The Silent Hours at the State Capitol
A local labor newspaper questions the integrity of the state labor commissioner, accusing him of ignoring labor violations to serve his political masters.
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.
What is the state labor commissioner being paid for? To see that mills and factories comply with laws safeguarding machinery, to see that the eight-hour law is enforced on public works, and that sanitation laws are enforced for the protection of wage workers. We have reason to believe that the best part of his time is spent carrying out the orders of Governor Hay in the political game. It is a fact that the law governing hours of labor for state employees was being violated right under his nose in the state capitol building, and he didn't appear to know anything about it. Mr. Hubbard should remember his office was created for one specific purpose: to see that the statutes protecting working people in this state were rigidly enforced.
“Anything short of that is a violation of the moral and legal obligation imposed upon him by the office he holds.”
Regulatory capture—where a watchdog becomes a political agent—is as common in Washington state politics today as it was in 1909. This story highlights how labor leaders in Everett demanded accountability from the state government in Olympia.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.