Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1917-07-12
|. WV. OPERATIONS
Grave MENACE
TO INDUSTRY
GENERAL WALK-OUT EFFECTED
| AT WINCHESTER CAMPS-AGI-
TATIoN OVER NORTHWEST.
GOVERNOR COMES NORTH
Declares Intention to Make Peacable
Adjustment-nihtary Rule If
it is Necessary.

The |. w. w. disturbances in this
state have reached rather serious pro-
portions and their threats are menace
to our industries. The action most
nearly touching this section is the re-
cent closing of the Winchester Mills
and logging camps of the Craig Noun
tain Lumber Company on June 80. This
was effected by an organization among
the mill hands and the agitation of GER
tain |. w. w. delegates sent from Spo-
| kane Most of the men admit that they
have no complaint against the company
but the delegate instructed them to
demand an hour day, free board, no
work on Sundays or holidays aui $50
per month Some of the men who talk
ed to their foremen stated they would
rather work for the company as they
had been doing but that the threats of
| the |. w. Ws. had terrified them and
they dared not fight the organization
alone.
About 25 laborers working ON a sewer
| in NeZperce walked out on the same day
putting a stop to the work. 1t is said
that about three weeks ago the L. w.
VS. shipped over 120 men from Portland
to Lewiston ON free transportation
promising to take positions ON the
oppiatihS III thC NohdhO
Many of them failed to take the jobs
offered and it is certain that they had
little intention of fulfilling their con
tracts. The evidences are that the or
lganization is engaged in a prearranged
right and intends to win consequently il
/ will take vigorous measures to combat
them and defeat their malicious plans.
| According to an interview given out
by United States District Attorney
Clarence Reames July g, at Portland,
the Government has conclusive proof
that the !. w. w. is backed by German
money. He declares that the /. w. w.
is the greatest menace to the welfare of
the United States and that Uncle Sam
is going to spare no means to down
them.
In the light of this, the statement of
the |. w. w. delegate at Winchester
takes on significance. 1t is said that
one of the delegates approached Presi
dent f. II. Van Ostrand and stated that
the organization intended to win its
fight and had plenty money to back up
Its operations not less than $4,000, 900.
Mr.. Van Ostrand reminded him that in
its last annual statement the organiza-
tion reported only $4,000 in it's treas
Jury The man declined to make any
answer and walked away.
Said Governor James Whitcombe a
few days ago: 1.-The situation from in
formation which has been coming in to
me is much more alarming than the peo-
pie realize. / want the citizens to be-
come alive to the fact that this l. W, w.
movement is a real menace.' I. W. w.
activity throughout the Northwest is
Unprecedented. Strikers have tied up
camps in eastern Washington as well as
/ in the Idaho panhandle.
, Last Saturday afternoon Governor
| Alexander left the capital for North
t Idaho to try some means of concilia-
| | ton in the labor disputes. He declared
/ that he would do everything in his
! power to come to "A peacable agreement,
but if that could not be reached other
t measures will be taken. The Governor
: is backed by the secretary of state and
t holds the executive power. According
to n statement published in the Capital
: News the Governor said, on his depar-
] Iture:
IL will give the l. w. w. trouble my
: Immediate attention, - said Governor
= Alexander, and will leave at o. CLOCK
this afternoon for the north, accom-
e panied by the secretary of state, who
e will bear with him the great seal OF
the state of Idaho, so that whatever
action is decided upon we can take on
the ground without delay. 1t is our
purpose to do all we can to bring about
e a peaceful settlement and establish the
h status quo so that the peaceful con
IS ditions that have existed in the past
y may continue
a ~ have been informed that the |
e W. W. has, camp at Spirit Lake an'
n that many of its leaders are congre
,l gated there ] will 60 to Spirit Lake
1t if that is the case, and meet the lead
y ers of the organization direct. l an
N informed that the situation is seriou
d and that trouble is evident on all sides
10 Still / believe there must be some wa.
ID for a peaceful settlement to be brough
to about. If there is no such way, the
III other steps will be taken to see that tn
ID disturbances cease.