The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-07-25

= declaring tnnt the "One 1915
! Union" plan Is deliberate attempt
at disunion and that the only goos
| 1t can do Is TO arouse the member
ship and impress on internationa
officers the necessity OF broadening
their views" Robert Livett. a Can
adam, international board member
District No. rs, United Mine Work
ers OF America, has written To the
Washington State Federation OF La
Dor regarding the referendum tn,
federation Is going 10 take on tho
one big union.
Livett writes that he was former
| ~ an ardent prepayment OF the o. y
In Canada now OPPOSES 1t. He di
reefs special criticism TO the cen
trail committee, which has been ap
pointed to govern the o. b. u. In
Canada, and declares II has been
given too much arbitrary power.
Defending the system OF the
American Federation OF Labor. he
asserts the Officers of the fedora.
ton" and not the system, have
fallen down"
Cannot Succeed
Under the head "One Big Dis
lruption--Not Union" his letter is
published In the State Federation
Bulletin Friday:
In taking the stand of opposing
the so-called One Big Union move
ment, as launched at the western
conference of labor. held In Calgary
this spring. let me distinctly state
that I am not opposed to Industrial
unionism. or the ideals and aims of
labor as set forth at that confer.
cnce. have been a member of the
miners, the greatest Industrial labor
organization on this continent for
many years, and therefore could not
logically oppose any real or sincere
movement that had for its object
the consolidation OF all labor forces.
Il am setting forth some Of the
reasons for opposing this so.called
one Big Union movement, which,
while It may accomplish certain
amount of good In arousing the
membership and impressing upon
our international officials the neces.
sity of broadening their views, will
certainly never succeed in uniting
labor under the one Big Union
IL regard IL as the acme of alb
surdity to talk of One Big Union
with a secession of our international
affiliation.
'2--I cannot regard the present
movement as anything more than a
deliberate attempt at disunion, and at
a time when every nerve and effort
should be extended to consolidate our
forces. You will notice that prac-
tically no machinery has been Gre
ated to carry out the so-called One
Big Union beyond the central com.
mittee' OF five, the collection of a 2
per cent per capita tax from the va
rious unions, and the taking of what
is termed "A referendum ballot
"3-The method of taking this bal
lot and the absolute powers given the
central committed in counting and
tabulating same are something that
has no parallel in the annals of in.
dustrial unionism.
$50 far as / am able to gather.
this central committed can manipu-
late the vote so as to create n ma
jority or a minority; whichever it re.
CARDS as expedient.
1--WE have not exhausted the
possibilities of international industri-
al unionism, and all future labor or
ganizations, whether conceived in
Canada or the States. must be inter
national in character and scope--not
national.
Only Officers Hit
"6-Absolutely no solid or logical
argument has ever been adduced to
prove the ineffectiveness OF the in
ternational union. All arguments
have been directed at the officialdom
of the same. And 1t is neither strange
nor wondrous that the officials Tor
central committeeo OF the so-called
one Big Union are already receiv.
ing their share Of criticism.
"7--Industrial trades unionism
| ,,,,,ot etc ..itl. tto rroa y, y ffnra nf