The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-15
AGAINST LABOR UNIONS
SENSATIONAL STATEMENT BEFORE
INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION.
GREATEST MENACE TO COUNTRY
Mr.. Thompson, OF Alabama, Makes q
Sensational Attack Upon Labor Or
g~anizations He Wants Them Pro-
hfbited by LAVA Menac TO Good
Order and Prosperity OF IN
Compulsory Arbitration to lake
Their Place I'm Settling Disputes.

Washington, June In. F. Thomp-
son, secretary Of the Southern Indus
trial Convention at Huntsville. Ala.
made a somewhat sensational attack
upon labor unions before the industrial
commission today. Labor organiza-
tions." said Mr.. Thompson, ARE the
greatest menace TO this government
that exists inside or outside the pale of
our national domain. Their influence
for disruption and disorganization of
society is far more dangerous to the
p~erpetuation of our government in
its purity nd power than would be the
hostile array on our borders OF the
armies Of the entire world combined"
Mr.. Thompson declared that he
made the statement from years of
close study and in a field of the wild
est opportunities for observation, en-
bracing the principal industrial centers
both Of the north and the south. In
support Of his statement he said that
ON every hand, and for the slight
est p~rovocation, all classes of organ
lied labor stand ready to i~naugurate
a strike with all its attendant evils,
and that in addition to this, stronger
IiCS VI SOLLSO1iudl dire DcllS uTScu
over the country among labor unions,
with the view OF being able to inau-
gurate a sympathetic strike that will
embarcet all classes Of labor, simply to
redress the grievances or right the
wrongs of one class, however, remote
ly located or however unjust may b.
the demands of the class"
He asserted that organizations
teaching such theories should be held
as reasonable in their character and
their leaders are worse than traitors to
their country"
Mr.. Thompson declared that many
labor leaders are open and avowed So
cialists; that their organizations are
weakening the ties of the citizenship
among thousands of our people, in
that they nave no other standard of
obligations than that these organiZa-
lions inculcate; hat they are creating
widespread disregard for the rights of
others; that they are destroying re-
spect for law and authority among
the working classes; that they are ed
ucating the laboring classes against
the employing classes, thus creating
antagonisms between those whose mu-
tuality of interests Should be fostered
and encouraged by every friend of good
government; that they are destroying
the right of individual contracts be-
tween employees and forcing upon en-
ployers men at arbitrary wages; and
that they are bringing public reproach
upon the judicial tribunals of our
country by public abueS of these tribu-
mails, and often defiance of their de-
crees, thus seeking to break down the
only safe guards of a free people. The
remedy for the evils lies, he said,
principally in a correct public senti-
ment touching the relations that should
exist between labor and capital.
"A law" he added, should be en-
acted so it would make it justifable
homicide, for any killing that occurred
in defense of any lawful occupation,
the theory of our government being
tina any one has a right to earn an
honest living in this country, and any
endeavor to deprive one of that right
should be placed in the same legal
status with deprivation of life and
property.
Strikes and boycots, he thought,
should be made a felony, both by ma
tional n state legislation. and he
suggested the formation of state and
national boards of arbitration, author
lied and empowered to settle all mat
tiers of differences between labor and
capital, and whose DEGREES should be
binding on the parties affected.
Mr.. Thompson expressed the opin-
ion that public sentiment, in the south,
would justify the shooting of union
men who interferred with nOn-union
men at FORK.
He said that the south was holding
out as inducements to the manufacture
ers of textiles hat if they came south
they would be free from labor strikes.
There is. he said, a movement on foot
to put it beyond the power of labor
unions by means of compulsory arbi-
tration to disturb industrial conditions.
Mr.. Thompson expressed the opinion
tht negro labor was essential to the
prosperity of the south and he also
za,l %hat Tho south UoC uarxy nrnSnnr-
Gus at the present time.