Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-03-15

ure at the ballot box in the fall of
1915. But the Washington state SUI
preme court, wilfully disregarding
this emphatic verdict of the people,
and in cool and insolent defiance of
the popular will, handed down de-
cision in July, 1917, in which they
declared even peaceful picketing un-
lawful, and extended the liability Of
unions in labor controversies to q
point which threatens their exist
ence. This decision incorporates every
reactionary principle announced
In every reactionary decision Of the
last 20 years, and it spells the end Of
strikes in the state of Washington.
The supreme court of the United
States, in two recent decisions, saw
agely tears at the heart Of unionism.
In these decisions the court an
nounces the principle that where an
employer requires, as condition OF
employment, that his employee shall
not belong to or join a labor union,
1t is an unlawful conspiracy" to ask
such employee to join labor union,
for the purpose of unionizing such a
plant. In other words, under this
rulingof the supreme court, any en-
ployer may run his business on the
"open shop" plan, and any attempt
on the part Of organized labor to
bring about the union shop in such
a plant is unlawful conspiracy"
Blind indeed is the man who can
not see the sinister threat back Of
these decisions. Employers may
lawfully unite in one vast association
and, under the protection of the law,
cal as an association with their en-
ployes. But when poor wage work
ers join hands in labor unions for
mutual protection, and seek to deal
with the employers, not as helpless
individuals but as an organization,
the supreme court damns such an
effort as "a malicious and unlawful
conspiracy" Verify has this great
court become "a little brother of the
rich." the willing instrument Of
class-conscious oligarchy Of wealth.
whose avowed purpose is complete
crushing of the labor movement.
The trend of these later decisions
marks new era In the war Of capt.
tai against labor. 1t is Just as we'll
that the courts Of this country have
thrown on the mask, and now stand
forth as the open and avowed de-
tenders and guardians Of entrenched
privilege. But now, that even the
thin veil of pretense is torn aside,
what is to be your answer to the
blunt, brutal, and insolent challenge?
A humorous political philosopher
has said that "the supreme court fol-
lows the election returns" You can
add grim and significant meaning
to this pithy phrase by putting tre-
mendous delegations of your own
fighting men in state legislatures and
In congress. who will handle these
stabilized pets of big business without
gloves.
A dozen bills we're allowed.
Secretary made financial state
meat on behalf of dance committee,
and moved that the dances be dis
continued. The motion was adopted
without debate.
Cliff Haywood made a report on
behalf of the committee having the
laundry situation In hand.
Secretary announced that he had
received petitions for the three ini-
tiative measures proposed by the
Grange. State Federation Of Labor
and Farmers Union.
H. L. Hughes was called upon by
President Stocks and made an adj
dress on the subject of the recent
conference of labor men in Washing
ton. d. c., which he attended.
Striking features Of the address
consisted of testimony to the loyal
part taken by union labor in the ma
tons crisis. to the forward-looking
policy Of the Wilson administration
In harmony with the union labor
movement. and the assertion that
the demand for CONSUMPTION Of labor
was being agitated by pro-Germans
and unpatriotic employers.
Hughes said that 1t gladdened the
heart and strengthened the faith of
the union man to sit in the Labor
Department at Washington and wit
ness representatives of the largest
employers of labor In the country
appealing for instructions as to
dealings with organized labor. To
the question whether the govern
ment desired that employers deal
with labor in its organized capacity.
the answer of the government was,
Yes; that is the wish of the gov
eminent" Eulogizing the respon-
sible leaders in the administration,
the speaker declared that the gov
eminent was entitled to all the CO.