The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-13
so DECLARES THOMPSON
Secretary of the Southern Industrial
Convention at Huntsville.
UNION LEADERS WORSE THAN TRAil ORS
Mr.. Thompson Declares That Organizations
Teachings The Theories He Says Are
Taught by Labor Unions Should
be Held as Reasonable.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, June 12.-N. +. Thompson,
Secretary, of the Southern Industrial
convention at Huntsville. Ala. made a
somewhat sensational attack upon labor
unions before the Industrial Commission
today. Labor organizations, said Mr..
Thompson "are the greatest menace to
this Government that exists inside or out
side the pale of our national domain.
Their influence for disruption and disor
ganiZation Of society is far more dan
gerous to the perpetuation of our Gov
ernment in it's purity and power than
would be the hostile array on our bor
ders 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, embracing the principal in
dustrial centers both of the North and
South In support Of his statement he
said that the "Cn every hand and for
the slightest prOVocation every class Of
organized labor stands ready to inaugu-
rate a 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 inaugu-
rate a sympathetic strike that will en-
brace all classes OF labor simply to re-
dress 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 teach
ing such theories should be held as
reasonable in their character and their
leaders worse than traitors to their coun-
try"
Mr.. Thompson declared that many la
Dor leaders are open and avowed Social
lists; that their organizations are weak
ening the ties of the citizenship among
thousands of our peole, in that they have
no other standard of community obliga-
tiOns than that these organizations in
culcate; that they are creating wide
spread disregard fer the rights of 9TH
ers that they are destroying respect
for law and authority among the working
classes; that they are educating the la
boring classes against the employing
classes, thus creating antagonisms be-
tween those between whom mu-
tuality of interests should be
fostered and encouraged by every
friend of good government; that
they are destroying the right of individ-
ual contract between employees and en-
ployers and forcing 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 de-
fance of their DEGREES, thus seeking to
break down the only safeguards of a free
people. The remedy for the evils lies
he said principally in a correct public
sentiment touching the relations that
should exist between labor and capital
"A law, he added, should be enacted
which would make it justifiable homicide,
for any killing that occurred in defense of
any lawful occupation, the theory of gov
ernment being that any one has a right
to earn an honest living in this coun-
try, and any endeavOr to deprive one
OF that right should be placed in the
, same legal status with deprivation of life
and property
strike and boycotts, he thought,
should be made felony, both by national
and State legislation and he suggested
the formation of State and National
Boards Of Arbitration. authorized and
empowered to settle all matters of diff
ferences between labor and capital, and
whose DEGREES should be binding on the
parties affected.
Mr.. Thompson expressed the opinion
that public sentiment in the South would
justify the shooting of union men who
interfered with non-union men at work
He said that the South was holding out
as inducements to the manufacturers of
textiles that 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 arbitration to dis
turb 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.