The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1916-06-23
CAP|TAL'SUN|0NS
SOL|DLY BOYCOTT
PREPAREDNESS
DEMONSTRATION
10000 Organized Workers Refuse
to March at Behest of Mill
tarists - Government Printing
Employees "Ordered" Into Line
From the Calls Washington Bureau

Washington. - Organized labor In
Washington boycotted the National
Capital Preparedness Parade" which
marched down Pennsylvania avenue
today with it's big army-big-navy
demonstration.
In round numbers there are 10000
organized workers in Washington.
Out of the 10000, just one union
participated in the parade, as a union.
The Plate Printers Union marched
in the Treasury Department section Of
the second division 1t is said that the
action of the Plate Printers was
caused through their desire to take
slap at Ralph, superintendent of the
Bureau of Printing and Engraving,
with whom the plate printers have
had a controversy for some years.
Ralph, the story runs, wished the
Bureau of Printing and Engraving en-
ployes to march in the parade as
unit The plate printers declined to
PAL IlClpdJS Ill ledipi uii', Gil" ~
ganized a unit of their own.
The union labor boycott of the
parade is significant.
Appeals to Unions
When the National Capital Pre-
paredness Parade Committee" organ
lied on May 2S, it sent out letters to
every trade union in Washington. The
letter contained the following para
graphs:
"a monster preparedness parade is
to be held here on Wednesday, June
IA, next, Flag Day.
at will be an event of national sig
nificance, and surely the patriotism of
your organization is such as to make
it possible for you to rally them for
this great occasion.
Let us testify to our pride in our
American citizenship by stupendous
demonstration, such as has not been
equaled by any other city.
write and tell us that your organ
ization will join us in this movement.
Don't put this off a minute. Make
good like a real American. Yours for
big Washington demonstration"
The nine gentlemen constituting the
preparedness parade committee were
members of the Board of Trade and
Chamber of Commerce. They have
fought for years not only organized
labor, but every other attempt to i'm
prove labor conditions in the national
capital. They opposed the eight-hour
law for women and girls The govern
ment keeps two detectives on the job
265 days in the year to watch them
for violating the child labor law.
Letter Didn't Have Label
Moreover, the letter appealing TO the
patriotism" and the "Americanism'
of the labor unions did not carry the
union label.
The Machinists' Union, when it re-
ceived the non-union communication,
didn't hesitate minute, The secre-
tary was instructed to communicate
with the preparedness Committee"
acknowledging receipt of the letter,
and admonishing the committee that
the machinists held no fellowship
with organizations that used honunion
printed matter.
Just as a reminer, the machinists'
secretary affixed this sticker to his
letter:
"Returned because OF absence
of union label Demand the label
on all your printed matter. 1t
represents good workmanship,
good wages and good conditions"
The Central Labor Union likewise
arose to the dignity of the situation.
The American Federation of Labor
was going to have parade and dem
onstration on July 4 in connection
with the dedication program of the
new national headquarters building of
the American Federation of Labor
The Central Labor Union and it's af
| filated organizations were planning
parade for that occasion. SO, re-
gretfully, the Central Labor Union felt
constrained not to divide it's energies
in joining the antilabor prepared
ness" parade conceived and backed
by the militarists.
Only One Union Joined
Other labor unions followed the lead
taken by the Central Labor Union.
Result: Only one union participated
/ in the parade.
Compulsory patriotism of an ex-
treme type was resorted to by Public
Printer Cornelius Ford in order to
draft the $500 employees in the big
Government Printing Office into the