Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-02-11
MILL EMPLOYEES
REPORT PROGRESS
IN ORGANIZATION

Boys, l don't believe a word Of
it" With this statement, Philip NJ
Holden, of the International Timber
workers Union, discredited the re-
port that the Charles X. Spaulding
Logging company had issued an ulti-
matum to- their employees that they
would have to join the Loyal Legion
of lumbermen.
With $50 members present the Sa-
lem local of the International Timber
workers met in regular session at
union hall, Tuesday night.
Philip M. Holden, manager of or
ganization in this district, was pres
ent and addressed the mill men upon
"Americanism as a Paramount Fac
tor in Labor Organization" Mr.. Hol-
den pointed out that the American
Federation of Labor is the only labor
body in the United States which is
truly representative of the working
man and which has secured appre-
ciable results in better wages and
living conditions.
That this success has CALLED COR
poratton operatives in many sections
of the United States was pointed out
by Mr. Holden. In order to weaken
the unions, the fact was emphasized
that the employers themselves have
gone into the organization game and
had tried to force employees into half
baked organizations which would par
alyze attempts at progress.
Mr.. Holden reminded the members
that the C. X. Spaulding company
had entered into an agreement with
the Timberworkers upon their or
ganization here; that there would be
no discrimination against members
of the union. That there have been
the best relations between the COM
pany and the local was also pointed
out. "Mr. Spaulding has kept his
word with u.s." said Holden
In a recent press interview, Walter
D. Smith organizer for the Loyal Le-
gion of Loggers and Lumbermen'
stated that his organization "was not
an employers organization and that
since coming to Salem ten days ago,
the -Four L" system had forced
Spaulding to increase wages. That
Spaulding had agreed to accept Tor,
employment only those workers who
were Four L members, was also claim
ed by Mr.. Smith.
Reports that the Spaulding COM
pany had forced their employees toI
attend a meeting conducted by Or
ganizer Smith were also secuted by
Mr., Holden. 1--WE have never asked
the company to allow US to hold a
meeting during mill hours and on
their time and | do not think that
their business policy would permit
any kind of an organizer to step INTO
their yards and interfere with their
plant" he said
During the meeting, attention was
called to the fact that many persons
confuse the name of the Four l. or
with that of the American
Legion That the Four L organization
has connection with the American
Legion has been denied by the AM
erican Legion men themselves.
One of the men present, reminded
his fellow workers that the Loyal Le-
gion of Loggers and Lumbermen had
at various places in the country coun-
seled their members to abide by the
present wage at times and places
where low wages were being forced
on the workers. "The Four LIS are
long on promise and short on results"
said former member of the organ
ization. When they first organized
in Salem. they gave US story Of
what they had done for us. but after
ne Joined. wages remained at the
same old level in Salem. and the Four
LIS gradually lost interest in us"
one worker expressed the opinion
that Smith would not be in Salem to-