The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-08-17
ny HAMILTON KENDALL


The fourth week OF the timber
workers strike closed with n fruit.
less conference between lumber OPP
orators and labor leaders. followed
by an appeal to the operators 10
grant an oighthour day from Sec.
and Rltho the secretary's telegram
arrived too late 10 be OF any assist,
ance to the state council OF defense
In strike mediation during the con.
ference. II demonstrated beyond
question that the administration
favors tho Standardization OF mill
and timber labor on an eighthou
basis.
The nth week OF the strike open.
ed With the different factions Of
labor standing pat and preparing
for a general walkout In tho camps
and mills OF Northwestern Oregon
Altho the Lum bcrmcn'B association
made eStravAgant claims about tho
resumption OF the mills. II iA IA fact
that not single logging camp that
Was closed by the strike has resum-
ed operations. and should all the
mills open up. they would be com.
PEELED To close down again 90 soon
as the logs on hand are manufac.
tured.
losaers Hold Key
Any man who can stand up can
do the common labor around saw.
mill. but Il takes experienced. tao.
listed. red FLOODED men 10 flll out
rigging crew. or falling and buck
Ing crew. OF logging operation.
Fully 30 per cent OF the men em.
ployed In tho vital operations OF
logging camps declare they will ct.
Their 20 Co British Columbia or take
up some other rcmunerative line OF
work before they will 20 back TO
tho woods on the old schedule.
And the logging camp ia the key
20 the strike situation. LOGS mus,
be logged before they can be sawed.
and no long m the strikers can keep
the camps closed they are masters
OF the situation. and as tho logging
camp operatives are for tho most
part single men. they cannot be
starved out. az they can easily 30
10 any district where labor can be
procured. and send money 20 the
men left on the picket lines.
The outlook IL extremely grave.
and n keen tension ~ felt In In.
dustriai and business circles. owing
TO the portentonH possibilities. OF a
pro,raeted paralysis OF tho lumber
industry.
The lumber haruns rejected all
proposals. 20 recognize unionlxed
labor as being too democratic 10
conform 10 their prssen, au,ocratIc
IDEAS
Lahcr tried patiently and patriot.
ically 20 reach a peaceahle agree
ment with the operators. They pro
posed Ia mediate on n nlnc-h hour
basis Of the first ot April. 1915. but
this offer vas fatty refused. They
then agreed to 20 back TO work for
four months on basis OF eight
hours work and eight hours pay.
TO prove their contention that
man can do as much work in eight
hours rs on the present schedule.
This offer was also promptly re-
jected. The pleadings OF Dr. sur
railo for a manifestation OF patri.
otto obligations TO the boys In the
trenches we're wasted on the stony
senaibiliiies OF tho barons. who
place profits above lives. liberty
and democracy. who place the per
lis OF the nation as a secondary is-
sue when compared with a dimlnu.
ton OF dividends. who place the
blood OF our soldier heroes on q low.
or plane than financial greed.
Tho timber WORKER fully realizes
that he must affiliate with some or.
ganization to protect himself from
the greedy grasp Of capital. He has
conceived the idea. and nothing can
shake his determination TO place
himself in a position 10 demand
fair treatment from his employer.
In a nutshell. the death knuli OF
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