Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-03-22

SohihiOu GAIL dCtOi, VIC oS0iS III CA
tractor. one complete set of the very
best shirt finishing machinery, in
GLIDING what is known as the Gug-
genheim press of the "flopper", type,
the last word, one sleever, one collar
and cuff dampening press, and one
hydraulic dampening press.
This puts the Mutual in a position
to turn out the very highest quality
of work, with greatly increased ca
pacity. When the first weeks bust
ness, two and half years ago, was
checked up it was $188. The growth
has been steady, until 1t now has we'll
passed the $4,000 per week mark,
and the end is not yet.
The fuel and supply question has
been hard problem to solve. The
cost of fuel during the last few weeks
has increased from $3.50 to $500 per
month alone. In the interest of con-
servation and greater efficiency many
changes have been made. One was
the covering of the entire boiler with
asbestos, and another was the con-
struction Of a large steam trap at a
cost of $3.50.
One difficulty to overcome was the
matter of getting supplies. Evident
ly at the suggestion of the Laundry
Mems Club. the machinery and sup
ply houses refused to sell to the Mu-
tual, even for cash. The Laundry
Mems Club and its official organ, the
Pacific Laundry Man, persistently
predicted the Mutual would fail with
in 80 days. Later this was extended
to six months, and finally to slow
death. The conspiracy did work for
a while, but the Mutual kept running.
The conspirators had US outlawed,
and they tried to kill the Mutual, but
failed. 1t was against the laundry
kings that the Mutual had sinned.
and they attempted to mete out the
punishment. In a nutshell the sin
consisted in the nerve Of the Mutual
in paying the girls no less than $40
per week, while the kings paid only
$6-and they thought they we're pay
ing too much at that. Besides, the
sanitary and working conditions at
the Mutual were superior in every
way. Serving free hot coffee to the
employees every noon, in clean.
steam-heated and we'll furnished
lunch room is considered a good in
vestment at the Mutual, and is con-
ducive to greater harmony and eff
cheney. But 1t did not take we'll with
the Laundry Mems Club. So they
used the CLUB" on the Mutual. Being
owned by the workers, 1t was some
what like its owners-it had had the
club over its head 30 long 1t was used
to it. Unlike most workers, the man
ager and his co-workers did not swal-
low the club. It was against their
principles. They busted the "club."
And today the Mutual is at liberty to
purchase any and all supplies. any
where. even in Seattle. Somehow.
after two years of struggle the Mu-
tual is really beginning to enjoy q
title bit Of democracy.
i The Mutual has from time to time
made voluntary increases In wages.
Just at this time another one has
been made. These increases are not
made ON the basis which the Laundry
Mems Club last summer, before the
strike, made voluntary increases. At
that time they voluntarily" raised
the girls pay 20 per cent above the
state law. The law calls for -. Ac-
cording to the kings way Of figuring,
20 per cent added to 80 makes $5.97,
which was the wage the girls in many
cases received up till the week of the
strike.
1t pays the Mutual to cooperate
with its employees. Co-operators are
union men.
Are all union men co-operators?
II not, why not? Be consistent. II
you are carrying a union card in your
pocket, live the life Of a union man.
Patronize yourself. You can be the
owner as we'll as the worker.