The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-15

Resolved, That the State Fed
GRAFTON of Labor recommend that
each local union affiliated vote upon
the advisability of forming one Big
Union along industrial lines, and that
should a majority of mum eriCal votes
of the rank and file vote in favor of
industrial union, that the State Fed
GRAFTON of Labor issue a call for a
special conference to be held in the
city of Seattle not less than 60 days
after the final count of votes to out
line the form of organization.
your attention is called to the
fact that the charter of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor issued to all
affiliated organizations including the
Washington State Federation of La
bor makes the following provision:
Provided that the said union do
conform to the constitution, laws,
rules and regulations of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor, and in de-
fault thereof, or any partkthis GER
tificate of affiliation may be sus-
pended or revoked according to the
laws of this Federation
"One of the basic principles upon
which the American Federation of
Labor is founded, set forth in sec
ton ., article ., is the strict recog-
milton of the autonomy of the nation
al and international unions affiliated
with the America Federation of La
Dor.
"The primary object of State Fed
GRAFTON of Labor as recognized by the
American Federation of Labor is
designated in section /, article 2, of
the constitution, as follows: TO Sc
cure legislation in the interests of
the working Masses and of course
for such further helpful cooperative
measures as may be deemed advis-
able to advance the interests of or
ganizations and members thereof,
comprising the respective state fed
erations of labor.
I'm ordering a vote upon the prop
osition to determine whether the To-
cal unions comprising the Washing
ton State Federation of Labor shall
adopt other organization policies,
your organization has absolutely ig-
nored its pledge to recognize and sup
port the principle of the autonomy of
the national and international unions,
and their authority to direct activi-
ties with respect to the organization
of their particular trades, and upon
what principles such organizations
shall be established
The Washington State Federation
of Labor has no authority to dele
gate to itself powers that belong
solely to the national and interna-
tional organizations, and in which
the American Federation of Labor or
any affiliated body has no authority |
to interfere.
The Illegal action of the Wash |
ington State Federation of Labor |
above referred to has been brought !
to the attention of the Executive |
Council of the American Federation |
of Labor and the Executive Council |
instructs me to notify the officers of |
your organization that unless they |
Immediately disaVow this illegal act |
and cease participating in a referen-
charter pledges and the constitution |
of the American Federation of La
Dor, which the Washington State
Federation of Labor promised to OBJ |
serve, the Executive Council Of the |
Federation of Labor will |
be compelled, under the law, to re-
woke the charter of your State or
ganization.
I'm that event yourself and asso-
ciates understand that the Amer
lean Federation of Labor will imme-
diately establish a bona fide State
in Washington and will
call on all national and international
uions to advise their Washington To-
Gals to affiliate with same.
Hoping that the officers of the
State Federation of La
Dor will refuse to create this result
ant discord that will only be bene-
ficial to the opponents of labor, l re-
main,
FRANK MORRISON"
President Short called a meeting
If the Executive Council of the State
Federation of Labor for Thursday,
August 14th, to take up Secretary
Morrison letter, and the decision
If the Council thereto will be i'm
nediately forwarded to all Local
Unions.