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When a small clique of men put up a acheme to harness the clergy of America and reduce the ministers to, in turn “bitch up the members of the churches, we should all take notice. They couldn't harness the preachers in a bad cause except by deceiving them. Ministers of the gospel are essentially and fundamentally honest, but, Wke all men who work for the public good, they are at times misled by false state ments. Trust them when they have exact truth to speak from. Now for the story which should in terest ayery one for we are all either receivers of wages or we pay to wage camera and the freedom of each indi vidual is at issue. In various papers the following state ment has been printed. Read it care fully at leet twice. “INTEREST IN LABOR SUNDAY ‘Labor Sunday—the Sunday preced ing Labor Day—will be observed gen erally this year and In future years throughout the United States. This be cause of the American Federation of Labor declaration for the observance of that cay. The numerous letters recently received at American Federation of Labor headquarters from ministers is an assurance that interest in the idea of giving apsciar attention to the cause of Isbor from the pulpit one day In the twelve months 8 widespread. Our readers are urged to try to bring about an understanding In their respective districts with representatives of the church so that ministers will make ad dresses that may attract trade union ats to the churches in large numbers for the day. Ministers should say what they think on the occasion In order that their trade union hearers may put the right estimate as to where the church stands on the question of the organiza tion of Isbor. The more the subject is discussed, the better will it be for labor, Union ethica are sound—American Fed srational. ’ Observe that “Labor Union'' men “are urged to Induce ministers to make addresses that will attract trade union late to the churches for the day, “Ministera should say, etc., and winda up with “Union etiica sre sound, ’ ob serve the hidden threat. This is clipped from the American Federasionial, the organ of Bam Gom pers, et al. This clipping has been sent to papers throughout the country and the Typo graphics! Union men in the newspaper officea instructed to “urge” that it be printed. That is one of the ways of the ''ma chine. 16 looks harmless, so the papers print it. But Lars let the cover and look under. The hidden motive was dangerous to the peace and liberty of the citizen as a coiled rattlesnake in the grass. Organization by workmen to peace fully and successfully present their side is necessary and most commendable. There are such organizations pow rapidly winning their way to public con fidence without strikes, dynamite or killing fellow-workmen. (Some facts on this matter a little further along in this article.) We see here demand on the minis ters of God, that they endorse and help build up the strike-producing, boycot ting and violent American Federation of Labor. Think of the man of God who teaches brotherly love being covertly ordered to praise and help get new members for an organisation with a record for violence crime and murder done by its members the Uke of which the world has never seen. Think of the thousands of women mads widows and the incraseing non sanda of children left fatherleas by the Pistol, club, dynamite and boot heel of] members of thia Labor Trust. Any one who recalls the, countless murders done in the multitude of ethirea’ in the past few years will agree thle jy no Talks one RA and Lustration a over boo brulned and warmed ie the and over raised and maimed in the Cidence. donators’ stoike. There is seldom a day passes but some where in our country from one to score of our fellow-men are assaulted or mur dered by members of this band. Then remember the homes blown up or burned. The families hounded, the rioting, burning of streetcars, wrecking of trains and attempted or successful killing of passengers. The general disturbance of industry and the thousands of dollars forced from tax-payers to pay extra halite, sheriffs and militia to protect, even in a feeble way, the citizens from the mobs of members of the American Federation of Labor. Then you will realize why the great Peace-loving majority of over 50 millions American protest against the growth of this crime-tainted organization com prising perhaps one and one-half million men, of which it is estimated at let seven-tenths are peace-loving citizens and are members by cos clon and are not in sympathy with the three-tenths who have gained control and force their methods. We find that a few designing men have seized control of the American Federa tion of Labor, just as some shrewd capitalists have secured control of some railroads and other interests and are now twisting and turning them into ma chines for personal profit and fame. These men cunningly plan to force workmen to join and pay 25 to 75 cents a month in fees. Various methods are used to “induce workmen to join. First, they talk of the “tyranny of capital making slaves of workmen. Then they work up enthusiasm about the “brotherhood of man” and other talk which experience has shown ex cites the emotions of workmen and they’ are induced to ‘join’ and pay fees to the leaders. The 5000 workmen in Battle Creek fare, as a rule, free from the dictates of the great Labor Trust and still get the highest wages in Michigan. If they had yielded to the smooth talk of the agents of the trust and joined, they would pay in fees from $1,250.00 to $2,000.00 a month to the big trust and be subject to strike orders any time. Now they save that and put the money into homes and family comforts. But the managers of the American Federation of Labor have worked hard and long to harness them. The trusteas sent small bales of money and left winter 18 “organizers’ to tie up Battle Creek. They hired halls, gave picture shows, “smokers, etc., as an investment, looking ‘to rich ‘returns when they succeeded in having ‘them tied hand and foot. But they failed and the last of these “organizers’’ left Battle Creek on May et saying,‘it’s no use.” The workmen knew the record of this great trust and formed their own asso ciation to protect their rights and also to protect them from the big Labor Trust. In Philadelphia some 4,000 independ ent streetcar men, who mainly had fami lies, had their own union and refused to join the big trust, preferring to be free to work or not as they pleased. But the trust planned to force them into the fee-paying ranks, so a strike was ordered to compel the traction com pany to kick out these men and hire only Labor Trust members. It was not a question of wages or hours, but to push the free men out of their positions where they were earning ood money to support their families. Ate strike was ordered, not to raise wages or reduce hours, remember, but solely to throw out members of an independent union and make places only for ber Trust members, and thus show the Independent men they could not earn a living unlew they fires paid fees to the trust managers. Incidentally the people of Philadel phia muat’ submit to no oar qferrien toting and blocdehad with imifilo yy ord while, those fee-hunting, noforl y-awakemy Isadore Warkipach he wari thae in city cannot be carrie on except by mon Whe en ‘ban the kines, bow tha head and pay fees, How theses mon, as strike leaders loys (to sea their names in the papers each 2) ‘morning! It's meat and bread to their souls. __ Then think of the lordly power, and don’t forget the steady flow of money squeezed from the workman's hard turned pay envelope. But when these leaders “‘tie up'' any industry no man can hold a job who re fuses to pay fines even on temnipes up charges, and steadily pay fees whatever they are. The workman is absolutely at the mercy of this band of men who have secured and hold control. Many and many an honest workman has raised his voice and appealed to his fellows to rise and throw off the yoke of Gompers, et al. But, as one writes, At every convention of the American Federation of Labor, strong opposition comes up, but at the critical moment the impassioned orator appears and most grammatically putes the spot light on the leader and covers him with a mank ind film of ‘martrydom' and the emo tional delegates yell in delight, forget ting the instructions of the peaceful workingmen at home who desire to free themselves from the odium of mem bership under the great advocates of strike, boycott, violence and hate.” So we are the unequalled innolence with which these trust leaders Seal to ‘induce’ ministers to pull their chestnuts from the fire by preaching modern segressive and violent labor trust methods. There is a better way to secure justice for workers, all will appearurther along. Just a little diversion here. I am charged with having first brought to the attention of the public some years ago, the name “Labor Juet. ' A trust is a combination of men or organizations for the purpose of selling their product at a profit and restricting production to effect it. We will say a large oil company, gathers in smaller ones and thus con trols production. The Labor Trust “gathers in’ local trade organizations and thus has power a say how much work each man shall! 0. The Oil Company, then fixes prices. The Labor Trust does likewise. The Oil Company may “use methods’ to force an unwilling dealer to join. The Labor Trust men go further and slug the independent man if he tries to sell his labor without paying fees and “obeying orders. They are both ex actly alike in purpose, which, in both, Cases is entirely selfish to gain power and money for the leaders. Certain Labor Trust members do not hesitate to use violence, dynamiting of property, burning homes of independent men and even murder to force obedience. The Oil Company doesn’t go so far. Both are pu rerely dangerous to the welfare of people and communities, for power placed in the hands of a few men either representing Capital or Labor’ is almost always abused and the public suffers. Remember, reader, that your safety lies in strenuous opposition to all trusts which try to ride over and dictate to the people. Only by opposing their growth can you retain your personal liberty. Now to miniatera. The average congregation is made of about 90 per cent, of free citizens on much less than 10 per cent, of membera of the Labor Trust. The free citizen wants to hear words defending the rights and Independence of the common man, free from the arbi trary dictates of any well-esering organi sation either of Capital or Labor, the merchant, lawyer, school teacher, doctor, clerk, farmer and workman re bels against any forcible stopping of traing, boats, stress care, or factories, for the prosperity of the commuunity is sullraly dependent on steady conting ence of theses things. I don’t ike strikes, boycatte, in ured workmen or burned ‘cars and Acoma dityl “1 Srriane ® gave Those ghottallee bute alr ae te 14 Hero gala, te boilignent beyond: Oats ka 1 willseceiption, T on wo remember of acid throwing, even' gouged en, ‘sued, women stripped, homes poeta 'men murdered and the long, long Nat o atrocities practiced by Labor Trust mem bers on other human beings who cannot agree with the trust methods. Now for the better way. Workingmen are now organizing in the old fashioned trade union or “guild” way affiliated with the National Trades Workers’ Association whose consti tution provides arbitration of differences with agreement for no strikes, boycott, picketing or hateful coercion of any kind. This Trade Association had evolved from the experience of the past and is the highest order of Trade Uatamara at the present day. Under the laws it is not possible for the Hod Carriers Union or the Street Sweepers’ Union to order the school teachers or locomotive engineers to quit, work in a ‘sympathetic strike.”’ If any craft finds Injustice, the case is presented to properly selected arbi trators, testimony taken and the case presented to the public through the press. Thereupon public opinion, that greatest of all powers, makes itself felt and curiously enough a fair settlement is generally the result. There 's no strike, no loss of wages, no loss to the community and yet the faithful workers get their just treat ment. There are many details which have been worked out by men skilled In labor matters, It will recompense any Interested man to know these details which can be secured by a postal request for constitut ion and by-laws written to the Na onal Trades and Workers’ Association, Kingman Block, Battle Creek, Mich, Readers, look carefully Into this great question of the relation of Capital and Labor and to successful solution. The new plan works and brings results for the members. I became so favorably impressed with the trustworthiness and practicability of the leaders if this now labor move ment that I gave the Association a senitorism at Battle Creek worth about $400,000 and with about 300 rooms, to be used as a home for their old members and the helpless baubles, sometimes made fatherless by the pistol, club or boot heel of somes member of the violent ‘Labor Trust. Suppess you attend church Labor Sun day and hear what your minister had to say in defense of the safety and rights of the common everyday man. Let me a nk you to read again a par on of one of my public articles printed a few Years DEC: “The people of the world have given me enough money to spend In these talks through the papers in trying to make better and safer conditions for the common people, whether the Postum e business runs or not. Scores of letters have come to men from work-people and others, some from union men, recounting their suffer ing from union domination and urging that their cases be laid before the public. It will not answer for us to only sym pathize with the poor, the oppressed, those who haven't power enough to drive off tyrants and regent oppression, we must help them tie the hands of the oppresaora, Americana must get. Some of my forebears in New England left comfortable homes, took with them) r the old flint locks, slept on the ground] in rain and frost; hungry, footaore, and half clothed they grims pushed on where the Hteman God of Human Sbenty urged them. Tey wore for me and for your mantis of freedom, woven t o loom where the shottles wore cannon, balls and bulléte and where swords were and to pick out the tangles in the yarn. These old, aturdy grandeds of ours abood by that loom until the mantis was finiehed, than, stained with their life and jt was Handed down to us, whali I pefuse to bear it on my shoulders becanes the wearing coat me a few dollars, and ATS you cowards anouyo to hide yours Onze ne lebor wien anar ont you Wottt » are is thet Mi pheed oF are mtlll . In your Ts ‘Woale an are you waken, Thon Americany HE Act.” Fhere's a Reason, 0, Wi Post,
Newspaper Details
Richmond Times Dispatch
Richmond, Virginia, US
Thu, Sep 01, 1910
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Matt K.
USA 03 Dec 2025
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