Mill Town: A Social History of Everett, Washington, from Its Earliest Beginnings on the Shores of Puget Sound to the Tragic and I

Well-written history of the colorful, corrupt, amusing, hard life, complex building of early WA state communities, including competition between Seattle and Everett. Compelling description of the struggles between skilled labor unions, the Wobblies, and the imperialist timber barons and mill owners who pitted the two against each other in order to control workers. Rich descriptions of individuals heavily involved and their own motivations, as well as the fierce battles that led to a shameful massacre of Wobblies by good town folk in Everett, WA. Also explains how the aftermath of this stage in labor organizing led to employee sabotage efforts on the part of the skilled locals, which led to the federal government forcing middle class unions on private sector industries. WWI needed fighting and the US government needed cooperative laborers.