Labor Unions Launch Political Offensive
Organized labor in Washington State pivots from the picket line to the ballot box, targeting the state legislature.
SEATTLE —Organized labor has entered definitely and actively into politics in this state. The beginning has been made by Charles H. Miller, who was nominated in mass convention as the United Labor candidate for Mayor of Seattle. The ultimate object, to which labor leaders in the Nation intend to contribute, is the election of United Labor candidates as Senators and Representatives in the Washington Legislature. In this state organized labor intends to work in conjunction with the Grange. It claims a total of 68,000 votes, and it is confident of electing no fewer than a dozen legislators, to come from Seattle, Tacoma, Hoquiam, Everett, Bellingham, Spokane and Walla Walla.
“Organized labor has entered definitely and actively into politics in this state.”
The alliance between labor unions and rural interests (the Grange) was a powerful force in early Washington politics. This push for legislative representation mirrors modern-day efforts by labor groups to influence state policy through electoral organizing.
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