The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-01-21

news. L rank WdlkllH SupDOi'CN DSi'
cans idea.
A resolution was adopted to
he introduced as a bill by Farm
er-Labor party members of the
legislature, providing for a rep
resentative voting and proper
tional representation system IN
state elections.
This was the resolution adopted
by the Everett Central Labor Coun-
ell, introduced by Geo. w. Loutt;t.)
Sunday Morning Session.
o. B. Stray of Stanley, N. D., a
farmer, told of actual conditions IN
North Dakota under Nonpartisan
league administration.
Being a visitor, he said he was
surprised to learn that any banks
failed in any part of the United
States except in North Dakota, but
had read in the morning paper that
one had closed its doors in Tacoma
The Bank of North Dakota,
where the NOnpartisan leaguers
and the state departments put
their money, was absolutely
solid, he said, while the little
private banks which had been
fighting the farmers and fore
closing on mortgages had be-
come land poor in paying taxes
and hail insurance on idle land
held for speculation and were
failing.
The constitution committee re-
ported at II o'clock. l.. W Buck as
chairman said the committee had
struck a snag which the convention
could straighten out for them and
enable the committee to go ahead
and draft the rest of a constitution.
This was a complete new constitu-
ton, he said, differing from the
Coates highly centralized organize
ton plan, the extremely loose decen-
tralized plan submitted by Pierce
county, and the combination plan of
the King County Farmer-Labor
party.
The committee had two resolutions
submitted by Pierce county winch
the majority of the county recon-
mended that the convention do not
adopt. The first provided for new
apportionment of state dues, which
were to be so cents a month, so that
So was for the state paper, "a cents
annually to the national office, 56
cents to the state office, and the
rest, or $500, to the county office.
The second recommendation was that
the state office be discontinued OK
cept as an information and supply
office, and that county offices be
clearing houses for the between-elec-
ton work of education and organiza-
tion by precinct committees.
Two hours of debate on theory of
organization ensued.
Phil Pearl gave sociological
analysis of the problem
You haven't sustained, well
organized opinion yet and until
that time you need a strong CEN
trail power to hold the different
county organizations to IA single
purpose" said Pearl.
Its a question of tactics in the
organization of opinion. To put
over a new idea you must have a
compact central authority"
County Secretary Alex Moral ex-
planned the Pierce county position
by saying that the county office had
hard struggle to make ends meet.
The state organization could not sup
port an expensive state organization,
he said. The county needed the
$500 share of the annual dues in
order to get along itself, he said
This crystalized opinion that the
idea of decentralization as viewed
by the Pierce county and some other
delegates was founded on county
financial problems.
When finally put to a vote the
recommendation to discard the Pierce
county resolution carried by big
majority.
Sunday Afternoon Session.
A lengthy farmers marketing bill
was also indorsed for legislative
purposes. Members of the legisla-
ture will be placed on record for or
against this bill.
The national party constitutions
statement Of "object" of the party
was debated and accepted.
1.-THE object of this party shall be
to organize, in support Of the prin-
ciples of political, social and indus
trial democracy, all persons who do
useful work with hand or BRAIN" the
national party constitution reads.
The constitution was read and
adopted section by section with few
changes from the draft submitted
by the King county committee. The
question of the division of dues
brought forth the explanation that
OF the Sc annual dues, 81 went for
subscription to weekly party paper,
$2.4 to the county org anization.
$l,36 to the state organization and
"A cents to the national headouar-
tiers.
Article five making the state
organization supreme but grant
ing local autonomy to county or
CARNATIONS to meet local cOndi-
ions was adopted. Five instead
OF 10 persons as recommended
by the committee will be the
minimum number of members to
establish and maintain a local.
Article eight, defining the powers
OF a state committee of seven, one
from each congressional district and
Two at large, and article nine, pro-
Vldlng that this executive secretary
should be selected by this state COM
caused two hours of at times
stormy debate. A minority commit
Tee report recommended that the
that the state committee
could remove the state secretary at
any time be stricken out and, in adj
dition, that the executive secretary
be elected by the convention in
stead of by the state committee.
Lavine led off with technical
discussion in support of the major
ity of the committees recommended