The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-22
THE OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF THE
WN. STATE FEDERATION Of LABOR

Federation of Labor will immediate
ly establish a bona fide state organ
ization in Washington and Will call
on all national and international
unions to advise their Washington
locals to affiliate with same.
Hoping that the Officers of the
Washington State Federation of La
Dor will refuse to create this result
ant discord that will only be benefi-
cial to the opponents of labor, l re-
main,
Yours fraternally.
FRANK MORRISON,
Secretary, American Federation of
Labor"
The following day President
Short received the following tele-
gram from Secretary Morrison:
Washington, d. c., Aug. 9, 1919.
William NJ. Short,
sos Maynard Building,
Seattle, Wash.
Under instructions of the EXecu-
tive Council of the American Fedora
ton of Labor, Secretary Taylor was
notified on August second that II
State Officials did not disavow lille
gal action of State Convention and
cease action relative to One Big
Union referendum, its charter would
be revoked and a new State body
formed. The Executive Council
holds that your body had no right to
ignore its charter pledge by submit
ting to affiliates proposition that
conflicts with Nationals and Inter
nationals who have full jurisdiction
in these matters. Action of EXecu-
tive Council is mandatory. Am
wiring Taylor to acknowledge by
wire his receipt of my letter.
FRANK MORRISON"
The Executive Council was called
together at headquarters on Thurs
day, August IA, and endorsed the
following letter and ordered it sent
to Secretary Morrison, of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor:
Seattle, August IA. 1919.
Mr.. Frank Morrison, Secretary,
American Federation of Labor,
Washington, D. c.
Dear Sir and Brother:
Your letter of August 2, addressed
to former Secretary Taylor, followed
by your telegram to President Short
containing an ultimatum that the de-
cision of the Executive Council or
the American Federation of Labor
relative to the O. B. L. resoiutlon
now before our membership must be
Immediately carried out, are both
before us.
We have been called together by
President Short to consider the de-
cision, and, of course, agree to COM
plv with it. Our obligations as of
ficers of the Washington State Fed
Grafton of Labor leave us no other
choice.
However, it has occurred to us
that, as officers of the Federation,
who have always observed the laws
of the American Federation of La
bor, that in a matter of this kind we
should have at least been extended
the courtesy of being consulted in
connection with any act of our Fed
Grafton that might have in any way
violated the laws of the American
Federation of Labor, before any de-
cision was reached by your EXecu-
tive Council.
We feel that as officers of our
State Federation our opinions IN con-
nection with any act of ours that IN
any way related to the laws or the
parent body should have been sought.
rather than to ask only the opinions
and advice of your ORGANIZERS, ana
keep the executive officers OF the
Federation in complete ignorance OF
your contemplated action.
We have always very Loyalty sup
ported the parent body and those
who were chosen to administer its
affairs, and sincerely hope that you
will make 1t possible for us to con-
tinue, but such a course, much as we
desire to pursue it, will be rendered
rather difficult If such an attitude is
continued. Surely it Is not asking
too much that we be considered be-
fore any action concerning the al
fairs of our Federation be taken by
the Executive Council of the parent
body. We take this opportunity to
inform you that in future we shall
insist on such consideration.
We have accepted your ultimatum
and have disaVowed and recalled the
referendum on the Q. b. L. refer
endum, but by complying herewith
we do not acknowledge guilt of the
implied charge of countenancing
secession movement. But, as offlc-
ers in charge here, on the ground
and fortunately situated so that we
can understand the situation much
more thoroughly than the members
of the Executive Council of the
American Federation of Labor pos
sibly can, we advise that a serious
mistake has been made by you. For
many months we have been fighting
to maintain the solidarity of our
movement against all forces that
would divide and destroy it. While IT
Is true that there are forces within
our movement who would attempt
disruption through secession, yet,
with the cooperation of the over