The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1916-08-11
FEDERATION ADHERES TO THE
PRINCIPLE OF DIRECT LEGISLATION

176 names, The three large cities
showed an actual increase in sigma
lures received over the campaign of
1914. In 1914 Seattle secured 1000
names, this year, 9,81S. Tacoma in
1914 secured 497 names, in 1916.
1,O45. Spokane in 1914 furnished
1900 names, in 1915, 1000 names.
Despite the handicap placed on the
rural districts, the trade unionists
might have secured enough signatures
alone and unaided to put the bills
upon the ballot. 1t appears to the
members of the executive committee
that in future campaigns it will be
wise policy to further restrict the
number of measures desired to initiate
and to select measures which par
ticularly affect the organizations rep
resented in this coalition and which
are well understood by our members.
We must bear in mind that the
work of procuring signatures must be
purely voluntary under the law and
in the very nature of things must be
done by people who work for a live
lihood and must do this work in their
spare moments. The men and women
who give of their time to this work,
do so because they want badly the
particular measures enacted into law
and the practical method seems to be
| to select measures, the subject mat
ter of which our workers are familiar
with and which constitute a direct
benefit to our organizations. We say
this with no thought of censure or
criticism of bills we have selected in
the past, but with a realization that
people work hardest for the things
| they want most
Let us not be discouraged nor
downhearted at the failure of this
initiative campaign. Had we in our
industrial movement quit at the first
rebuff we received on the industrial
| field abandoned all organization eff
fort at the first lost strike, we would
never have built up the splendid la
Dor movement we have in this coun-
try today. NJ
Let us not for one moment forget
that We have a campaign of educa-
ton to conduct in connection with
the seven referred measures which
will tax every bit of energy we pos
sess. 1t ought to be evident to every
thinking man and woman within our
ranks that our enemies have engaged
in a campaign of determination of our
movement. The open shop cry which
is being waged in every part of the
country with renewed vigor can have
no other meaning. Whether we aspire
to better the conditions of the work
ing people by legislative means or
united industrial action, the forces of
greed are alert and powerful and are
bringing powerful pressure to create
an adverse public sentiment to the
whole organized labor program
OF the referendum measures to be
voted upon, the bills requiring that
petitions may be signed only at reg
istration offices and in the presence
of registration officials, and the anti
picketing measure, are of the most
vital importance to labor The former
make it practically impossible to ever
initiate or refer legislation The lat
ter strikes at a fundamental prin-
ciple of trade unionism, the passage
of whcih means serious blow to
union effectiveness. How many of us
realize. for instance, that to publish
an unfair list in your own labor pub
lication. or to maintain an unfair list
upon blackboard in your own meet
ing hall constitute a law violation
under strict Interpretation of this
act? In educating the voters of these
most stupendous educational cam
paign it has ever undertaken in this
state. Our forces must be organized
for this campaign as never before.
1t will be vain to spend our time be-
wailing mistakes or losses in the
past. Ours is the constructive task
to build an organization capable of
rendering effective work in the bet
terment of our people
Not discouraged, but determined to
fight on in the cause of labor, the
Washington State Federation of La
Dor, conscious of its potential
strnegth, proud of its achievements.
appeals to the organized labor move
ment to rally to the principles of
democracy in industry which form the
groundwork of unionism.
We deny that our constitutional
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