The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-08-03
COMbl|VERS' UNION
MEET IN REGULAR SESSION AND
DISCUSS THE STEEL STRIKE.
Business Agent Morgan Says This IL
the Day of Diplomacy and Thinks
the Combiners Can Beat Labor at
That Game-.InterestingC Communi-
cations Received From Members
of the Rulers Union. y.


Business Agent Morgan reported that
owing to the strike of ungrateful union
work people he had not had much time
to form new unions and strengthen old
ones. He had, however, appointed a
committee of five, composed of one
member from each of the great railway
interests, to run the Northern Pacific,
and thus insured peace for all the Or
ganizations and "stable rates." had
taken further steps to organize the soft
coal industry as we'll as the banking
business of New York, and called on q
number of small unions and urged them
to get together to economize in opera
ton and maintain maximum prices.
Desired an executive session to discuss
the strike of iron and steel workers.
Granted.
A communication was received from
the Sultan of Turkey, an honored men,
ber of the Rulers Union, stating that
he had concluded to pay some of his
debts. though his subjects are threaten
ing to strike and riot on account of
what they called burdensome taxation,
and hoped that the c. L. U. would grant
moral and financial support if the
worst came to the worst. Received.
Kaiser Wilhelm, of the same union,
wrote that the Belgian local refused to
grant universal suiferage and trouble is
feared, and that the young King of
Italy has fallen under suspicion on ac-
count of betraying some sympathy with
socialism, but that he would be watch
ed. Received.
Business Agent Hanna, Of the Politi-
clans Union, wrote that everything is
progressing nicely to get back to the
old fight of tariff and taxation between
the dominant parties, and that people
were responsive and believed there are
no other issues. Received. (Applause.) }
Judge Kicks, of the Lawyers Union,
sent long letter stating in effect that
the brothers on the bench are rapidly
taking his views of matters regarding
the issuing of injunction during strikes,
and that private ownership Of the tools
OF production, being guaranteed by pre-
sent laws, for which workingmen vote,
will be protected at all hazards. Re-
,ceiyed with thunGerops q applaNse. &.
~ V3stSa4SEsS4 dO0OIPe
%tion Of competitors, raising Of prices
because they needed more money, re-
sistance of work people who absurdly
claimed they needed more money also,
Introduction of new machinery to dis
place disloyal workmen, and other
things of interest to the union.
When the G. L. U. went into execu-
tive session, the reporter Of, this paper
lodged behind the big safe, and was,
therefore secure and enabled to SCOOP
all the other newspapers less thrifty.
The first speaker to take the floor
was Business Agent Morgan. He re-
viewed the history Of the strike trouble
from it's inception, declaring that while
the unions, vulgarly called trusts, affili-
ated with the c. L. U. believed in or
ganization Of employers, they could not
approve of employees organizing, as
such a procedure would oppose the in
terests of the capitalists and the coun-
try as we'll, for the reason that the
work people would demand, higher
wages and shorter hours, which would
mean less profits for employers and per-
haps the loss of trade, especially in for
eign markets.
Mr.. Morgan frankly admitted that it
was the policy of the local unions in
the central U. S. Steel Corporation to
conduct "open" mills, so that during
dull periods the latter could be run,
while the plants with organized work.
men in them could be closed and kept
closed. This policy would have the ef-
feet Of putting premium on disorgan-
ization among the work people, and
they would stampede from so-called
unions and clamor for "open" mills,
with the result that the capitalistic
brethren could dictate terms to suit
themselves.
"There are just two ways of proceed
Ing" the business agent concluded.
Zone is to patch up some sort OF COM
promise to recognize somebody or
something, under certain circumstances
at some remote period. or to fight this
thing out to the bitter end. While, If
we conclude to adopt the latter plan,
we can count on our brothers in the
Politicians Union to hurl all the in
functions we may desire and to call out
the police and militia, am personally
Of the opinion that we should be tact
full and adopt the former plan. This
is the day Of diplomacy, and we can
beat the labor people at that game. !"
Bros. Rockefeller. Sage, Vanderbilt,
Whitney, Gould, Hill, Gary. Armour