The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-05-02
STATE FEDERATl0N'S
COMING CONVENTION


The Convention of the State Fed
Grafton of Labor, which will con-
vene in Bellingham on the third
Monday in June of this year, will
undoubtedly prove the most import
ant in the life of the State move
ment.
Many questions of far-reaching
importance will have to be decided
there. Whether the labor movement
will throw it's hat into the partisan
political arena by the organization
of a labor party, or whether it will
continue to organize on a non-par-
tisan basis will be one of the ques-
tions to be decided. That labor
will take the necessary steps to Sc
cure a larger participation in the
political affairs of the State and
Nation is certain.
The various plans now on foot to
bring Justice in the Mooney case
will be a subject of consideration.
Whether or not the plans advocated
by the Mooney Defense Committee
for a general strike starting July
and to be called intermittently each
month for a period of five days is
a>sound plan possible of being car
ried into effect and productive or
anv good: or whether the plan to
be presented to the A. f. of l.. Con-
yention by several of the lnterna-
tional Unions, headed by the United
Mine Workers. the details of which
are now being completed, will be
the most productive of real re-
suits, will be one of the questions
the Convention will have to deal
with. There is a principle involved
in the Mooney case that commands
the serious attention of the workers
and people generally-that is the
menace to one o. the cornerstones
of freedom if the precedent can be
established of railroading men to
the penitentiary on per1ured testl-
mony, This is the only issue in the
case on which our people can be
united in sufficient force to correct
the injustice done. Moneys sup
posed guilt or innocence should not
be allowed to confuse this issue.
The plan productive of the most
good will undoubtedly be the one
indorsed by the convention tuliy
representative of all of the workers
of the country. The principle in
yolved is too big to permit of any
division in the ranks on the part OF
any ambitious faction.
The question of formulating def
mite plans to bring about the COM
plete organization of the women
workers of our State will have to
be disposed of. The Federation has
employed all of the women organ
izers during the past year that its
treasury could stand. There are
five employed at the present time.
The only effective way in which
the problems of the women work
ers can be dealt with is through
the medium of thoroughly organ
lied unions. Plans will have to be
formulated by which sufficient fl
nances for this WORK can be assured.
These are only few of the many
vitally important questions that,
will command the attention of the
Convention. If we are really going
to reconstruct, labor must be ready
to meet the many problems that
confront it with sound and aggres-
svie policies. For this reason the
Convention, more than ever before,
should be fully representative of the
best thought of the workers of our
State. 1t is fully expected that
from 450 to 500 delegates will at
tend the Convention, fully repre-
sentative of the increased growth
of the labor movement of our State.
1t is highly important that every
organization affiliated with the
Federation be fully represented at
what will undoubtedly prove the
most important Convention in the
history of the Federation.
(See Convention call in this num-
berO