The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-02-13
Al Is CHALLENGED
BY TIMBER WORKERS AT
EVERETT

The Al organization is making
a supreme effort to install itself
amongst the men employed in the
saw mills and logging camps of
the Northwest, and particularly is
this true at Everett where a large
number of saw mills are located
One of the latest ruses to try and
trap the men to accept membership
in their paternalistic organization
is the establishment of an employ
ment office for procuring employ
ment in the mills and logging
camps, and making the condition
of employment membership in the
Al.
At Everett they are putting forth
unusual effort, even to the extent
of addressing students of the high
school in connection with the pur-
poses of their organization, and in
criticism and denounciation of the
policy of the Timber Workers In
tcrnational Union.
Two mass meetings were held in
Everett, Sunday February s, one at
two-thirty in the afternoon for the
benefit of those employees of the
mills who work on the night shift,
and one in the evening for those
who work on the day shift. Approx
imately 500 workers attended the
two meetings, which were address
ed by Secretary Norland, of the
international Timberworkers, Chas.
w. Evans, president of the State
Carpenters Council, and President
Short of the State Federation of
Labor.
Short discussed industrial Dem
ocracy Through the American Fed
Grafton of Labor" versus "Prus
sian Paternalism Through the Al"
A number of AL members, in
Guiding some of their officers, at
tended both meetings, but despite
the vigorous attack made on their
organization, not a word of defense
was offered by any Of those present. |
Part of the propaganda that had
been used by the Al had been a
statement that the American FEEDER |
alton of Labor was not fighting
their organization, and inferring
that they approved of it. However,
If there had been any doubt exist !
ing prior to the Sunday meetings
in Everett, there was none left at
their conclusion. President Short
compared the program Of the lum-
ber barons to establish system of
paternalism through the Al, to the
policy put into effect by Bismark in
Germany for the same purpose, to
retard and sidetrack the growing
desire for full and free independ-
ence of organization Of the German
workers. He advised the workers
In the mills and logging camps to
spurn with contempt this subter-
fuge, and as real Americans, join
the American Federation of Labor
the only instrument through |
which the worker could acquire that
spirit and opportunity for free in
dependence, without which every |
thing worth while in America can |
be rendered a mockery.
The Timber Workers Union, To-
Gated at Everett, is conducting a |
healthy campaign, and is increasing |
its membership daily in the mills.
1t is reported that Col. Hartley, the |
omen shop. anti-Iabor candidate for |
governor. who is backing the Al, |
has organized a women's auxiliary, |
known as the 81, for political pur-
poses. 1t is to be taken for grant
ed that both the Al and 81 will |
support Col. Hartley in his cam
paign. This is natural for pattern
aists, because Col. Hartley, like !
Bismark, poses as an iron man.
However, there seems to be an
opinion quite prevalent among a
lot of people that the iron man
might be badly bent at the end of
the coming campaign. OF course,
the al doesn't have to wait for
any campaign. 1t is already bent. !
1t was born crooked.