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