Labor Probe Ousts Progressive Politician from Utility Role
A Farmer-Labor legislator resigns as attorney for a transit subsidiary after an electrical union investigation reveals his ties to a corporate giant.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
An investigation by the Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has resulted in the resignation of Homer T. Bone, a state legislator and prominent figure in Farmer-Labor circles, from his position as attorney for the City Transportation Company of Tacoma, a subsidiary of Stone & Webster. Two years ago, when the Tacoma Railway & Power Company was facing competition, the power company formed the City Transportation Company to operate bus lines and employed Bone to prepare legal documentation and serve as counsel. The investigating committee of the Electrical Brotherhood visited Olympia and examined the transportation company's records on file with state departments. Bone's resignation created a sensation in the ranks of proponents for a proposed power initiative in November, especially as it was revealed he held the position while serving in the state legislature as a representative for the 35th District.
“His resignation created a mild sensation in the ranks of the proponents of the proposed power initiative.”
The tension between grassroots labor movements and the 'revolving door' of corporate lobbying remains a defining feature of Washington state politics. Homer T. Bone’s struggle to maintain his progressive credentials while tied to private utility interests mirrors contemporary debates over corporate influence in local governing bodies.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.