The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-05-14
EMPLOYERS UNIONS.
A New Factor Looming Up in the In-
 dustrial Problem.

New Factor Looming Up in the In-
 dustrial Problem.
 The formation of employers associa- tions to handle labor questions is pro- ceeding with great rapidity. The move ment has been little slow in getting under headway, but 1t promises to make up for lost time by increased en- ergy and enthusfasism. The aggres- sions of organized labor have become so menacing to their welfare of com- munities and the nation that with al- most one accord the employers of labor are seeking the cooperation of their colleagues in opposing organization
 with organization .. They recognize the fact they now have power to deal
 with which requires greater resources than are possessed by any one employ CT of set of employers. While it is un- doubtedly true that organizations of workingmen include in their member ship only a fraction of those who work for wages, yet these organizations have been so systematically welded into close utilization with one another that they exert an influence altogether dispropor- tionate to their numbers. They over- awe the independent workman in prac- tically every community, and assume at all times to be the sole representatives of the rights of labor. Against this ex- tra governmental power which has sprung up and which bids fair to con- trol by threats, violence or the boycott all occupations requisite to the growth, comfort, convenience or support of every community, it has become absolutely necessary to array another equally strong, if not stronger, power, unless the people of this country are willing to see themselves subjected to a worse tyranny than ever afflicted our ances- tors. As this is matter which seems to be impossible for the government to regulate, the employers are undertak- ing to accomplish the task.
 The movement to organize employers is proceeding on two lines, One is the formation of associations consisting of those engaged in one granch of busi- ness or closely related trades. The other is the organization of the en- ployers in a town or city, irrespective of occupation. Examples of the former are found in the Stove Founders Na- tional Defense association, National Founders association, Iron League of Manufacturers and Erectors of Struc- tural Steel and Iron Work, California Mine Owners association, contractors and builders in numerous cities, etc. Examples of the latter are employers associations of Cincinnati, Chicago, Dayton, Ohio and Columbus and Shell byville, Ind. Associations of this char acter are now being organized in a number of other cities, and from pres-, ent appearances it seems likely that in short time these organizations will be very plentiful.
 Prominent among the organizations of mixed employers are the employ: CTS association of Dayton, O., and the Employers association of Columbus, Ind It is asserted that Dayton was at one time most conspicuous as union ridden town, and it's industries were fast being ruined. Under the efficient leadership of John Kirby, jr.,the em- ployers of the place formed an associ- ation to handle the labor question, and after sharp conflict they freed them selves from union domination, and to- day its a town in which Americanism
 rules and not trade unionism. In the town of Columbus, Ind, about dozen industries are located, giving employt
 ment to about 1500 persons. Until two years ago the town had not known
 what union organizer looked like, and