The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-07-20
TACOMA UNIONS
WILL FIGHT THE
LUMBER BARONS

The Building Trades Council of
Tacoma, being awake to the ac-
tivities of the sawdust aristocrats of
not only that town, but the en-
tire Northwest, at a recent meet
ing adopted the following resolu-
tions:
Whereas, At a meeting of the
large lumber and shingle manufac-
turers and loggers of the North
west, held in Seattle during the
early part of this week, and called
for the express purpose of formulat-
ing ways and means of fighting the
eight-hour day movement and pre-
venting the unionizing of the lum-
Der industry of this district, sum
of money, said to be in excess of
half million dollars, was pledged
to carry on a vigorous warfare
against the labor movement; and
Whereas, To effectually carry out
the aims and purposes of this new
organization, and to spend this vast
sum of money in a way that will
most thoroughly and effectively sub
due labor in this state, an executive
committee was named whose duty it
will be to actively handle the COM
ing campaign of disruption and dis
organization; and
Whereas, Among those named to
act on this committee was Everett
G. Griggs, of Tacoma, who is one
of the owners of the Tacoma Trib-
une and heavy stockhoder in and
president of the st Paul & Tacoma
Lumber company one of the most
notorious "starvation-wag labor
batting, union-hating industrial in
stitutions on the Pacbific coast; and
Whereas, Everett G. Briggs has
for years actively identified himself
with every movement having for its
purpose the crushing of organized
labor, being especially active in the
Employers Association, whose men,
bership was well represented in the
new anti-union organization formed
in Seattle, and which took so active
part in the vindictive fight recent
ly made on the Longshoremen's
union in Tacoma; and
Whereas, this new organization,
which comes into life dedicated sole
ly to the task of making relentless
war on unonism and the principle
of the eight-hour day, has boldly
announced to the world that such
is its own purpose, purpose which
if carried to it's logical elimination,
will spell disaster for every union
man in this city, and destroy the
only organizations that stand be-
tween him and complete industrial
subjugation, with all that such
condition implies, therefore, be it
Unanimously resolved, by the
Building Trades Council of Tacoma,
That every union man and woman in
Tacoma be at once advised of the
menace that confronts them in the
proposed campaign of determination
to be carried on and waged by an
organization, animated by a deadly
malice towards organized labor, and
lusting for the immense war prof
it's that are now in sight, but which
are threatened, in a small way, by
the just demands of the lumber
workers; and be it further
Resolved, That this organization
convey to every unionist in this
city the name of every merchant,
bank, newspaper or other business
enterprise which bears or sustains
any business affiliation to or with
the men who compose this new
"union-busting" lumbermen's organ
ization, so that, instead of supinely
awaiting an attack by these inter-
ests, or any of them, unionists may
at once. declare war on the men
who are aligned with their open and
avowed enemies, and determine, with
out further delay, whether or not
the spirit of Unionism is to perish
in the great State of Washington.
Adopted in business session this
18th day of July, 1917.
BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL OF
TACOMA,
By T. MEREDITH PARSONS,
Secretary.