The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-16
BY E. p. MARSH
President Washington State Fed
Grafton of Labor.

At this writing all efforts to
adjust the big lumber strike on
terms of fairness to the strikers
have failed.
Responsibility for this failure
lies squarely upon the shoulders
of the lumbermen, who resisted
pressure brought from every quar-
ter and stubbornly persisted in the
attitude once assumed by certain
"malefactors of great wealth,
viz, 1.-The public be damned"
For some time strenuous ef-
forts were put forth to make 1t
appear that this entire lumber
trouble was an l. w. w. move
ment, the men in the main ceas-
ing from work thru fear of bod
lily harm. To the last some of the
operators hammered away on this
charge, but 1t fell flat.
Fifteen thousand men were or
ganized under the American Fed
Grafton of Labor within three
weeks from the strike date. Thou
sands more came out who have
not as yet been reached by organ
ization; came out because their
minds were set upon the shorter
work day and deemed the time
opportune to join with their fell
low workmen in this shorter work
day campaign.
Stood for Cancellation.
From first to last the Interna-
tional Union Of Single Weavers
and the International Union OF
Timberworkers held steadily to
the policy of negotiation and con-
Citation. They appreciated fully
the gravity of the national situa-
tion and attuned their policy to
the least disturbance of industrial
activity necessary to aid the gov
eminent In its war program.
They asked the State Council
of Defense to use it's good office;
to bring about a conference tive
weeks previous to the strike date
They asked the representatives o
the state and federal labor de
partments to assist in bringini
about a conference between tn,
contending parties.
! Again and again they sough
directly to bring about confer
enees between their officials ant
the lumber manufacturers look
ing toward an amlcable settle
ment. Arrogantly the lumbermel
refused, not only the peace offer
of the men, but the intercessioi
of representatives of the Unite,
States government.
| Compelled to Yield.
The pressure grew so stron,
that finally they were compelle'
to come into conference, takin,
refuge behind the plea-whicl
fooled nobody-that "only tn
governments war predicament'
brought them into conference
Was ever patriotism" NOR
shamefully abused!
Thru the efforts of the Stat
Council of Defense a conferenc,
was finally arranged.
The operators sought to SHOW
the granting OF an eight-hour da.
at 10 hours pay would utterl!
ruin the industry.
The men, while not satisfied
that this was entirely true; never
theless countered by offering tt
waive the entire question o
wages, union recognition and 9th
er demands IL the eight-hour da!
by itself would be granted.
They went further. They Of
fered to work 10 hours withou
additional overtime pay on al
government contracts.
The operators endeavored Il
show that the men were unpat
riotic in that they were demand
ing a new condition of employ
ment," therefore. going contrar,
to the policy OF the national de
fence council, which declared fol
mo change In existing WORKING
standards during the period Of tn,
war without first having the ap
prevail of the council to sucl
change"
This ground was cut from un
der their feet when Samuel Com
pers, who may In fairness be salt
to represent the national laboi
viewpoint of the national council
telegraphed that "the eight-houl
day in industry WAS a labol
standard and the men entirel,
right in demanding that it be es
tablished where 1t had not hither
to obtained"
Ignored Government.
To clinch the whole matter, the
lsecretary of war, chairman of thu
National Council of Defense, tele
graphed that eight hours a day
and time and one-half for over
time was the government stand
ard, and urged the lumbermen In
the name Of patriotism to estab
lish that standard and end. the
strike. And stfll the lum bernie
refused. Good God, would the