10 THE LUMBERWORKER - 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION/ FROM SEPT. 1937 to SEPT. 1987

PORTLAND CONVENTION HAMMERS
CONSTITUTION FOR

I. W. A. WOMEN as they jeered scabs at Plylock plant, Portland, last Friday. All the 301 delegates and the 500 fraternal delegates to

the I. W. A. First Constitutional Convention joined the picket line that day.

Convention Hears Vital

Need Of Political Action

Message of WCF
Head, Costigan,
Brings Cheering

PORTLAND, Ore.—The 301 del-
egates and 500 fraternal delegates
to the First Constitutional Conven-
tion of the I. W. A. were electrified
to prolonged applause after hearing
Howard Costigan, executive secre-
tary of the Washington Common-
wealth Federation, tell of the need
for independent political action on
the part of labor. Costigan’s ad-
dress, in part, follows:

Delegates to this most crucial
convention, not only for the work-
ers of the Pacific Northwest, but
to all progressive forces and pro-
labor forces in the Pacific North-
west, I bring you greetings from
the Washington Commonwealth
Federation.

Today I’m here, not only to bring
you greetings from the Washington
Commonwealth Federation, and I
hope from the Oregon Common-
wealth Federation, a sister organ-
ization in this state, but ]’m here as
an interloper in some of your lives.

Many of you have taken not
seriously enough the question of
political action.

A
COMPLETELY
ORGANIZED
INDUSTRY

Be,

= FIRST oF a -
CONVENTIO€S OF THE 1.W.A. | 2

Unity of Labor,

Farmers Is OCF
Message to [WA

PORTLAND, Ore.—Unity of la-
bor and the farmers, was the mes-
sage brought to the I. W. A. con-
vention by Senator Byron G. Car-
ney, who spoke to the delegates on
behalf of the Oregon Common-
wealth Federation. Here is his talk,
in part: 3

Mr. President of the Internation-
al Woodworkers of America and
fellow citizens:

I regret that I have to leave soon
as I have two meetings to attend
among the farmers.

I would like to emphasize the
statement made at the national
convention of the C. I. O. in New
Jersey in the resolution adopted
that the C. I. 0. recognize the com-
munity of interest between the in-
dustrial worker and the farmer.
Each relies upon the other, and the
balanced production of our nation
depends on the common power of
both groups.

Farmers and farm workers are
entitled to their fair share of the
national income, and will be seek-
ing a stabilization of farm prices
at not less than the cost of produc-
tion.

eee a!