The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-10-13
SENATORIAL CONTEST
BEGINNING TO WARM vi

A new pamphlet under the title
"Your Heritaeg is your Vote. use
it intelligently on November z, 1922,
has just been issued jointly by the
Democratic and Farmer-Labor forces
of Tacoma and Pierce county. One
side of the folder is devoted to the
Democratic candidates for one set OF
Pierce county offices, while the other
side of the folder is devoted to the
Farmer-Labor candidates for the
other portion of the county and legls-
lative offices.
Newspaper accounts published at
Tacoma show that an understanding
has been reached between the repre-
sentatives of the two political parties
relative to what offices each party
would file candidates for, and the
arrangement seems to have worked
out to the mutual satisfaction of all
concerned A. similar arrangement
has been made relative to candidates
for the State Legislature, where the
two forces are also fused. 1t is also
reported that the fusion forces are
supporting C. C. Dill, the Democratic
nominee, for senator, and that at a
conference held last week a number
of leaders of the Pierce county far
mer-labor party had earnestly urged
James A. Duncan, candidate of the
Farmer-Labor party, to withdraw
from the race and give the Demo
cratic nominee a clear field against
PoindeXter.
A large number of the railway or
ganizations of the state have en-
dorsed Dill and are planning a Wig
orous campaign in behalf of his
candidacy. Several central labor
councils in western Washington, that
had previously endorsed the Farmer
Labor party and opposed the non
partisan policy adopted by the State
Federation convention, have endorsed
the candidacy of James A. Duncan,
the Farmer-Labor party nominee, and
the Everett Central Labor Council
has petitioned the executive council
of the State Federation of Labor
to endorse the Farmer-Labor party
nominee. Heads of the State Fed
Grafton have asked the Everett Cen
tral labor body for a statement as
to whether or not they would be
guided by the endorsement of the
executive council of the State Fed
been received at Federation head
quarters as yet.
The Seattle Central Labor council
which has fathered the Farmer-Labor
party in the present campaign and
furnished it's candidate for senator,
controls 81 per cent of the stock in
the Seattle Union Record, and that
organ is supporting the Farmer
Labor ticket and it's candidates, al
though many of the trades unionists
of Seattle and of many sections of
the state have expressed their inten-
tion to support Dill as the only hope
of defeating Poindexter.
The executive council of the State
Federation of Labor has not as yet
decided on its policy, but may decide
not to make any endorsement for the
United States senatorship, in order
to avoid controversy within the ranks
of the state labor movement, as the
appeals for an endorsement of Dill,
as the only candidate capable of de-
feating Poindexter, are more numer-
Gus and just as urgent as those re-
ceived urging an endorsement of Dun
can. The executives of the State
Federation of Labor had been hopeful
that some way could be found fol-
eliminating one of the two candi-
dates opposing PoindeXter in the
finals. and for the fusion of all pro-
gressive forces behind one candidate
in opposition to the reactionary and
traitorous Poindexter, along some
practical and mutually satisfactory
line similar to that that seems to
have been worked out in Pierce
county. But the expressed determi-
nation of both opposition parties tc
continue their candidate for United
States senator in the field seems to
have shattered all hopes. The only
hope now left seems to be that the
campaign will develop, before its
close, so clearly the overwhelming
strength of one of the opposing can
didates as to in itself guide the pro
gressive voter in placing his vote
where it will count most effectively
in insuring PoindeXter's defeat.
All three candidates have started
out on their itinerary around the
state. Dill and Duncan are plan
ming to spend large portion of the
time in Western Washington, while
Pondexter has left for the east side
of the state, where rumor has it thai
Dill may take away from him the
large lead he obtained there which
saved his hide at the primary elec
tion.
While the State Federation O.
Labor may refrain from making al
endorsement in the Senatorial fight
it will urge the unionists in every
section of the state to wage a mill
tant campaign for the election O.
friendly state legislators, regardless
of party lines. -