The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-01
THE OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF THE
WIN. STATE FEDERATION Of LABOR
Continued from Page One.)

Continued fir
ingtou The pitiable failure Of the
present effort in Western Canada
affords example enough, if the
whole history of our labor move
ment were not replete with similar
lessons.
There are two separate groups of
industrial unionists in the Amer
lean labor movement. The first
group, headed by the United Mine
Workers, believes in INDUSTRIAL
ORGANIZATION BY INDUSTRY
within the American Federation Of
Labor; the second group, headed by
the J. W. W. believes in "ONE BIG
UNION ALONG INDUSTRIAL
LINES. separate and apart from the
American Federation of Labor. I
belong to the former group, and be-
lieye the tendency among the rank
and file is TO align themselves with
the former group.
A large portion of this former
group is being misled by the latter
group. by being told that THIS
RESOLUTION would establish the
ideal they believe in. Nothing could
be more misleading This Resolu-
tion is an exact copy of the one in
troduced in the Calgary conference
which brought about the Western
Canadian 0. B. [. with its secession,
its disruption and failure. The Or
ganized Miners of District IS |
(Which comprises Eastern B. c. and
Alberta). were deluded into follow
ing the o. B. [ will O. the wisp";
they severed their connections with
the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea, and have for some time been on
strike. while the non-union miners
of Vancouver Island have been at
work. Without the support of their
powerful International, defeat
quickly faced them, and fully dis
they have again appealed
to their International to save them
from disaster and defeat. What
has proved true with the miners is
proving true with most of the other
unions. The o. B. U. is losing
ground each day, and the expert
ment of Western Canada, like all
similar experiments, is proving
costly to the workers. Shall we
foolishly pay the same price?
think not.
This letter is sent to you for two
purposes. First: To reveal clearly
to the rank and file just what the
resolution really means. And, sec
ond: To urge that every member
of every Local affiliated with the
participate in the refer
endum. There is a dangerous ten
dency on the part of those opposed |
to the resolution to ignore action
on it. This is a fatal mistake. If |
only those who favor the resolution |
vote on this question the conference
will be called. Those who oppose
It, and fail to vote, will not be rep
The conference thus held
will, carrying out the provisions of
he resolution, proceed to form the
o. B. u" while all the other or
will decide to stay with
he existing movement, and will do
% with the unlimited financial and
moral backing of their Information
lis. A split in the solid ranks of
,ur movement will resultant re-
ult to the injury of all concerned
want the greatest progress hui
manly possible for our movement,
,ut progress is always defeated by
isunion.
\ full vote of every union must
e registered, and if the solidarity
f our movement is to be main
aimed, and it's opportunity for sub
tantiaI progress preserved, the vote
hould be overwhelmingly against
he resolution.
Fraternally yours,
WILLIAM NJ. SHORT,
President, Washington State Fed