Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1923-12-28
new YEAR PROMISES
SUBSTANTIAL GAINS
FOR WAGE FARMERS
ORGANIZED LABOR WELL Salts
FLED WITH RESULTS AcHIEV-
ED DURING THE YEAR
Rapid Growth In Organizations Is
Now taking Place Everywhere
Which VIII Continue
BY w. M. SHORT,
president, Washington State Fed
ara1inn of Iahnr.A


Grafton of Labor)
The year 1924 holds promise Of sub
stantial gains for Labor and Of ma
terial advancement for the Trades
Union Movement
The past year has seen the disin-
tegratian of those forces that have
combined to set back and crush the
ideals of the Trades Union Movement
for higher and better life and larg-
er measure of the worlds wealth for
the wage earners. Such a program,
outraging as it did, every sense of JUS
tice and idealism, was doomed to
failure from the beginning, and it is a
tribute to the strength and resource
fulness of the Trades Union Move
ment and It's friends that 1t was not
allowed to do the harm that would
have resulted had 1t been permitted
even transient success. However, the
magnitude of the effort made in this
connection has served a very useful
purpose-it has brought home more
forcibly than ever before to all con-
cerned the knowledge that the prin-
ciples on which the Trades Union
Movement is founded and the ends 1t
seeks to serve are so well grounded in
the hearts and minds of the great
masses of our people that no force can
be generated great enough to crush
1t. Instead, there has come generaI
recognition and acceptance OF the fact
that the Trades Union Movement is
the greatest force for good and perm
anent advancement In existence.
The past year has not only seen the
disintegration OF the forces combined
against labor but the defeat In almost
every instance of public officials and
legislators who have used their office
and their position of public trust
against the welfare and progress Of
labor.
Labor Gives Prestige
The past year has seen the rebirth
Of broader cooperative spirit among
all classes of people whe recognize
In somo measure the real worth of
Labor and its great contribution to
the general good. Slowly but surely
the spirit of destructive artagonism
Is rsing discarded AMI in its place the
broad, constructive spirit OF tolerance
and cooperation is rapidly asserting
itself. Nineteen twenty four Is des-
tined to see this spirit carried to full
fruition. The LabO.' Movement is rap
lilly building up its ranks both numor-
ically and in public prestige. Advanc-
ed legislation necessary fOI its well
fare is already prepared or in the pre-
cess of formulation, with every as
surance OF successful enactment dur
ing the coming year. Material i'm
provement in the conditions OF the
wage Garner is being sought with
every prospect Of attainment at an
early date; while the demand for
higher wages has already come to be
recognized as essential to the success
and happiness of the entire nation,
as well as to the particular and I'm
mediate needs of labor. The unor-
ganized worker is rapidly learning the
lesson that no protection is afforded
him through any channel other than
affiliation with the Trades Union
Movement. Recent months have seen
the development OF rapid growth IN
organization among practically all
groups of workers. The coming year
will see that growth continues with
steady pace, steadily but surely en-
bracing in the protecting folds OF the
American Federation OF Labor every
wage Garner in the land.
1t is with high hopes, stout hearts
and strong confidence that Labor
greets the dawn Of 1924.