The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-02-14

torious grievance. The possibility is
more remote than the probability of
a democratic government under the
Bolsheviki rule in Russia, and can
only result in bringing about in
dustrial unrest and rebellion in the
ranks of the workers.
The causes that have influenced
employers to such course are many
and varied. Space will not allow
detailing them all. The three prin-
ciple reasons are:
First-The almost universal de-
termination of employees to COM
bine into labor unions, and the de-
sire of employers to prevent much
organization by a substitute plan
they can control.
Second-The practicability, in
fact the manifest necessity of col
lective bargaining.
Third-The violation of agree
ments and the disregard of govern
ing laws on the part of unions,
which have caused employers that
have been dealing with their en-
ployees through trade union meth
ods, to doubt the responsibility of
such unions, therefore, coming to
the conclusion that some other
method is necessary if industrial
peace is to prevail.
With few minor changes that
make no difference in the final re-
suit, the ILL is patterned after
the Rockefeller union. Another mu-
tual admiration society is Boss
Carleton's organization of telegra-
pliers, which is already crumbling
in the dust of false promises, there
is another splendid example of "boss
unionism" at the Bunker Hill and
Sullivan Mine at Kellogg Idaho, it
is now and always has worked to
the detriment of the miners.
Already the spirit of revolt is be-
coming apparent among the tim
berworkers. Before long the opera
tors will reap the harvest they have
sown with their own hands and
those of a military autocrat who is
so short-sighted and STEPPED in
imaginery power as to think that
he can force the operation of war
agency on the civilians working in
the industry.
Men in civil life will refuse to
work by direction. The demands of
war have passed, wage earners de-
mand the restoration of the liber-
ties they surrendered in the interest
of a great national emergency. Dur
ing the war the lumber mill oper
ators shouted democracy until they
were blue in the face, one was al
most convinced that they really
knew the meaning Of the word. But
they don't, and now that they have
stopped shouting, there are no more
war contracts in sight, they want
us to stop too, they want us to for
get the high ideals for which the
nation fought and become mere
tools for their convenience.
These over lords of industry will
soon learn that the great majority
of wage earners and returning SOL
diers understand what the word de-
mocracy means and how to apply
its meaning in a practical manner.
The best way to get rid of the
Rockefeller brand of unionism in
the timber industry is for the men
employed there TO become affiliated
with legitimate organization that
contains In its memberships the
wage earners only. Get into an or
ganization that has for its purpose
the protection of the rights and in
terests of the workers, to cultivate
their social and fraternal ties, to
promote all movements to obtain for
the producer the wealth he creates
and to secure the opportunity to
permit of its enjoyment, to abolish
injurious privileges and promote
working class solidarity. Such an
organization is the International
Union of Timberworkers.
No one objects to the employer
having his own organization, but it
is the widest folly for wage earn
ers to ever expect better working
conditions or higher wages through
an organization that contains both
employers and employees in its
membership.
The employers do not join for
that purpose. Whenever they spend
their time and invest their money
in anything they are either going
to control it or it will last quick.
| Fundamentally wrong, economi