The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-06-15

TicSlueHL r.. j. LyncN, OIL the 1HteF-
notional Metal Polishers, Buffers, Plat
ers and Brass Workers union, in his
annual report gives some interesting
information regarding the methods pur-
sued by the manufacturers in obtain
ing information pertaining to the labor
movement. He says:
During the past year an association
was formed in the United States and
Canada having for its object the sup
plying Of news pertaining to the labor
movement to the different manufacture
ers throughout the country. The name
the association went under was that
Of the Manufacturers Information
Bureau.
Such a bureau has been established
in all the large cities throughout the
United States and Canada. There are
headquarters at New York, Philadel-
phia, Cincinnati, San Francisco, St.
Louis, Denver st, Paul, Detroit, Pitts
burg, New Orleans, Toronto, Syracuse
and Cleveland, with sub-agencies
in all Of the small towns and cities
throughout the country. This bureau
is organized on the plan Of a detective
agency. The members of the bureau
Or spies, a more proper title for them
are selected from among the different
labor organizations international and
local. The local spies 60 under ficti-
tious names, and are supposed to be
known only to the deputy chiefs. Some
of the spies go under the names of
flowers, such as daffodil, tulip, lilac,
daisy, mixico, clover, magnolia, crobat,
hyacinth, vilet, etc., the different
branches Of the industry being reported
under different titles. The machinists'
spies, or those who supply information,
are known by the names of tulip, lilac,
clover, magnolia, etc., while the polish
ers, buffers, platers and brass workers.
spies report as daffodil, tulip, magnolia,
etc. They have been supplying the
bureau with information pertaining to
the organized movement, so that the
manufacturers are thoroughly posted
on all our workings. The aim Of the
bureau, from the manufacturers stand
point, is to find out, first, the prominent
union men in the factory. Their names
are reported to the bureau, the bureau
sends the manufacturers a list and the
men are quietly let go, their services
no longer being needed. If this excuse
is not sufficient, slackness Of work for
the time being will do.
A list Of the prominent members of
the local, or those whose advice is TAX
en-, those the spies report to the bureau,
who in turn report to the manufacture
ers, when, no matter what shops they
are working in, they are quietly let go,
and can procure no more work. They
are also blacklisted throughout: the
country. All the manufacturers affili-
ated with the bureau place them on the
blacklist. Those spies again try. to in
volve the locals in strikes, and at a
time when the men are least prepared
for it, and when their chances of win
ming are very slim. If they cannot
start a fight through influence or dis
satisfaction, they will get themselves
discharged and insist that the locals
have them reinstated. They, filling
prominent position in the labor move
ment, and the local offers believing they
are martyrs to the trade union cause,
demand their reinstatement, which the
firm refuses. A strike is the outcome,
the manufacturers wishing such. AS
soon as the men are out these spoilers
and spies report daily the progress of
the strike, the financial condition of the
international and local union, the
moves made by the committee, also the
international union. Everything is re-
ported to the manufacturers, and dur
ing the last couple of months we have
known where firms were willing to set
in If thai
mind, such a. change being attributed
to the hasty report of their spy. When
the strike is on week or two they
will begin to find fault on account Of
not receiving strike pay, both interna-
tional and local. If the International
and local meets it's obligation, and pays
them the stipulated amount called for
in the constitution, they will then COM
plain that they cannot live on this
amount, and if they do not get more
there Is liable to be a break. While
making these moves they try to dis
courage the men on strike, and cause
them to break away. The informers
sometimes will not return during the
progress of the strike, being we'll paid
by the manufacturers through the
bureau. When the strike is over or lost
they will still remain out, and will try
to impress on the minds of the public
they are martyrs to the cause Of trade
unions, while in others instances they
will act as scab No. 1. Those are JUDI
asses in the guise Of union men, who
first sold their fellowmen, their local,
the cause they pledged to support and
were interested in, and last but not
least, sold their own manhood. Being
successful in the moves already out
lined, they will then turn if the local
tries to exist. and cause dissatisfaction
with the International and local off,
GERS. International officers not being
there to defend themselves, can be &C.
cused Of all sorts of crimes, while some-
times sixty per cent of the men will be-
lieve the charges, thinking that those
who make them know what they are
talking about. A kick is now going on,
and the next move Is to form a sepa-
rate organization, believing as a. trade
they could either exist locally or as an
International union. Dissatisfaction
again exists, and the outcome of it gen.
orally is that the local either goes to
pieces or is disbanded. Our organiza-
ton is not free from those loathsome
individuals. The guardian Of the local
at Dayton, o., was spy in the employ
mon IF tho ma NJ, 20 nj, bo,,roo,,