation with few ex-
ceptons stated that they didn't know
about labor conditions. THEY WERE
COMPOSING THAT, THOUGH
THEY HAD POWER, THEY EXER-
CISED LITTLE RESPONSIBILITY.
How then are changes to be made?
The men at the head are badly inform
ed, probably overworked, and on the
whole not very much interested. The
workers are under suspicion if thev
take an interest in the management.
And the public, that vague, sprawling
and indefinite conglomeration. is gen
orally busy, too busy to think much
about what is going on in obscure
mining gulches, around distant blast
furnaces, in ve-wracked textile
mills, in the easements of department
stores. For in it's worst corners our
civilization is dumb, and everywhere
it is rather deaf.
Need of Raised Fists
This is the simple and rather obvi-
Gus reason why We cannot get along
without unrest" and agitation. The
great constructive" plans of states
men are built upon them the careful
improvements Of the more reasonable
reformers draw their impetus from
them. 1t is an open debt which the
wisest reformers acknowledge, for we
are all of US freer today to speak, to
make proposals, to offer criticisms
which would have got no hearing
whatever if loud threats had not been
made and ugly fists raised in anger.
When we are told that conservative
reform is all right, when the more
temperate men are listened to care.
fully, we should not forget that all our
proposals seem conservative and tenn
perate only by contrast, that a few
years ago the same industrial leaders
who are now so open-minded denounc-
ed the meagerest reform as if it were
the crack of doom.
Those who dislike agitators ought
to ask themselves what they propose
to substitute for them. Just how, for
example, do they intend to arouse in
terest in obscure injustice? Do they
suppose men will think who have not
first been made to feel? Do they sup
pose that they will feel until they have
had brutal facts forced upon them?
Surely it is idle to suppose that the
public" is a sensitive wise, inter
ested, courageous, active body of re-
sponsible people. We are all men,
bers of the public" and we might as
well confess that these adjectives do
not describe ourselves.-The New Re
public.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18
BUILDING HIGHWAYS

Since April l the state highway de-
partment has approved plans for l24'f
miles of permanent highways to cost
$S7O,625, planned by counties. Con-
tracts already have been awarded for
much of this work. The types and
cost of the various kinds of roads
planned are:
Gravel, S3 miles, $3.50, 900; macadaE,
10 miles; $65,0O0; concrete, 16.5 miles,
$216,350; asphaltic concrete or ma
cadam, 1872 miles, s206,275.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18
WORKERS ORGANIZE

BUFFALO, \. Y, June f2.-Abouf
800 workers are involved in the strike
against paving companies for higher
wages. A. F. of L. Organizer Streifler
has organized these workers, who are
now affiliated to the International
Hod Carriers, Building and Common
Laborers' union
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18

AINCdOHAGE, Alaska, June D.
Especial to The Labor Journal J.
Here at the center of activities in con.
struction of the first real railroad of
the United States government is pre-
sented the peculiar, and to real Am.
ericans humilating, spectacle of i'm
ported aliens from Southern Europe
given preference to citizens in employ
ment; this condition applying especial
ly to clearing right-of-way and grad
ing. To person not able to make
observations at close range, the rea.
son for this discrimination might be
as difficult to discover as the nit on
the nut of a northern gnat; but
Jas. O'Reilly, superintendent of
construction, explained" to a delega-
tion of sourdoughs who waited on him
last week that "The commission is
short of funds and compelled to make
every dollar go as far as possible" :"
Most of those dollars will go a long
distance, according to precedents
established in every place where cheap
CD labor has been used, say these
same sourdoughs. "They will go to
Europe, but they are not going far
in accomplishing results. Watch a
gang Of these bohunks going through
the motions of men at work and you'll
understand"
The writer has seen demonstrated
along the first four miles of the line
between Anchorage and the junction
that many of these aliens are awk-
ward and do not seem to understand
how to use axes, picks and shovels;
that the Americans-native and ma
turaliZed-who have been forced to
accept the low standard of wages
established here, but who have not yet
come down to the bohunk standard of
living, are doing better work and from
SO to rs per cent more per man per
day than the aliens; that the average
American here at $4 day would be
really cheaper and accomplish more
for Uncle Sam than the imports at
$2.75, the latter figure being the rate
for common labor
"Uncie Sam" Pincher
Wages paid by the commission for
skilled labor are also low-50 cents
an hour for carpenters and black
smiths, A cents for their helpers and
about the same for other mechanics.
The maximum price for clearing right
of-way is SIS; dirt grading, 25 cents
per yard. At these figures few of the
stationmen are able to make better
ment furnishes fairly good meals at
81 per day to those who do not care
to board themselves. Mechanics
known locally as the independents"
demand and receive rs cents per hour;
but there are many more men than
jobs, either as common laborers or
mechanics, and the number of job
hunters increases on arrival of every
boat from Puget Sound There are
approximately 600 employed by the
government between Anchorage and
Matanuska junction, including engi-
neers and office force, while the esti-
mates of idle men vary from 600 to
1000
Commissioner Mears stated one day
this week that there were more men
working than there would be in a few
days, so the outlook is not very
bright for those who haven't funds
to last until construction of the per-
manent town commences as soon as
survey is completed and manner of
disposing of lots decided on by the
department at Washington.
The permanent townsite occupies a
slightly location on the south side of
Ship creek. opposite the present
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18
SHIRT WAIST WORKERS
UNITE

PHILADELPHIA, June 15.-Several
hundred shirt waist workers have
voted to form a new local and affiliate
to the International Ladies Garment
Workers union.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18

provides that no person shall serve
as motorman unless he has had at
least p days instruction on the sur
face or elevated lines of the city
Fourteen days is the limit for conduc-
tors. The mayor also is instructed to
appoint a committee of five to work
for the settlement of the strike
Between 700 and 1000 officers were
on duty about the car barns on the
south, west and north sides.
w d. Mahon, of Detroit. president
Of the International Car Mems union.
is in charge of the union men.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18
CARPENTERS RAISE WAGES

ITHACA, n Y, June l2.-Carpen-
ters in this city have raised their
wage rate from 43 to As cents an hour.
Contractors offered no opposition.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18

CHICAGO, June 16.-Normal serv-
ice on elevated and surface car lines
was resumed today after an all night
session of railway and labor repre-
sentatives, and the council commit
tee headed by the mayor, had agreed
on arbitration. The first cars down
town attracted great crowds, and were
cheered enthusiastically.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-18

Desperate straits-the Dardanelles