The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-22
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL '-.
4 COMPLIES WITH THE
A. F. OF L. ULTIMATUM
Seattle, Wash, Aug. 16, 1919.


The Executive Council of your
State Federation has just adjourned,
having been called together to con-
slider an ultimatum of the EXecu-
tive Council of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, served on us to
the effect that we must Immediately
disavow and recall the referendum
on the o. B. U. resolution.
Your Executive Council pursued
the only logical course open to it
to accept and comply with the same,
but in order that the membership
of the Federation may be made
thoroughly familiar with the
decision Of both your Executive
Council and that of the American
Federation of Labor, and the rea-
sons therefor, we are including in
This circular all of the communlca-
tions that have passed between the
two bodies in connection therewlth'
followed by a brief summary of the
policy we suggest to meet the needs
of the situation.
On August 8th, we received the
following communication from
Secretary Morrison, of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor
washington, d. c., Aug. 2, 1919.
Secretary Washington State feoera-
ton of Labor
Seattle, Washington.
Dear Sir and Brother:
The Washington State Federation
of Labor has ordered its afflhated
unions to take a referendum vote
upon the proposition of forming one
big union along industrial lines, the
vote to determine whether or not
call for a special conference shoulo
he issued to carry the decision in Ia
yor of the formation of such a union,
If the vote resulted that way, into
I have a copy of the official docu-
ment issued by the Washington State
Federation of Labor under the cap
tion Referendum Vote" dated Ia
coma, Washington July l, 1919. rms
particular proposition is deslgnated
as No. 8, and reads as follows:
mo. s. The Convention ordered
the following submitted to referen-
DUN vote:
"Resolved, That the State Fed
Grafton of Labor recommend
that each Local Union affiliat-
ed vote upon the advisability or
forming One Big Union along in
dustrial lines, and that should a
majority of numerical vote or
the rank and file vote In favor
of Industrial Unionism, that the
state Federation of Labor issue
a call for a special conference
to be held in the City of Seattle
not less than sixty 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 American
Federation of Labor issued to all af-
filiated 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
American Federation of Labor,
and in default thereof, or any
part, this certificate of affilia-
zion may be suspended or re-
voked 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
tion Q Article ., is the strict recog-
milton of the autonomy of the nation
al and international unions afflllated
with the American Federation of La
Dor.
The primary object of the State
Federation of Labor as recognized by
the American Federation of Labor is
designated in Section /, Article of
the constitution as follows: ito Sc
cure legislation in the interests or
the working masses" and OF course
for such further helpful cooperative
measures as may be deemed advis-
able TO advance the interests of the
Organizations and members thereof.
Comprising the respective State Fed
erations of Labor
t In 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
support the principle of autonomy of
the National and International
Unions, and their authority to di-
rect activities with respect to the or
ganization of their particular trades.
and upon what principles such or
ganizations 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 author
ity to interfere.
The illegal action of the Washing
ton State Federation of Labor above
referred to has been brought to the
attention of the Executive Council
of the American Federation of La
bor and the Executive Council in
structs me to notify the officers of
your organization that unless they
Immediately disavow this illegal act
and cease participating in a refer
endum vote which is in violation OF
Its charter pledges and the constitu-
ton of the American Federation of
Labor, which the Washington State
Federation of Labor promised to oh
serve, the Executive Council of the
American Federation of Labor will
be compelled under the law, to re-
yoke the charter of your State Or
ganization.
In that event yourself and asso-
ciates understand that the American