The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-09-07
THE SPOKANE LABOR COUNCIL
ACTED UNDER EXCITEMENT

gram was sent to Governor Lister
by James Rowan, secretary of the
Spokane district of the |. w. w.
Governor Lister,
| Olympia, Wash.
Have been instructed to inform
you that it has been decided by an
overwhelming majority of men on
job to call general strike in harvest
fields, fruit orchards and on all con-
struction work in northwest if all
l. w. w. prisoners are not released
before August goth.
The men still held were military
prisoners, some of them charged with
evasion of the federal statute before
mentioned. 1t does not appear that
any charge was placed against the
great majority of men held, they
were arrested under a plea of mill
tary necessity and held for examina-
tion.
The strike order to be effective on
August 18th emanated from Spokane
where the district secretary, Jas.
Rowan, was located. On August
10Th a detachment of troops closed
the Spokane headquarters and ar
rested twenty-siX men, alleged to be
members of the l. w. W., among
them being Jas. Rowan the secre-
tary. They were placed by the fed
eral authorities in the county Jail.
Upon the date of our investigation,
all but eleven of them had been re-
leased, the remainder being held un-
der federal orders until further
notice.
On August 18th the following tele-
gram was received by Governor Lis
ter from city and county officials
of Spokane:
Hon. Ernest Lister,
Governor of the State of Wash
ington, Olympia Wash.
Sir-We, the undersigned, city and
county officials, at this time respect
fully represent that the |. w. w.
situation in this vicinity is rapidly
becoming serious menace to this
community. The crops are in dan
ger of not being harvested, due to
the activities of the l. w. w. or
ganization, which apparently has
headquarters here. Already the l.
W. w. organization has declared a
strike against the lumber industry
and the men are intimidated who
do not join with them in their en-
deavors to stop all operations. Suf-
ficient evidence is not obtainable un-
der the existing state laws to prose-
cute the criminal element of this
unpatriotic organization, and the pop
ulation of this section of the state
has been aroused to such an extent
that sooner or later there may be
bloodshed. All patriotic citizens are
now earnestly endeavoring to de-
velop the various industries of the
country to aid in successfully wag-
ing the war in which our country
IS now engaged. If the industries
of the country are to be hampered
and the crops are not harvested, this
section of the country will not do its
full share toward carrying on the
war to a successful termination.
Technically the offenses are not
against any state and city laws,
but rather against the government Of
the United States. In order that
the leaders of the l. w. w. organ
ization may be curbed in their un-
lawful activities and that bloodshed
may not shortly occur and produc-
tion cease in the Inland Empire, we
deem it advisable that action be tax
en- by yourself or federal authorities
having the power to handle the sit
uation and deal summarily with un-
patriotic persons of this community
who are attempting to cripple indus
try and production through their vi
cious activities and by their tan
talizing methods arouse good citi-
zens who have been harassed to deal
with the situation regardless of ex-
listing laws. Our opinion is that in
time of war the energies of the
country should be directed toward
production and that no organization
nor body of individuals should be al
lowed to thwart industry and pro-
duction and thus embarass the gov
ernment in successfully waging the
war.
Respectfully yours,
CHAS. R. HOWARD,
]. S. BISHOP,
County Commissioners.
C. A. FLEMING,
j. C. ARGALL,