Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-03-08
UNION LABOR TO
START LAUNDRY
INCORPORATION OF MUTUA L
LAUNDRY COMPANY, CAPITAL
$4,000.

A cooperative laundry win be es'
tablished in Olympia.
Incorporation papers for the Olym.
pia Mutual Laundry Co., with a cap
italization Of $4,000, and shares al
SO each, have been filed.
The mass meeting, held in Labor
Hall, Thursday evening. February %,
nominated a committee of nine, and
this committee met with an attorney
Immediately following adjournment,
and directed preparation of incorpo-
ration papers, rules and regulations
of the company.
Individuals in the mass meeting
contributed $3.50 to start the ma
chinery Of organization, while all
present signified Willingness to take
stock in the new concern.
The. committee, which has signed
the articles of Incorporation of the
laundry company as directors is as
follows: A. J. Stocks, l.. Vaughn, c.
C. Haywood, Ed Cowan. Dan Guiles.
Geo. w. Lish, p. M. Kendrick, Fred
Hudson.
The mass meeting was called by
the committee of the Trades Council
which Is directing the fight Of the
employees against the local laundries.
Present at the meeting as leading
speakers we're o. H. McGill and Carl
Lunn, of Seattle
President A. ]. Stocks of the
Trades Council opened the meeting
as chairman, announced its purpose,
and called upon the secretary of the
Council to give an outline of the ne
gotiations with the laundry owners,
conditions Of employment in the
laundries and the steps taken by or
ganized labor to improve the situa-
ton.
Vice. President Edwin Elder of the
Carpenters. was then presented. Mr..
Elder expressed faith in the attempt
of the unions to establish humane
in the laundries, and told
a couple Of good stories, which put
the assembled people in good humor.
Carl Lunh was then introduced.
Mr.. Lunn is fourth vice president of
the International Union of Laundry
Workers. q stakeholder in the Seattle
Mutual Laundry and an employe of
that institution. He is an organiser
OF the Puget Sound Cooperative
Wholesale Association. Mr.. Lunn
gave a most interesting and convinc-
ing word picture of the conditions In
the laundry industry Of Seattle during
the last 10 years and prior to the
esta blishment Of the Mutual Laundry.
a company financed and controlled
by organized labor in Seattle.
Laundry workers have been organ
lied in Seattle for years. but we're un-
able to cope with the strong laundry
mems association until the Mutual
company came into the field.
The laundry owners cooked their own
goose by the abominable conditions of
and low wages paid. The
promotion Of the cooperative laun-
dry. the successful consummation of
the enterprise, the improved work.
ing conditions thus brought about,
and the better service given the pub
lie, forced the laundry owners to
change front. Seattle now boasts Of
union shop rules and fair wages and
reasonable conditions for workers in
all laundries except one small insti-
tuition in West Seattle. Mr.. Lunn's
description of the fine sanitary ar
of the Mutual Laundry,
of the beautiful spirit OF fraternity
relations of the en-
ployes and the faithful and efficient
service given by them in their daily
duties, was received with enthusiasm
by the audience.
Seven employees Of local laundry
the meeting, in face OF the
fact that they had been warned by
their employer to stay away on pain
Of dismissal. Mr.. Lunn met with
them after adjournment and took up
the question Of forming a union in
this city.
Dan Guiles recited an original
poem. the laundry situation being
the subject:
You'll Get There Just the Same.
been q little trouble with the
laundries. so they say;
They'd like to get the work, but hate
to let go of the pay.
The drivers. they refused to work all
day and half the night.
And then the girls were underpaid-
that's what brot on the fight.
Chorus.
Never mind. we're going to see you
through;
Stand your ground and sec what
comes to you,
For Labor's organized to fight your