Bradford County telegraph. (Starke, Fla.) 1888-current, 1900-06-15
unions A MENACE"
Attack on Organized Labor Before
Industrial Commission.
THOMPSON'S EVIDENCE SENSATIONAL
Labor Leaders are Designated ~ Social
Ists-Lnw Proposed a. Remedy
Against Strikes.

A Washington special says: N. +.
Thompson, secretary of the Southern
Industrial convention Of Huntsville,
Ala, made somewhat sensational at
tack upon labor unions before the in
dustrial commission Tuesday.
Labor organizations" said Mr..
Thompson, ARE the greatest menace
to this government that exists inside
or outside the pale of our national do
main. Their influence for disruption
and disorganization Of society is far
more dangerous to the perpetuation Of
our government in its purity and pow
er than would be the hostile array on
our borders of the armies of the entire
world combined"
Mr.. Thompson declared that he
made this statement from years of
close study, and field of the widest
opportunities for observation, en-
bracing the principal industrial CEN
ters both of the north and south. In
support of the statement he said that
ION every hand, and for the slightest
provocstiou, all classes of organized
labor stand ready to inhugurate strike
with all its attendant evils, and that
in addition to this, stronger ties OF
consolidation are being urged over
the country among labor unions with
the view OF being able to inaugurate e
sympathetic strike that will embrace
all classes of labor simply to redress
the grievances or right the wrongs Of
one class, however remotely located or
however unjust may be the demands
OF that class.
He asserted that organizations
teaching such theories should be held
az reasonable in their character and
their leaders worse than traitors to
their country"
Mr.. Thompson declared that mahy
labor leaders are open and aVowed So
ciAlists; that their organizations are
weakening the ties of citizenship
among thousands of our people, in
that they have no other standard of
community obligation than that these
organizations inculcate; that they are
creating widespread disregard for the
rights Of others; that they are destroy
ing respect for law and authority
among the working classes; that
they are educating the laboring
classes against the employing classes,
thus creating antagonisms between
those whose mutually OF interests
should be fostered and encouraged by
every friend Of good government; that
they are destroying the right Of indi-
vidual contract between. employees and
employers, and forcing upon employ
ers men at arbitrary wages, and that
they are bringing public reprOach
upon the Judicial tribunals of our
country by public abuse Of these tri
bunals, and often open defiance of
their DEGREES. thus seeking to break
down the only safeguards of free peo-
pie. The remedy for the evils lies, he
said, principally in a correct public
sentiment touching the relations that
should exist between capital and labor.
"a law should be enacted that
would make it justifiable homicide for
/ any killing that occurred in defense of
any lawful occupation, the theory of
our government being that any one
! has right TO earn an honest living in
this country, and any endeavor to de-
privs one of that right Should he
| placed in the same legel status with
. deprivation Of life and property,
! Strikes and boycotts, he thought,
: should be made felony both by ma
ticnsl and state legislation, and be
suggested the formation of state and
national boards of arbitration, author
lied aud empowered to settle all mat
! tiers of differences between labor and
! capital whose DEGREES should be bind
ing on the parties affected.
! Mr.. Thompson expressed the Opin-
/ ion that public sentiment in the south
would justify the shooting of union
men who interfered with non-union
men at work. He said that tho South
was holding ont as inducements to the
manufacturers OF textiles that they
will be free from labor strikes.
There is, he ssid. a movement on
foot to put IT beyond the power Of la
! Dor unions to disturb industrial condi-
| tiO0a