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SHINGLEWEAVERS VOTE TO END LOCAL STRIKEEverett, Wash., Nov. 9, 1916.The Shingle Weavers' strike, whichhas been on in this city for six months past, has been called off by vote of the Shingle Weavers’ Union and it is just that a statement be made to the public concerning this action and the motives that prompted it.This strike was called the first of last May after efforts to effect a peaceable settlement of the wage controversy had failed. The men involved in this struggle have made many sacrifices in defense of union principlesand were prepared to continue the fight indefinitely. The wages asked by the Everett weavers were paul without protest in many parts of the state and are now being paid by many mills whose manufacturing cost equalsthat of Everett plants.The sudden turn events in this cityhave taken, resulting in loss ot life and a tense industrial situation, moved the Shingle Weavers to take somesteps toward establishing industrial peace. Without exception the members of this union have the best interests of the city at heart. We realize that the city is confronted by the most serious industrial crisis in its history. No matter where the blame may lie, the facts remain that lives have been lost, a bitter state of public feeling engendered, a condition created which might easily lead to further loss of life and property unless somebody forgot their wrongs and grudges and made some definite moveto end the trouble.The Shingle Weavers join with allrespectable elements of the city in sorrow and regret over the tragic occurrence of Sunday last. We have had no hand in the agitation of the Industrial Workers of the World, are not responsible for their coming tothis city did not invite them here nor need their assistance. We believe an absolutely wrong policy has been pursued by the authorities and members of the Commercial Club in dealing with the situation, but none of us can change past actions, we can only hope that better wisdom will prevail in future in dealing with the industrialsituation.We realized that a crisis confronted this city. Nothing like it had ever arisen before in Everett. The city was receiving a black eye everywhere, no matter where the blame lay, and something had to he done to relieve an intolerable situation, establish industrial peace on an enduring basis, ifsuch a thing were possible.President Brown of the Shingle Weavers’ ITnion and President Marsh of the State Federation of Labor were in conference shortly after the occurrence of Sunday and decided toin the public mind the strike of the Shingle Weavers was associated with the tragedy of Sunday.A special meeting of the union was called for Wednesday afternoon, which was attended by all the members of the peace conference. The situation was reviewed from every angle and an adjourned meeting called to meet at 8 o’clock. At 8 o’clock the hall was crowded with Shingle Weavers and interested citizens. The situation was again reviewed. It was freely admitted that the Shingle Weavers’wage contention was entitled to serious consideration, but it was felt that until the strike was called off it would be impossible to harmonizecontending factions.The Shingle Weavers involved in this controversy have their homes in Everett. Many of them are paying taxes. They are men of family with their children attending the public schools. They are as vitally interested in the welfare of the city as any class of citizens. They are peaceable and law abiding. They have made incredible sacrifices during the progress of this strike. It was no easy matter to arrive at the conclusion that in the interest of the public welfare the strike should be called off. They did arrive at that conclusion and in so doing they arose to the heights of sacrifice. They had in mind the fact that their fellow unionists in other parts of the state might misconstrue their action. They thought of the long months of sacrifice and actual suffering they had gone through. But they were big enough and broad enough to sink their own fight in the interest of public good.The Shingle Weavers earnestly hope that this action will bring an era of good feeling, an understanding of the industrial conflict, an appreciation of the struggle they have gone through, that will make for permanent industrial peace.E. P. MARSH, President State Federation of Labor.J. G. BROWN,Int. President I. S. W. U. of A.M. 1. NOLAND, Treasurer Strike Committee.PLEA MADE LABOR’SCHIEFS WHICH BROUGHTEND TO THE STRIKEFollowing is copy of the plea submitted to Messrs. E. P. Marsh and J. G. Brown:“Inasmuch as we believe you were moved by a deep sense of the seriousness of the situation now existing inEverett, to have invited us, amongothers, into your conferences, and believing any act on the part of any body of men in the city looking toward a peaceful settlement of the difficulties would be a commendation ofseek a conference of representative j incalculable consequence and creditcitizens of Everett in an effort to end them m the eyes of the publ.c, andthe trouble. Representatives of the state and federal governments were called into conference and readily agreed to lend their good offices toward a settlement. President Marsh got into touch with Everett citizens and as a result a preliminary conference was held in the office of Hon. \V. W. Black last Monday afternoon. The following men attended this conference: Wm. Blackman, representative of the Federal Department of labor; State Labor Commisssioner Younger, International President J. G. Brown, State Federation of Labor President E. P. Marsh, Rev. Flint, Congregational minister; Rev. Rodgers, Episcopalian rector; Dr. Marlatt, pastor of the First M. E. church; A. A. Brodeck, clothier; Hon. W. W. Black, Lloyd Black, Robert Moody of the First National Bank, E. M. Metzger, Janu s Hallow of the Plasterers'Union,C W. Knapp, business agent of the Building Trades Council; E. A. Francois, si\ih vice president of the Washington State Federation of Labor.At this meeting the Sunday tragedy and the events leading up to it were thoroughly discussed. The meeting adjourned without definite action being taken, but with every conferee impressed with tin' necessity of arriving ;lt gome solution of the trouble. According to agreement the same men raot again Wednesday morning. The ministers reported that they had been unable to bring to the Shingle Weavers any concessions from the mill owners and asked the Shingle Weavers in the Interests of Industrial peace of the community and in order that a better feeling might be established, that the strike be called off. It was represented that rightly or wronglycommitting ourselves to give full publicity to such action, and believing firmly in the honesty and good will of employers of our city towards labor in the future and unreservedly recommending it to you, and believing that the avowed removing of pickets and declaring the strike ended would greatly, if not wholly right the difficulties locally, and commend you as those taking the initiative in this to this whole city. We therefore ask in view of all this you do so remove pickets and call off the strike, believing thereby you are not conceding your cause, but winning victory of even material value.“Gentlemen, knowing that the public has already been appraised of our conference and feeling that the eyes of the city will be centered upon us and you for what we do or fail to do, we feel bound to give our actions in full to the public through the press. We declare ourselves wholly impartial, believing that neither side is so right that it dares to he dogmatic nor either so faulty as not to deserve an honest consideration, we make our plea in the interest of labor, of capital—of life—of home and city.“ELMER E. FLINT,“Pastor Congregational Church. “JOSEPH P. MARLATT, “Pastor First Methodist Church.“EDGAR M. ROGERS,“Pastor Trinity Episcopal Church.*'A. Magee (our own “Maggie”), returned Wednesday from Idaho, where he has been working some time. His many friends are glad to see him in the pink of condition.Patronize YOUR Advertisers.
Newspaper Details
Everett Labor Journal
Everett, Washington, US
Fri, Nov 10, 1916
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
James B.
USA 26 Jan 2023
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