The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-06-13
CLOSED SEASON
FOR Al FISHING

After the December convention Of
/ the Al their monthly bulletin stat
ed that 10000 men had voted in
favor of continuing that organiza-
ton At the present time they
claim from $4,000 to 10000 mem
hers. What is the reason for them
losing over one-half of their mem
bership in so short a time? If it is
such a grand organization and was
| to be Of great benefit to both the
employers and employees, why have
they not been able to retain their
full membership? We know, of
course. no organization would
please everyone, but there must be
something wrong with the Al.
Read the Al constitution and by
laws, and you viii find the reason.
1t was drawn up with the hope
that the employees of the mills and
camps would be unable to read, or
that they would not take the time
to read it; possibly there are some
employees who are unable to read
and I hope that the 5000 or 49,
600 members they claim at the
present time are in that class, as
they might have some excuse for
! joining. There is not a word in the
whole constitution that favors the
employee. 1t is all in favor of the
employer Some of the men eX-
| pected a real $3.50 organization,
but have found it to be 1000 with
the workers on the short end, as
usual.
Thousands of dollars have been
spent to put through this new
employers Protective Association"
/ (L). High salaried men have been
working. as organizers, trying to
fool the men into believing they
had something that was going to be
OF great benefit to them. They
used the same methods as are used
I by a. fisherman. If a fisherman
tried to catch a fish with bare
, hook he would not catch very
many. SO they cover the hook with
bait. If they fail with one kind of
bait they try another.
The same way with these Al or
ganizers. If they were to talk on
the Al constitution, which is the
same as the bare hook they would
not catch very many fish. Instead
of this, they talk on cooperative
stores, old age pension, etc, but
they don't tell of the many loop
holes placed in their constitution
for the benefit Of the employer.
Having failed in making big
! haul, these Al fishermen will try
another kind OF bait. They will
very likely try to fool the employ
ees by promising to change the con-
stitution. If they do promise this
they will not be able to fulfill it,
as the employer will be dissatisfied.
Many of the fish are wiggliug off
the AT. hook, and their new bait
will not be successful, as it is now
closed season for fishing for
the 4L
The ex-spruce officers will have
TO secure some other employment.
The best place for them would be
in some sawmill or logging camp,
at the Al wages Of $500 per day,
and they would soon change their
membership from the Al to a real
labor organization, such as the
Timberworkers' Union, composed
.of employees only. This is not a
$3.50 organization. but OF 1909
/ employees, as the West Coast Lum-
bermen's Association is 1909 for
the employers. To get real, un-
adulterated cooperation. take the
anne number of representatives
from each of these and have them
draw up an agreement that viii
bind both parties.
You can not do this by allowing
the employers membership in the
/ employees organization, like the Al.
Join the Timberworkers' Union
Of the American Federation of La
Dor and don't bite on the next kind
of bait the AL viii try 10 feed YOU.
HARRY WOOD.