The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-13

Interesting testimony was given by \.
r. Thompson. of Huntsville, Ala. Secre-
tary of the Southern Industrial Conven-
sion, before the Industrial Commission
yesterday afternoon. MIR. Thompson as
sailed the. labor organizations. saying, Z.
part:
Labor organizations are today the
greatest menace to this Government that
exist inside or outside the pale of ou.
national domain Their influence for dis
Tuption and disorganization Of society Is
far moro dangerous to the perpetuation OF
our Government in its purity and power
than would be the hostile array on our
borders of the armies of the entire world
combined.
Il make this statement from years OF
close study, and field Of the widest op-
portunities for observation, embracing the
principal industrial centres both OF the
North and the South; / make this state
ment entirely from sense of patriotic
duty, and without prejudice against any
IF l could make this statement any
stronger or clearer. / would gladly do SO.
for it is not until an evil or a danger is
made strongly apparent that adequate
measures Of relief are likely to be applied.
That such a menace is real and not imas1-
nary, the most casual Investigations Oh
existing tendencies among the laboring
classes. will make the fact discernible. On
nd he SLIGHTEST
tion all classes of organized labor stand
ready to inaugurate strike. with all Its
attendant evils, or to place boycott for
the purpose of destroying the business OF
some one against whom their enmity has
been evoked.
Stronger Ties of Consolidation.
I'm addition to this. stronger ties OF
consolidation are being urged all over the
country among labor unions. with the view
Of being able to iuaugurate a sympathetic
strike that will embrace all classes of
labor. simply to redress the grievances or
right the wrongs of one class, however re-
motely located or however unjust may be
the demands of that class.
ITO recognize such a power as this in
any organization, or to Permit such
theory 10 5e advanced without protest
or counter acting influence. is so danger
Gus and subversive of government, that it
may Justly be likened to the planting OF
deadly virus in the heart Of organized
society-deeth being its certain and speedy
concomitant. Organizations teaching such
theories should be he'd as reasonable in
their character. and their leaders worse
than traitors to their country. 1t is time
for the piainest utterances on this SUBJ
1ecf for ho 10 iniu, n
view CT the incidents that have attended
recent strikes ii can be considered little
less than criminal in those who control
public sentiment that such scenes are pos
sible any where in this country.
This language T.ay seem needlessiy
harsh and severe but IN some classes Of
diseases it il the sharpest knife that ef-
Sects the speediest remedy, and so in this
case, if the public are TO be awakened to
their real danger the plainest speech be-
comes necessary. No one questions the
right CT labor to organize for any legiti-
mate nurpcse but when labor organiza-
tions degenerate into agencies of evil, in
culcating theories dangerous to society
and claiming rights and powers destruc
tive 10 Government, there should be no
hesitancy in any quarter to check these
evil tendencies even If the organizations
themselves have to be placed under the
ban CT the law.
The Alleged Evils.
That these organizations are degener-
eting is seen in the following facts:
..First-1Iany labor leaders are open and
ayowed Socialists. are using labor organ
izations as the propaganda of Socialistic
doctrines.
.'seccnd-These organizations are weak
ening the ties of citizenship among thou
sands OF our people, in that they have no
other standard of community obligations
than what these organizations inculcate.
''Third-They are creating widespread
disregard for the rights of others, equally
rs entitled TO the protection of organized
society as their own, as evidenced in every
strike that occurs and the increasing arb-
trariness Of labor demands on their en-
ployers.
''Fourth-They are destroying respect
for law and authority among the work
ing classes. as many have no higher con-
ceptions of these than such as are en-
bodied in the commands of labor organi-
cations and labor leaders.
'Fifth-They are educating the labor
ing classes against the employing class
es, thus creating antagonisms between
those whose mutually of interests should
be fostered and encouraged by every
friend Of good government; for the sue
cess Of government hangs on no less a
basis than the harmony and happiness of
the people, embracing alike employers
and employed.
''Sixth-They are demanding of Federal,
State, and municipal authorities class
legislation and class Determinations ut
teriy at variance with the fundamental
principles of our government. in that they
are demanding of these various authori
ties the employment OF only union labor.
thus seeking to bring the power OF organ
ized society to crush out all non union
workers.
'Seventh-They are destroying the right
OF individual contract between employ
ers and employees and forcing upon en-
ployers men at arbitrary wages. which
Is unjust alike TO other labor more skill