The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-01-26

| The principle of the trade agreement
was adopted as one of the cardinal
principles of the organization, with
scarcely dissenting voice and with
no dissenting vote. The power
hitherto vested in local union to de-
clare strike on or off at will was
abrogated and the International Exc
cutive Board made the final strike
arbiter. The organization was build
ing firmly at last. This convention
determined to make a stand for a
restoration of the 1915 scale through
out the jurisdiction, nothing less and
nothing more. May 1st was set as
the date when this should be effec-
tive.
The 1916 Strike
On May l, or shortly after, ma
| jority of the mills in the state, in
Guiding some of the largest produc-
ing plants existent, paid the scale and
good feeling prevailed. Not so in
Everett. In this city, the operators
made their great mistake, a mistake
for which they were to pay proper
tionately as dearly as had the weav-
ers in the past through theirs. They
could not or would not read the signs
of the times. They thought they had
killed the spirit of unionism, an il
fusion which many shortsighted en-
ployers in other lines have Rugged
to their breasts in days gone by and
for which they have dearly paid.
They should have recognized that it
is as natural and as inevitable that
working men should organize for mu-
tual protection in this age of highly
organized society as it is to eat, to
breathe, to sleep. They should have
seen in the newly adopted organic
law of the international organization,
an appeal to the reasoning, sane bust
ness instincts of men, should have
understood that a new era in con-
tractual relationship between employ
er and employe was lowering on the
threshold Of the single industry.
They could not seey they would not
believe. Imbued with the senseless
theory that industrial peace" could
be maintained by allowing them to
run their own business without in
reference from the union" they
spurned the olive branch of concilia-
ton held out to them by union of
ficials, and the strike was on. What
can be more nonsensical than the
plant 1--WE own the business and we
are going to run it our own wav."
Society today allows no man or set
of men to run a business their own
way" if that way runs contrary to
the best interests of society as a
whole.
But one demand was ever or has
ever been made since the induction of
this strike, and that was the restora-
ton of the 1915 scale. By inference
at least the promise had been made
at the termination of the 1915 strike
that when the single prices became
normal the wage would be restored.
They were restored in other parts of
the state, but were steadily refused
in Everett, though Everett was on
the same cost production basis as
were other tidewater mills. No union
recognition was ever asked for in
this strike, it was a question of
wages and wages only.
For time no attempt was made TO
operate any of the struck plants.
Within comparatively short time
the Seaside Single Company, own
ing one of the largest plants in the
city, broke away from the combina-
ton, put the old union crew back at
work at the union scale and is run
ming at this day, with a splendid
force of workmen, spirit of har-
mony and loyalty prevailing.
About June 1, several of the other
plants began the importation of
workmen in an effort to break the
strike. Notorious scab herders. men
who had made record for develtrv
In other localities in other strikes.
were employed as strike guards.
The formula for strike breaking new