Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-08
THEIR TIT FOR TAT.
Some Details of the Arrangements
Now Being Made by Employers
TO HEAD OFF L4BOR'S DEMANDS.
Detectives Doing Duty as Employees, to
Watch the Latter's Moves.
A COMPLETE SYSTEM OF BLAcKLTSTIkG

A GuMfIE1E S1DlLM UT DIAIhLlS1lNG
American capitalists are at length giving
tardy recognition to the fact that Sin union
is strength" " and, taking a hint from the
rapidly increasing and aggressive power of
the capital produced by labor-when its pro-
ducers are banded together for the preserva-
tion and attainment of their common inter
ests-are themselves forming coalitions and
associations for the protection OF their inter-
ests That the progress o. such an apparent
necessity as the combination of the holders
OF money capital against what they regard
as the encroachments of the capital supplied
by labor has escaped general attention is a
matter for surprise when the inscriptions on
the direction post of the highway of social
economics point so clearly TO the way In
which the labor problem is travelling. Cap
ital has at length combined against labor,
not in industrial instances or locally, but in
widespread ramifcations which extend
throughout the country
FIRST IN THE FIELD.
There is reason to suppose that one of the
OF campaign against the assertions of organ
lied labor was that known as the Yerkes-
Widener- Elkins syndicate. This syn dicate
controls traction roads in this city and in
Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore. San
Francisco Kansas City and New York. Its
method of resistance to the demands of an
organized body were disclosed in this city
during the strike on the Fifth avenue road.
1t imported men from its lines in other
cities under command of its secret service
agents. and rapidly filled up the places left
vacant bv the strikers. Its representatives
here declared thev would not recognize any
labor organization, thus carving out policy
it enforceS over all its lines. There does
not seem to be any objection to its employees
Organizing as much as they please, only
that the syndicate will refuse to recognize
anv body as having any concern whatever
with Its business.
This much, so far, is generally known.
But, according TO one of its secret service
officers, who was here during the strike al
luded to. the syndicate takes occasion to
guard itself against trouble in the future.
Records fully stated, are kept of every
man who shows a disposition to assert the
right OF organizations to say what measure
O wages shall be paid for certain work
done, and such men, on being discharged
from the road, are regularly blacklisted
against obtaining employment on other
roads operated by the syndicate. A full
description, such as would enable him to
be easily recognized, with his photograph,
is sent to headquarters in each city, and he
is boycotted. BY such means the syndicate
keeps down organizing among its tempIoyes
4 ca net tpor %
some strikers.
A SYSTEM OF ESPIONAGE.
Secret service agents, in the guise OF a
regular employe and ostensibly receiving
the regular rate of wage, are employed on
every road, and of course have ample op-
portunitv of learning the traits and dis
position of their co-workers as well as of
any attempt at systematic organizing on
their part. So much has been disclosed BY
one OF the secret service men.
But much more gigantic and far reaching
are certain combinations now being effected
IN the East, with wings spreading over the
country. Several large corporations have
mutually agreed TO sustain each other against
organized demands. Where similar inter-
ests are involved, though not directly, as in
lines of the same manufacture, an attempt
will be made to defeat the demands, by
simultaneously closing down all the works,
and thus throwing out of employment every
worker in the country in that particular
trade. How far and to what extent these
associations OF capitalists have been com.
pleted has not vet transpired, but enough
has been ascertained to enable the statement
10 be made that such combinations are now
being effected. The service of secret agents
is extensively employed to ascertain what
movements are on foot among the workers,
50 that simultaneous action may be taken
when the time comes. During the progress
Of the Westinghouse strike the company
was as familiar with the proceedings of the
men as il a public steuographer was en-
ploved to report them, and it is safe to aver
that when next any difference arises between
the w esting ghouse interests and its employees
the former will have a strong card to play.
1t is said that nowhere will there be a
more thorough or far-reachiHg understand
iug arrived at than among the railroads.
The gathering strength Of the railroad en-
ul0ves' organizations is noted with alarm bv
railroad managers, and they confess that
unless some counteracting understanding is
arrived at between all the roads individual
lines Will be. in time, practically at the
mercy Of the workers.
STUPESDOUS TO CONTEMPLATE.
a
neouslv, of every line in the country is a
thing SO stupendous as to be almost incredi-
bic Of comprehension. Yet there are men
who say that the exigencies of the times
may yet demand such an extreme proceed
ing.
In this city of vast industries, and where
such large interests are at stake, the increas-
ing power Of the various labor organIza-
lions has brought the possibilities of the lu-
lure yiyidly before the minds of the manu-
tacturers. There are those among them who
consider the time has arrived for capital to
adopt some such measure OF protection as
the workers have originated, and they see in
combination among themselves some
means Of wlthStanding the encroachments of
labor.
The window glass manufacturers are
credited with having such a combination
under way, ard they are reported as girding
up their IONS for an active resistance 70
any extreme demand the workers NAV nut
forward next wear. Already an under
standing exists among glass manufacturers
generally, about employing certain men
and blacklistinE of too prominent workers
has happened before now. One well-knowu
glass worker was blacklisted, and so quietly
that he didn't get on to it for tour months.
RIGHT FROM AN EMPLOYER.
"Ihese be stirring times as an Eastern
manufacturer now in the city remarked
yesterday, "and to-day does not know what
the morrow may bring forth. No one can
say with anv degree of certainty how long,
or bow short time the labor world NAV
remain quiescent On all sides we hear of
the vaunted power of organized labor, no
one can say where its demand will cease,
and the time mas come when capitalists
recognize the necessity of organizing, also.
q u :.