The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-08-01

ar convention did not vote in favor
a Inc zone big union plan. but
mefvN decided 10 put the question TO
! referendum, William NJ short.
eresldent ~ the state Federation Of
,anor. Friday issued a letter IN the
s,s,e bulletin OF the federation con.
demninx the scheme.
A change &C. the "one big union
rsans secession from the American
r,dsration OF Labor. short asserts.
and the resolution passed by tho con.
x,ntlon Is the same as that passed by
. convention in Calgary last aprlng
~hlch resulted In many of the Ca.
madam unions having their charters
revoked by the A. +. OF l..
The letter follows;
l. Vital Question
.-rhe ballots for the referendum ON
the enc big union resolution are
slther before you now or viii be
very shortly. Il Is a question that
affects more vitality the whole strue-
sure Of our labor movement than
snv other you have ever been called
upen to deal with. and for that rea-
son A fun and fair discussion of the
auction should bc had aud a thoto
understanding Of lust what Il means
reached before final action Is taken.
"A systematic campaign IS being
conducted by the advocates OF the q.
"A L. to bring about ratification Of
the resolution hy the rank and file
Many and various Misrepresentation
Are heInr made In order To hoodwink
Inc rank and fllc into voting in It's
favor.
-Oae 81 the arguments being made
l. that the recent federation convrn.
s,cn voted In favor OF the one bis
unscn. Thls statement Is false. The
anly time the question OF the o. II. L..
zane before the convention was when
II was presented In the form OF the
resolution now before YOU which
carefully avoids asking for an In
dorsement by the convention. but
srscificalIy asks that the question be
Submitted TO referendum vote ~
me rank and file. II met with little
cprcaslon In the convention because
no one could logically oppose the
admission OF any important ouee-
tion 10 The rank and file. That u
vas carefully drawn for the purpose
ef creating a false impression Is best
rrcvrd BY the fact that It's propo-
rents are now asserting that the con-
vsntien indcrscd the principle OF the
OR II. This Is untrue. as a careful
reading OF the resolution itself will
prove.
Plan Deceptive
Another deceptive statement be
Ing made IL that a vote In favor does
not mean secession from the Asneri
can Federation of Labor: thar IL a
majority vote In C. in favor that
the confsrencs to he called In Seattle
a. provided for tn the resolution. will
merely take up the question OF bring
Ing about closer aniliation and
greater unity OF action among the
various crafts. III this latter claim
we're true I would strongly favor a
fxvorabss vote. as would also vast
majority Of The rank and file: but a
careful reading Of the resolve OF the
resolution vii reveal the deception
Of the Atter calm. IL follows:
'wEesolved. That the State Fedora.
ton cf Labor in convention Assem-.
bled. rarommend that each local anil
sfed union vote upon the advisable
itv u forming one biz union along In
dsstrtaI lines and that should the
majority OF numerical vote Of I h 9
rank snd fle In favor Of Industrial
un3cnlsm that the State Federation
n Labor issue q call for special
eonfcrence 10 b. held In the city Of
SEATTLE not less than 90 days after
me mai count Of the votes to outline
The form OF organization
Let there be no deception az 10
what this means. II . majority Of
the rank and fle vote In favor OF this
resolution II means that the confer
encs provided for can have only one
function 20 perform II II would carry