WALLA WALLA LABOR UNION
This is one of the largest and most influential organizations in the city. As compared with its brother organizations in the seaboard cities or in Spokane, it was late in formation. A community like Walla Walla, a rich agricultural region, does not seem to be the natural home for labor unions. The commercial and manufacturing and mining cities are the natural locations for these organizations. But in process of time the skilled laborers of Walla Walla were drawn by natural evolution into the great circle of organized labor.
The Cigar-makers', the Carpenters' and the Painters' unions were the first in the field. They came into existence in 1900.
Other groups rapidly followed and at the present time there are seventeen unions. The meeting places and times and the officers of each union are indicated by their published directory:
LABOR UNION DIRECTORY
Trades and Labor Council—Meets every Friday evening in Labor Temple. S. S. Stovall, president; L. F. Clarke, secretary.
Carpenters & Joiners. Local 1214—Meets in Labor Temple every Wednesday night. A. V. Murphy, president; O. D. Keen, financial secretary; C. R. Nelson, recording secretary; C. A. Tompkins, treasurer.
Printing Pressmen, Local 217—Meets second Wednesday of each month in Labor Temple. William Potgether, president; A. L. Anger, secretary.
Journeymen Plumbers—Meets in Labor Temple every second and fourth Thursday of each month. Harry Harter, president; W. G. Collins, recording secretary; Fred Bowman, financial secretary.
Painters, Paperhangers and Decorators—Meets first and third Monday evening of each month at Labor Temple. H. R. McCoy, president; O. K. Sweeney, recording secretary; H. J. Burke, financial secretary; Charles Hazlewood, treasurer.