When T.B. Walker was scouting his westward expansion of the Red River Lumber Company he examined all angles. Two important topics were politics and taxes. He was not fond of California politics, but then again he did not like Minnesota taxes.
In Walker’s opinion he though California had an anti-business stance, and he was concerned about future legislation impacting on Red River’s profit. In a 1913, letter to his son, Willis Walker, T.B. made reference to the passage of legislation concerning
workmen’s compensation and providing medical benefits. T.B. wrote:” There is a very unsatisfactory labor liability law that seems to be more drastic than has been passed in any legislature. I am aware that the prejudice against business in California has got so far along that it is but little use of make any defense or efforts at protection of our legal rights and proper treatment.”
In summation, T.B. declared: “The California Legislature is a sly,
reckless gang of socialists, and have succeeded in completely
deceiving the people through which they can make successful war
against capital and enterprise”
Tomorrow: The California Workmen’s Compensation Act of 1913
Imagine what he would think now.