the loggers are agreeable to theirbecause practice has shown that a
employers' offer to give ' 10 pervast majority of men sent to the
cent wage advances, with a mini-camps by the hall were union men
mum of 7% cents an hour, and re-or men willing to join,
tain their old working agreement. It has been satisfactory to the
The old agreement, which endedoperators, it also has been declared,
last spring's loggers' dispute, pro-because it represents an avoidance
vided machinery for arbitration, al-bf a "closed shop" condition, despite
lowing a strike only as a last re-the fact the Gram hall has dis-
sort after settlement provisions hadpatched principally unionists,
been exhausted, and a neutral hir-j Why the sawmill workers object
ing hall. to this arrangement, apparently
The sawmill workers voted lastagreeable to both principal parties,
spring when the loggers acceptedihas not been clearly explained,
this agreement, but it was only by! The referendum began Wednes-
the narrow margin of 32 votes. Theday at Wauna and Keasey; voting
inference, observers said, was thatyesterday were workers of Port-!
a vast majority of the loggers were land local, No. 2553, and at Cath-
favorable to the plan at that time.lamet, Willamina and Estacada.
but their votes were very nearly Today: Mollla, Rinier, Wheeler,
swamped by the sawmill unions, Seside; tomorrow—the large Port-
which had no particular interest land sawmill local, No. 2532; Mon-
in it. I day — Clatskanie, Carlton, Kerry
Objectionable to the sawmill fac-and Portland local, No. 2612; Tues-
tion of the district council, it hasjday—Astoria, Jewell, Bradwood
been held, are the impediments toand Vancouver; Wednesday—War-
calling strikes and the neutral hir-tenton, Deep River, Naselle and
ing hall, which is presided over, asKiletz; Thursday — Forest Grove,
a result of last spring's referen-jvernonia and Knappa; April 9—
dum, by Charles Gram, OregonKalama and Astoria; April 10—
state labor commissioner. Westport, Portland local, No. 2597,
The hiring hall, located in Port-kind St. Helens locals, Nos. 2552,
land at Southwest Third avenue2567, 2583 and 2752.
and Madison street, assertedly is Tabulation will be conducted
satisfactorv to the loggers' unionsApril 11 in Portland.
