The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-07-25
Canadian Labor Leader,
Former O. B. u. Advocate,
Says System Is Failure

the various crafts and trades In each
industry.
's--The One Big Union movement
IL not new. Ii has been tried out be.
fore on this continent. and failed. IL
Is at present in force in Australia.
and | have yet 10 discover land the
Australian worker. tool that IL has
secured for him the fun product OF
his toll or even a greater share than
his Canadian brother enjoys Fur
Their. IL would be well TO remember
that Australia has no United States
adjoining.
'9--The autocratic dictatorship rel.
egated to that body known as the
central committee is such that they
may never be called to account for
their actions. funds spent or ballots
submitted.
Not Personal Attack .
Il do not wish to make any per
sonal attack upon the individuals
comprising the central committee.
or those who displayed so much zeal
in promoting this movement. but
most OF these men until quite re-
GENTLY regarded the trade union
movement and Industrial union move
ment as something so antiquated and
obsolete that they reserved their
most scathing sarcasm TO condemn IL.
They never neglected an opportu-
nifty to abuse and discredit the Off
Gals of any trade organization, while
honesty of purpose and sincerity they
regarded as so much sentiment and
nonsense--except. OF course, when
they found themselves involved.
After years OF these tactics we find
them out to save the worker thru the
medium OF the One Big Union. and
ready to take the funds OF these
unions to propagate their ideas.
IL am of the opinion that the last
thing they wish to do is form any
union. but that they do most sincere
~ hope to disrupt our present organ.
iZation III the foolish belief that they
must disrupt and destroy before they
can build THE old grown phil
osophy OF the dismalist. that condi.
tions must be made worse before
they can be made better
Personally. ! have sufficient con
fidence in the common sense of the
worker. who will not be stampeded
into pulling down the shack--leav-
ing himself at the mercy of the cap
italist elements--until he has built
his house
Now Fights Plan
II am n worker-a coal miner.
have worked beside many of the
men In this district, and can do SO
again. | am not a silver-tongued
orator or MARKHAM philosopher, but
claim that / am as sincere in my ef-
forts for labor as the promoters of
the so-called one Big Union I
have placed my resignation in the
hands of the executive board. and
am out to combat this one Big Dis.
ruption' movement and defeat the eff
forts of certain individuals. who
seem determined to destroy your or
ganization. regardless of any suffer.
ing or hardship that may result to
you and yours"
tSigneD ROBERT LIVETT."
The bulletin continues:
."Since the issuance Of this letter.
the miners of British Columbia, who
had been actively supporting the
One Big Union. and who had seeded
from their international. held
mass meeting at Fernie, Il. c.. and
decided to apply for re-affiliation
with the United Mine Workers of
America, and sever their connections
with the O. Il. L.
THE miners are strong industrial
lists. and their action is one of the
hardest blows yet delivered to the
Canadian O. u. u. nightmare. The
boilermakers, and n number of other
unions in Vancouver and Victoria.
have also severed their connections
with the q. u. Y. and returned to
their international The Canadian
o. b. u. dream seems to be about
over. and the watchword adopted
by the Washington workers seems
to be Watch Your Step"
When YOU think of advertis-