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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 2020)
PAGE 10 | August 21, 2020 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS declares war on Germany and AFL plays im- portant role on Wartime Disputes Board to help avoid strikes and maintain production. Nearly 5 million automobiles and trucks are now on the road; car prices average $720. 1918: Prohibition amendment bars trans- portation across state lines of alcoholic bev- erages. World War I ends. Sam Gompers plays big role in creation of International La- bor Organization under initial sponsorship of League of Nations. AFL membership reaches 4 million. Leadership of Industrial Workers of the World (Wobblies) is sentenced to federal prison on charges of disloyalty to the United States. 1919: One of every five workers walks out in great strike wave, including national clothing, coal, and steel strikes; a general strike takes place in Seattle. In Centralia dur- ing a parade celebrating the first anniversary of Armistice Day, conflict between the Amer- ican Legion and members of the Wobblies re- sults in six deaths. Klamath Falls unions or- ganize a Central Labor Council. The Women’s Suffrage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gives women the right to vote. Oregon em- braces the automobile age, becomes the first state to enact a gasoline tax to fund roads. Construction of the Pacific Highway begins. 1920: Cornerstone of new Portland Labor Temple is laid on Labor Day at SW Fourth and Jefferson; the building will contain 41 of- fices and 14 meeting halls. So-called “Amer- ican Plan” is launched for the open shop to weaken unions, keep them out of major in- dustrial plants. Patriotic slogans, intimidation, company unions and “yellow dog” contracts barring union membership in order to get a job, result in heavy losses for labor move- ment. 1921-23: The “Roaring Twenties,” nos- talgically depicted in movies and musical On Labor Day 1920, the cornerstone of the new Portland Labor Temple, with 41 offices and 14 meeting halls, was laid at SW Fourth and Jefferson. comedies as an era of unbounded prosperity, fell a good deal short of those marks for most working people. Throughout the decade, un- employment rose. It was hard times, as there was no unemployment insurance or supple- mentary benefits. Wages drop sharply, union membership erodes with the loss of about 1 million members. The Portland Central Labor Council follows a new national trend by start- ing a Labor College. 1924: Samuel Gompers dies; William Green becomes new AFL pres- ident. Proponents try to pass an amendment to the Constitution to ban child labor, but only 28 of the needed 36 states ratify the meas- ure. 1925: B.W. Sleeman is elected president of the OFL. A. Philip Randolph helps create the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. 1926: Railway Labor Act sets up procedures to settle railway labor disputes and forbids discrimination against union members. William Cooper elected president of the OFL. 1927: The Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers Compensation Act is enacted. 1929: Stock market crashes, falling 40 percent, trig- gering what becomes known as The Great Depression. The Hawes-Cooper Act govern- ing the shipment of convict-made goods in in- terstate commerce is approved. 1930: Ore- gon Federation of Labor forms non-political league to handle legislative and political pro- grams. Union dues checkoff becomes popu- lar in Northwest. Last of Portland Labor Tem- Over the years, the Labor Press has been printed at various union-label commercial shops in the Portland-Salem-Vancouver-Kent, Wash. region. Currently, printing is done at Rotary Offset Press in Kent, Wash. Mailing labels are handled by Morel Ink in Portland. The photo above shows an early 1900s Labor Press rolling of a Miehle flatbed press. AFL President Sam Gompers (center with hat) poses with Oregon union lead- ers at AFL’s 1923 national convention in Portland. HAPPY LABOR DAY TO ALL from IRON WORKERS LOCAL 29 119 PROUD YEARS OF SERVING THE WORKING MEN AND WOMEN OF OREGON Jason Fussell - F INANCIAL S-T/B USINESS M ANAGER Eric Cole - S ERGEANT AT A RMS Rod Sprinkle - P RESIDENT /B USINESS A GENT Chantz Payne - C ONDUCTOR Shane Nehls - V ICE P RESIDENT /O RGANIZER Larry Linstrom - B USINESS A GENT /D ISPATCHER Mike Alldritt - O RGANIZER Tyler Smith - R ECORDING S ECRETARY Executive Board Eric Cole, Jade Worthington, Chuck Riggs, Chantz Payne, Travis Taylor Trustees Robert Donovan, John Hillstead, Dean Viers Leah Thibeau - A DMINISTRATIVE P ROFESSIONAL /B OOKKEEPER 11620 NE Ainsworth Circle, Suite 200, Portland, OR 503-774-0777
