Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1926-07-16
fNENN-FIFTH ANNUAL CONVENTION
STATE FEDERATION ENDEDVESTERDAV


came to close here today. With more
than zoo delegates in attendance, It Isl
said that It was the most successful
and harmonious convention held in The
State Of Washington.
e Salufs the Flag
The convention opened Monday
morning with salute to the flag by
ali present in the hall, and the singing
Of aAmerica," Frank Westlaka leads
ing. Thomas Mitten then called the
convention to order, and tie Rev.
Richard Decker delivered the invoca=
ki0n. Mayor J. H. Smith welcomed
the delegtaes 70 Everett. Features Of
The opening were short speeches Of
welcome from representatives Of var
ious civic organizations. The Rev.
George T. Gunter spoke for the Rot
ary elub, telling of TIE methods in
discussing Their ptsbleias and even dif-
ferenees Of opinion, By the amicable
arbitration methods. He said he be-
lievdd new day was dawnine. and
that unnelishnoss Is coming more to
Be sppfeeiebed than It he's IN the past
Harry Winde spoke for the Kiwanis
club, and Homer d. Cooley for the
Lions club, each bringing greetings
and expressing the wish Of their or
eanizations that the labor delegates
might be entertained, Herb Robinson
spoke fof the American Legion. There
were vocal solos by Frank Westlake
and Howard Ries, Mrs. Tyson accom-
panist.
The morning session closed at noon.
An executive committee report was
Distributed calling attention to the
advancement ol labor in the past year
and to its record in Legislative matters.
Following are excerpts from the re-
port:
'In line with the established Gus
tom, the Federation was represented
by its president As legislative agent
during the sessions Of the last legis-
iature. The entire legislative pro-
gram, as adopted By the last c0nven-
tion. was prepared IN advance and in
troducsd during the early stages b
the session. However, the same reac-
tionary spirit that controlled the pre-
ceding session and which had defeat
ed the child labor amendment, was
still in control ct the recent session,
and in line with similar experiences
in every other state in the union the
entire labor iegislative program suf-
fered defeat.
Clayton Act
s'The most bitter fight Of the session
insofar IS labor was concerned, was
waged in the senate over the proposal
to substitute the exact language Of
the federal Clayton act for our pres
ent law covering injunctions in labor
disputes and the right to peacefully
picket, which was destroyed over q
year ago by the decision Of the state
supreme court.
"After many weeks Of effort, the
bill was finally brought out on the
senate chamber calendar for consider
alton, and resulted in one Of the most
shameless and disgraceful scenes ev-
er witnessed in the Legislative cham
Der Of our state. First, the agents Of
the Federated Industries resorted to
every parliamentary artifice to try
and have consideration Of the measure
declared out Of order. When this fail
ed, Senator Conner Of King county,
then took the floor and branded the
provisions Of the measure as un-
American, this despite the. fact that
it has been an integral part Of the
Federal statutes Of our nation for
many years and its constitutionality
twice upheld BY the United States
Supreme court.
aNot only the defeat Of the pro-
posed act, but coupled with Il the open
contempt for the rights Of labor guar
anteed By the constitution and feder-
al statutes, shown BY 3 majority Of
the state senate, constituted an open
challenge to the organized labor forces
Of the state that could not Be ignored.
'sThe inherent. constitutional and
human right Of wage workers to ex-
ert every peaceable and constitution
81 effort to combat injustice and pro-
mote their welfare are inviolate rights
that cannot be lightly trampIed un-
der foot By any agency, legislative or
btHIEW11ct
WidoVs' Pension
"The next biggest fight was made
over the question Of amending the in
dustrial insurance act to increase the
pension for widows and total disabili-
ty cases from so month provided
for prior to 1919 to the $S5 q month
provided for IN the 1928 statute. The
1923 increases only applied to cases
scoming under the law after June,
1928.
"Your Federation employed Mr.
Kenneth Durham, former director Of
the department. Of labor and indus
tries, t. make thorough investiga-
tion Of all Of the records Of the de-
partment Of labor and industries and