New-York tribune., 1919-09-09
Obsequies of the O. B. u.
By Chester M. Wright

recognize and support the principle OF
the autonomy Of the national and inter-
national unions and thei. authority to
direct activities with respect TO the or
ganization of their particular trades and
upon what principles such organizations
shall be established.
"The Washington State Federation of
Labor has authority to delegate TO
itself powers that belong solely to the
national and international organizations,
and in which the American Federation Of
Labor or any affiliated body has no au-
thority to interfere.
"The illegal action Of the Washington
State Federation Of Labor above referred
to has been brought to the attention OF
tie executive council Of the American
Federation OF Labor. and the executive
council instructs me to notify the officers
Of your organization that unless they I'M.
mcdiatcly disavow this illegal act and
cease participating in referendum vote
which is in violation OF its charter
pledges and the constitution Of the
American Federation of Labor which the
Washington State Federation Of Labor
promised 10 observe, the executive coun-
ell OF the American Federation Of Labor
will be compelled, under the law, to re-
woke the charter of your state organi-
zation.<
"In that event yourself and associates
understand that the American Federation
of Labor will Immediately establish
bona ide state organization in Wash.ng-
ton and will call on all national and m
ternatonal unions to advise their Wash
ington locals to aft with same"
That made the issue clear, and it was
upon that construction of things that the
state executive council acted
The ruling is of wide Importance, because
it lays down the law for I'll. 1t points
the way which all future One Big Union
advocates must travel and makes it clear
that the machinery of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor cannot be usei for its
own undoing.
The result has been that One Big Union
agitation in the State of Washington is
dead, so far practical purposes are COR
cerncd 1t was in the State of Washington
nd Western Canada that the moveme... lad
its greatest strength. From there came
the oratory that was designed to make the
national wekin ring. But instead Of a
throne for new king there is a tomb
wherein the uncrowned lies dead - and
"from the tomb a dolefu sound writes
into the record the last sad words of the
0. B. U. story i'll that territory.
In Canada the turn of the wheel has been
less spectacular, but the wheel has turned
nevertheless.
Vancouver seems to be the first city to
come back to first principles and make it's
peace with the American Federation OF
Labor and the Canadian Trades and Labor
Assembly.
The Vancouver central body caught the
Winnipeg Seattle fever some tune ago and
voted to quit the parental roof for the
glded though transient domes Of the One
Big Union, which had been heralded as
the great contribution of the Northwest to
posterity.
Nine internationals having locals in Van
couvcr some two weeks ago broke the seces-
sionist ice by petitioning for local reor-
@anization under A. +. of L. and Canadian
Trades and Labor Assembly auspices An
American Federation of Labor organizer
has been the job and new central body
has been formed Thus begins the swing
back from sxtremism in Western Canada
1t is significant that among the unions that
have affiliated with the new Vancouver
central body are the machinists, sheet
metal workers, plumbers boot and shoe
workers. the city lremen and the shipyard
workers.
There is still certain spread of "wab-
bly, inclination over the Northwest. 1t
has been there for years. varying III density
with local conditions. But the epidemic
that broke with such ferocity during the
dog days OF 1919 is clearly down and out
as an epidemic. Discipline and reason have
combined to check what had all the ear
marks of serious industrial illness that
under slightly different conditions might
have persisted for much longer period
with much more serious results