Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-13
LABOR ORGANIZATION
PRONOUNCED THE cREATEsT MEN,
ACE TO THE GOVERNMENT.
Testimony of MIR. M. F. Thompson
Given Before the industrial
COmmissiOn.

At the afternoon session of the indus
trial commission yesterday Mr.. NJ. F.
Thompson, secretary of the southern in
dustrial convention of Huntsville, Ala,
continued his testimony.
Labor organizations are today" said Mr..
Thompson, 1.-The greatest menace to this
government that exists inside outside
the pale of our national domain. Their
influence for disruption and disorganiza-
ton of society,"" he continued, lis far more
dangerous to the perpetuation of our gov
eminent in its purity and power than
would be the hostile array our borders
of the armies Of the entire world COM
bined." Mr.. Thompson declared that he
made this statement from years of close
study, and a field of the widest opportuni-
ties for observation, embracing the prin-
cipal Industrial centers both of the north
and south. In support of his statement he
said that "on every hand. and for the
slightest provOcation, all classes of organ
lied labor are ready to inaugurate a strike,
with all Its attendant evils and that in ad-
dition to this. stronger ties of consolida-
ton are being urged over the country
among labor unions with the view of being
able to 1naugurate a sympathetic strike
that will embrace all classes of labor sim
ply to redress the grievances or right the
wrongs of one class. however remotely To-
Gated or however unjust may be
the demands Of that class To
recognize such power as this in any
organization or to permit such a theory to
be advanced without a protest or counter
acting influence, Is so dangerous and sub
Versive of government that 1t may justly
be likened to the planting of deadly virus
IN the heart of organized society, death be-
He asserted that Organizations teaching
such theories should be held as treason
able in their character and their leaders
worse than traitors to their country"
Open and Avowed Socialists.
Mr.. Thompson declared that many labor
leaders are open and avowed socialists;
that their organizations are weakening the
ties of citizenship among thousands of our
people, In that they have no other stand
ard Of community obligations than that
these organizations inculcate; that they
are creating widespread disregard for the
rights of others; that they are destroying
respect for law and authority among the
working classes; that they are educating
the laboring classes against the employing
classes. thus creating antagonsms between
those whose mutually of interests should
be foStered and encouraged by every friend
of good government; that they are destroy
ing the right of individual contract be-
tween employees and employers, and fore
ing upon employers men at arbitrary
wages, and that they are bringing public
reproach upon the judicial tribunals of our
country by public abuse of these tribunals
and often open defiance of their judgments
and DEGREES, thus seeking to break down
the only safeguards of a free people. The
remedy for the evils lies. he said, prnci
pally in correct public sentiment touch
ing the relations that should exist between
labor and capital. He also suggested the
organization of employers in all lines of
business the first step to correct the
evils in contracts forced on individual en-
plOyers by labor unions. A uniform law
that would take the individual workman
out from under any ban of reproach, such
as 'scab' or black list he thought would
aid this general work of re-estabishing
correct relations between labor and capital
and duly protect the rights OF individuals.
"a further law" he added. SHOULD be
enacted that would make it Justfiable
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 deprive
one Of that right should be placed in the
same legal status with deprivation OF life
and property.
Should Be Made Felony.
In view of the close relationship existing
among all classes of our citizens and the
interdependency of all interests strikes
and boycotts. he thought. should be made
a felony both by national and state legts-
lation; and to secure adequate relief for the
grievances for which strikes and boycotts
are inaugurated he suggested the formation
of state and national boards of arbitration
authorized and empowered to settle all mat
tiers Of differences between labor and cap
ital. and whose DEGREES should be binding
on the parties affected.
In reply to Mr.. Kennedy Mr. Thompson
said that he could not name a national
labor leader who is an avowed socialist, but
in Alabama the agtators were generally
socialists. He expressed the opinion that
public sentiment in the south would Justify
the shooting of union men who interfered
with non-union men at work, because it
was held that man had as much right to
defend his occupation he had to protect
his life. He said, also in reply to Mr.. Ken
nedy, that the south was holding out
inducements to the manufacturers of tex
tiles that if they came south they would be
free from labor strikes. There is, he said.
a movement on foot to put 1t beyond the
power of labor unions, by means of COM
pulsory arbitration, to disturb industrial
conditions. Mr. Thompson expressed the
opinion that negro labor was essential to
the prosperity of the south. and he also
said that the south was very prosperous
at the present time.