The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13
TO THE VOTERS
OF THIS COUNTY


The Labor Journal takes occasion
to send a QUESTIONABLE to the men
and women voters Of Everett and
Snohomish County.
A convention was held in Yakima,
beginning July 10, 1920, by repre-
Isentatives of the producers and con-
sumers of this State. These people
were divided into three groups, all
dissatisfied with government by
minority controlled by corporations
and associations, amassing wealth
by the exploitation not only of labor
but everything else from which
wealth can be eXtorted, including
our national, state and municipal
governments.
These groups were divided in opin-
ion as to the best plan of getting
rid of the burdens they bear. They
were agreed upon the necessity of
political action, but were not agreed
upon what plan should be adopted to
obtain the relief they must have
| if they would retain their liberties
uUuCI JllC COilSIlIuJlO Vi JIIG OHlIGu
States and the several States.
But they did agree upon a plat
form of principles and legislative
program and are now rapidly com
ing together under the banner of
the Farmer-Labor Party to put those
principles into action.
Now comes the QUESTIONABLE,
which The Labor Journal asks you
to answer, not to, this paper, but
through your active aid to the pro-
ducers and consumers before the
election and at the polls on the sec
ond day of next November.
PLATFORM
/. Immediate and absolute
restOrat ton of free speech, free
press, peaceful assemblage, and
all other rights guaranteed un-
der the constitution. Repeal of
the criminal syndicalism act and
release of all political prisoners.
Article | of the constitution says:
Congress shall make no law re-
specting an establishment of religion
or prohibiting the free exercise there
of; or abridging the freedom of
speech or of the press: or the right
of the people peacefully to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances"
This was the first of the ten
amendments to tie Constitution pro-
posed at the first session of the first
Congress and ratified by the neces-
sary number of States.
2. Public ownership and dem
ocratic operation of public utili-
ties, the means of transportation
and other distribution, and of
any other undertaking found
necessary to prevent prOfiteer-
ing.
3. Public ownership and con-
troll Of all natural resources, in
Guiding water power sites.
If this plank be not carried out,
all the public utilities and natural
resources will fall into private hands
and you know the rest.
4. Labor's effort to secure
Just share in the management of
industry; labor's right to or
ganize; to bargain collectively
through representatives of its
own choosing; and labor's right
to strike unhampered by the in
junction.
In a free country labor must have
the same right of managing its af-
fairs as has been granted and as
sumed by capital. Labor is one of
the two main elements of production
and no country is truly free which
does not protect labor in collective
bargaining.
5. Recognition of the business
of the claim of ex-service men
for adequate compensation for
their services and their right to
stand for realization of the
democracy for which they
fought. We are opposed to COM
pulsOry military training.
There can be no true American
who does not endorse this plank.
PROGRAM OF LEGISLATION
The producers and consumers in
the Farmer-Labor Party propose to
adopt measures carrying out the
ideas set forth in the following ten
numbers of their legislative pro-
gram. The people-the public-need
these things but will never secure
and enjoy them until they break
away from the old political parties,
controlled as they are by gangs of
eXploiters.
Read this program and ask your /
self if every item of it will not .
benefit you when enacted into law:
l. The creation of a state
labor department, broadening the
power of the labor commissioner
and consolidating all depart
ments relating to labor for the
purpose of efficiency and econ
Omy and extending and strength
ening of laws enacted for the
protection of workers.
2. Equitable revision of the
election laws, including enfran-
chisement of migratory workers
and no loss of citizenship be-
cause of marriage status; extern
sion of the scope of the initi-
ative and referendum, and appli-
cation of the recall to all cleo
tive offices; and the right to
amend the state constitution by
the initiative.
Producers, consumers and
credit or banking cO-Operatives.
A municipal and state market
ing system.
4. Land and loan settlements,
equitable disability compensation,