The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-12-19
LABOR LEADER ON
NEW ALLIANCE
Jonn Thai Says Citizens Organ
ization May Do Good,
ASKS ONLY FOR FAIRNESS
J. c. LEARY DECLINES CoNNEC-
TON WITH THE ASSOCIATION.

Labor unions welcome the Citizens
alliance, according to John Thai or
ganizer for Utah of the American Fed
Grafton OF Labor. Just as long as the
alliance keeps clear of prejudices and
So guided by fairness and reason. me
says organized labor should be glad
o. us existence.
Labor recognizes the right of CAPT
tai to organize" Mr.. Thai said yes
terday. "In fact it is glad to have
some organization with (which 20 deal
representing the whole instead of in
dividuals For the same reason, it is
glad TO have the business men orgaP-
fzc and act 10 concert They represent
q third element and should be of val
liable assistance in settling cOntro-
Versies
Union labor as whole is opposed
80 strikes except as last resort. lJ
believes i'm getting together and talk
ing things over and trying 10 settle
.them. Labor unions and labor lead
ers are not always right. They are no
more infalHble than are capitalists
but the only way Co. set things right
when there are differences is for the
representatives OF both sides to meet,
man TO man. and talk things over and
try to come TO fair agreement
Should Study Problems.
Representatives Of the business ele-
Ueut could assist materially i'm arraug-
ing settlements if they would study
these problems calmly and fairly and
judiciaIly. IF the new Citizens ALI
auc- win do this, IL can do a great
deal 20 help settle the labor problems
I'm this state. But If Mr.. j. @. Craig
OF Denver has been brought here by
Vice President Kramer Of the Utah
Fuel company and General Superiu-
tendent j. TT. Young of the Rio Grande
merely TO stir up prejudice against la
! bor unions and the alliance adopts
y this prejudice regardless of facts or
justice, I believe it viii make great
mistake.
elm reading the speech made by Mr..
! Craig at the organization of the ALI
sncc. * strikes me that he exhibits
rather violent prejudice He cites
scripture i'm his attack on labor un-
icns. He should not forget that the
first great labor leader was Moses. who
organized a strike OF the children of
Israel They sought TO improve their
condition and that is the motive of
organized labor today. in the United
States organized labor has taken chill
dren from the factories and put them
in the schOolhOuse; il has improved the
sanitary regulations I'm shops. worked
cation Of the working classes, as well
az for increased wages and other adj
vantagCs. Organized labor has inn
proved the condition of the working
classes, who are the great producers
and consumers and who form the back
q bone of the nation. Consequently. fl
has done great good for the republic.
Charges Of Mr.. Craig.
Mr. Craig charges many things
HHrr ffHnrr 20 an
izad labor is strongly against crime and
Violence Of any kind, Most Of the dis
tur5ances during strikes are by men
outside the unions or by persons hired
by the employers to make trouble and
throw the blame on the strikers
viii not attempt to deny that mer
belonging 10 unions have been guilty
of things they should not have done
There are 100000 members of the
> American Federation of Labor. j
would not be possible TO mass thai
number Of men and not find some OF
bad character or bad judgment.
But these individuals must not be al
lowed TO bring Odium on the grea
body. which is Unalterably opposed {,
Fny wrOng-dOing Of any kind. depend
ing on the sense Of honor right and
justice of the American people 70 set
tie difficulties. I could name many in
stances. especially during the grea
Pullman strike. when representative
Of capital hired men to commit murde
and arson. 10 do all manner of crime
simply 20 help win the strike. Blu
because of these numerous instance
7 do not say that all employers ar
= bad
'WOrkingmeu must organize for self
protection and self-advancement. CAPT
tai should not deny them the right
which e claims for itself Instead O
seeking To- arouse prejudices and en-
mites between the two. the bushes
men should try to encourage a friendE
feeling which viii do away with so
called labor troubles This I trus
will be the ultimate purpose of tn
Citizens alliance"
Mr.. Leary Declines.
The following letter was receive
yesterday by the officers of the Citi
salt Lake City. Dec Is.
Alr. j. Z. DO0ly Chairman. and Mr.. g. i
Mason. Secretary.
Dear sirs- Please be advised that sha
NOT ue able OBJ serve ON the executive CON
mittCc NJ the proposed Citizens ALLIANCE
Tho newspaper reports of tie citizens
efforts t' improve the Industrial sitGatio
ln tolorioo nave not cOmmcnoed to M
4, Judgment their plan ~Uf Intervention. t-
scope or us purposes. the method Of u
operation or the effectiveness Of it's D.,
suits. and the utteranCcs of the DriUcip.
speaker at last nights meeting as I rea
them in my morning paper. confirm M
previous belief that The so-called citizen
interference was provocative Of much
the strife "a portion at least of the ri,
lcnce. and great deal of the della
which have characterized the strugg
between the mine owners and the Wort
mon across our line recently.
Additional reasons. of great force vii
me- serve 90 deprive your movement
1ur sympathy az this time. although al
ordinarily against striking as a meat
OF obtaining relief. and I therefore n
quest that you flI the place on your con
mittcc which is left vacant by this Oh
cliuaUon. Faithfully yours,
!. G.. LEART.