William Bauchop Wilson to Joseph P. Tumulty

I am in receipt of your letters of July 22d and 23d, with inclosures, relative to the labor troubles in the Northwest and the President's request for information concerning the matter.
The situation in the State of Washington at present is very critical. There is not only a strike in the lumbering industry but one has recently been precipitated on the street car systems at Seattle and Tacoma. The longshoremen are likely to go out at any moment.

I have detailed Henry M. White, our Commissioner of Immigration at the Port of Seattle, to take charge of the situation as mediator, selecting such assistants as he may deem necessary and recommending them to me for appointment. Mr. White is a lawyer and former State Senator who has the confidence of the organizations affiliated with the American Federation of Labor to a very great extent.
The street car strike seems to have intensified the strike fever throughout the state, and it is not likely that we will be able to do much with the other difficulties until we get that adjusted. I am advised that it was precipitated by the discharge of some motormen and conductors because they belonged to the union. The lines are operated by Stone and Webster, of Boston, Massachusetts, who control the power plants in the vicinity of Seattle. I have telegraphed former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Andrew J. Peters, of Boston, asking him to bring what influence he can to bear on Stone and Webster to bring about an adjustment.

One of the telegrams I have states that they have fifteen hundred men en route from Chicago to Seattle in three special trains to act as strikebreakers. If that is so, I fear there will be a tremendous clash when they arrive. I wired Inspector in Charge Prentis, of the Immigration Service in Chicago, for a statement as to the truth or falsity of this report, and this morning I am in receipt of a telegram from him in which he says:

“Concerning Secretary's telegram regarding strikebreakers for Seattle, have definite information that effort being made to ship men from Chicago. Hope to secure facts and telegraph further early tomorrow.”

I am just in receipt of the following telegram from Mr. Peters:

“Have conferred with Mr. Webster of Stone and Webster. He is taking matter up immediately with his partner who is now in Seattle. Will wire you results later.”

I have also been handed a telegram addressed to Ashmun Brown, which reads as follows:

“See Samuel Gompers with the end of organizing logging and timber workers in American Federation of Labor. Mill and camp operators are willing to grant eight hour day to a union affiliated with American Federation. There are ten thousand IWW in state and the timber is dry as powder. Situation extremely serious. Dillon.”

Immediately upon receipt of it I telegraphed it to EP Marsh, President of the Washington State Federation of Labor, and to Commissioner White of this Department, advising them to get in touch with Dillon and work out an adjustment on this plan, if possible. I also forwarded a copy to Mr. Gompers, with a full statement of the situation, and asked his cooperation looking to an adjustment.

I know of nothing further that can be done at this time.