The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-08-24
COMPREHENSIVE STATEMENT
OF THE LUMBER SITUATION IN
MARSH'S LETTER TO POINDEXTER

AS a matter of historical record
and as a perfectly truthful state
ment of the lumber strike situation
The Journal prints this week the fol-
lowing letter from E. p. Marsh to
Senator Pindexter:
August IS, 1917.
Hon. Miles Poindexter,
Washington, D. c.:
My Dear Senator:-I noticed in
press dispatches of yesterday that
you had read in Congress a memorial
from the employees of the Clear Lake
Lumber Company, asking for the
eight-hour day by federal legislation.
The dispatch further stated that you
had introduced, or would introduce,
bill for the introduction of the
eight-hour day universally in the
timber industry.
| happen to be the labor member
of the State Council of Defense and
it was at my suggestion that the
State Council first took up the threat
ened strike in the lumber industry
and tried to effect settlement.
am also an international vice presl-
dent of one of the unions involved IN
this strike. l acted as member OF
a special committee of three from the
State Council which investigated re-
ported l. w. w. activities in Kittitas
and Yakima counties, which threat
ened the food supply of the Yakima
valley. l believe I am in a position
to speak with accurate knowledge OF
the industrial situation in this state,
particularly the situation in the lum-
ber industry. If this letter, there
fore, is at some considerable length,
it is because I want you to see this
situation as l see it, believing it
will be helpful to you in considera-
tion of this problem.
While the 1. w. w. problem is
mixed up in this strike, it was not
started by them, nor are they more
than one of the factors that all COM
bined has produced the situation
Where they come in l will try and
make plain to you later.
The Shingle Weavers' International
Union is a body chartered from the
American Federation of Labor, be-
lieves in the trade agreement prlnci-
ple and works along that line where
ever possible. 1t has been in existence
for sixteen years. Their annual
convention was held in Everett May
21st last. This convention declared
for an eight hour day with ten hours
nav. 1t instructed it's international
officials to seek a conference with
the employers, looking toward an
amicable adjustment. Failing to Sc
cure such conference, the conven-
ton was to be re-convened as soon
after June Goth as possible. The
officers of the union Immediately
sought conference but failed. On
June 3Oth the special convention was
held and the matter of striking de-
cided upon. At my urgent request
the strike date was postponed until
July 10th in order that | might
work through the State Council of
Defense for conference between the
contending parties. / Immediately
took the matter up with the state
council and I was instructed to bring
into the situation the state and fed
eral labor departments in an effort
to bring about mediation. Henry
White had been ordered by Secretary
of Labor Wilson to proceed to Alaska
to mediate a mining strike. l
wrote the Secretary at length of the
impending trouble in several of our
large industries and at my recon-
mendation the Secretary instructed
Mr.. White to remain in this state
and gave him broad powers to rep
resent the federal labor department
in adjusting labor troubles existent
or that might arise. Mr.. White
and the State Labor Commissioner, Mr..
Younger, Immediately took up the
problem. Both verbally and by writ
ten communication they got in touch
with the officials of the State In
dustrial Association and with the
Lumberman's League, an organiza-
ton representing all branches of the
timber industry formed to resist the
industrial demands of the men, but
were utterly unable to bring about
a conference | might add that for
ten days the employers failed to even
reply to the written request of the
federal and state officials for a
conference.
On July 10th the daily papers bore
tho inform ation that at q meetinp at-