Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-01-18
MARKETING, ANT|.|NJUNCT|0N
N0N.PART|SAN ELECTIONS
THREE BILLS TO BE PRESENTED
TO ELECTORS BY FARMERS
AND UNION LABOR.

Three measures will be presented
to the electors at the coming election
by the State Federation of Labor, the
Grange and the Farmers Union.
The laws to be proposed are market
ing and transportation, anti-injunc-
ton and nOn-partisan elections This
much was decided at the conference
between delegates of Central Labor
bodies of the state, the State Fedora
ton legislative committee and del
egates of the Grange and Joint Leg
islative committee of the three bod
ies-Grange, Federation and Farm
ers' Union, held in Seattle Sunday
last. Three organizers of the Nom
Partisan League-Messrs, Grove,
Smith and Taylor-were also present
and took an active part in the DELHI
erations. Action on the constitution
al revision amendment to be submit
ted at the coming election, called up
by Olympia delegates, was referred
to the State Federation convention,
which meets at Bremerton in June.
Delegates attended the meeting
from Central Labor bodies of Bel
bingham, Everett, Seattle, Tacoma,
Olympia, Grays Harbor. Yakima,
Spokane and Walla Walla. Miss
Lucy Case represented the joint leg
islative committee and Fred Cham
berlain the State Grange.
Acting President Charles Perry
Taylor convened the meeting at 10
a. m. Sunday end the session con-
tinued to l, adjourned and was called
to order again at 2, final adjourn
ment occurring at p. m. though an
abbreviated after-supper session was
held.
The chairman outlined the legisla-
tive problems and exhorted the labor
forces to rally and make certain the
carrying out of the tentative pro-
gram which would be approved at
the meeting.
President Taylor first called upon
the representatives of the Non-Par-
tisan league to get off their chests
the things that made them restless.
Mr. Grove made the principal talk,
which consisted in the main of an
outline of what the league had ac-
complished in other states and what
1t hoped to accomplish in Washing
ton. His two associates contented
themselves with an Endorsement of
the outline presented by Mr.. Grove.
Briefly. tho league intends to get
hold of the machinery of govern
ment and conduct the business of the
commonwealth in the interest Of the
whole people instead of allowing to
continue the present system of oper-
alton for private and corporate in
terests.
C. j. France, attorney of the joint
legislative committee, also attorney
of the Seattle port commission, who
drew the marketing and transporta-
ton bill and the anti-injunction
measure, presented these proposed
laws, with detailed comment on their
provisions.
The marketing and transportation
bill places in the hands Of city coun-
ellis, county commissioners and town
ship officials large powers in the mat
ter of public control of the basic
products such as wheat, sugar, pota-
toes, ETC., and provides method for
the manufacture, If necessary, of
-four and cereals and the buying from
the producer and distribution to the
consumer. at cost, of the common and
necessary articles of food. The bill
also provides for certain transporta-
ton activities in the way of auto
freight routes. trackless trolley sys-
TENS and belt line railways and con-
tains the principle of the initiative
and referendum and recall for con-
troll by the electors of the activities
of municipal officials.
The anti-injunction measure is
practical reprint of the Clayton anti
trust law amendment, with few
changes intended to make the law
less immune to attacks of reaction
airy judges. This measure evoked
the greatest amount of discussion.
The attorney had incorporated in the
bill a section compelling recognition
by the employer of the principle of
collective bargaining by wage work
ers. This provision was ordered
stricken from the law. 1t was ar
gued that the provision violated the
principles for which the labor forces
d-non-interference of the courts
in the personal relations between en-
ployer and employe.
The non-partisan bill is the meas
ure that was presented to the people
by the initiative at the last election
The conference was in unanimous
agreement upon the idea that we
should confine our activities in the
coming campaign to few funda