Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-01-04
THE LOCAL GRlST

resented by less than half of the
active organizations and less than
one-third of the membership in this
city at this time. Some of the or
CARNATIONS were struggling between
life and death for existence, while
others were merely holding their
own, and in very few instances were
material increases in membership
being made.
AS We will remember, shortly after
the first of the last year the Ship
wrights and Shipyard Laborers were
organized and following them came
the Steam and Operating Engineers,
and others followed in rapid success
sion until at the present time, when
the last union to be added to the list
is the Blacksmiths. This makes a
grand total of % local unions in
the city at this time, with nearly
thousand members.
1t is unnecessary to enumerate in
dividual cases where great good has
come to the workman from organi-
cation, but in a general way I want
to emphasize the good that has re-
suited to organized labor generally
and the possibilities for betterment
of working class conditions in the
very near future.
While wages have not in all cases
kept pace with the increased cost Of
living, most all of the unions have
secured material increases in wages,
and some of the crafts have been sue
cessful in securing adoption Of their
wages scales in their entirety. This
means that the justice of the de-
mands were conceded. Working con-
ditions are an important factor, and
in a number of cases these have been
improved. 1t also has been admitted
by the employer in number of
cases where the working conditions
have been changed to meet the de-
mands of the unions that greater
degree of efficiency has been secured
under revised conditions than under
the old.
With the greatly increased force
of union men it should not be diff
ficult matter to complete the organ
ization of every available individual
and to organize a number Of new
locals in industries now unorganized.
To accomplish this. however, re-
auires effort on the part of the men,
bership of older locals. and. indeed,
the united cooperation of all the
present organizations.
One thing needed is a labor paper.
to carry to members of the several
organized bodies the local news and
matters of general interest in the
labor world In no way can the
members be more generally benefited
than by such paper.
1t is impossible at present to have
a local labor paper which will issue
daily, but 1t is possible for us to
have paper which will issue once a
week and which will come to the
members at nominal cost This
has already been arranged for with
the publishers of the Washington
Standard and it will in turn be pre-
scented to the local unions for con-
sideration.
1t is impossible to comprehend the
great amount of good that this labor
page will do, but it is reasonable to
assume that it will be far-reaching
in it's influence, in placing before the
members of the several unions the
issues to which their attention
should be called, and also in placing
before the public our side of issues
one of the greatest drawbacks that
the labor movement has not had a
paper in which it could express itself
and the laboring people have been
taken advantage of often as a result.
Now we trust that as this oppOrtu-
nifty presents itself every organiza-
ton will get behind the movement
and see it through. Suggestions
that may help are wanted II you
have any item of news Of interest to
this page. send 1t in. Let us all feel
that each is a cog in the great wheel
of the Labor Movement, that each has
his responsibilities. and If we faith
fully perform our part of the work
and do our bit there aer sure to be
great returns to us this year-re-
turns in which we will all share.
With kindest personal regards tc
you. and my best wishes for a very
happy and successful New Year.
am Yours fraternally,
C.. B. YOUNG.