The Social Death of a Scab
Everett’s labor press publishes a 'rogue's gallery' portrait to publicly shame a former union man for crossing a picket line in Bellingham.
The above is a likeness of one Frank Ryther, who is said to be scabbing on the machinists in Bellingham. Ryther was at one time a shingle weaver and graduated to part owner of a small mill. At that time he was very popular with the weavers and appeared to be a fine fellow. All of which goes to show how far a man can fall in the scale of decency.
“All of which goes to show how far a man can fall in the scale of decency.”
Public 'outing' and shaming of strikebreakers was a primary social weapon of the turn-of-the-century labor movement. This piece illustrates the intense social pressure placed on workers to maintain labor solidarity in the Pacific Northwest timber and machinist industries.
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