The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-01-09
CULPR|TS STILL CRY
stop THIEF, STOP"
Do ENEMIES OF LABOR STAND
FOR "LAW AND ORDER?"


Their Devotion to the "Open Shop" is
Hypocritica!. 1t is the complete
Destruction Of Organized Labor That
IS Wanted. Nice specimens Of Speech
Made by Leading Members of En-.
ployers' Association.
Washington, D. c., Jan. 1.-The AM
erlcan Federatonist will say in the cur
Tent issue, in referring to the real pur-
pose of the Employers Association,
that We are told that there is an old
ruse still sometimes employed by pick
cts In shouting, Stop Thief after some
imaginary person and supposedly run
ming after him, the aim being to divert
attention and admit of the real cu1-
prit's escape. Recent happenings am
ong some employers and their constant
cant about Law and Order recall this
trick.
DO the enemies Of organized labor
really stand for law and order?' Let
us see. The whole school of capitalist
antagonists will tell you vociferously
that they would not put the smallest
obsticale in the way Of unionism if the
unions were all as conservative, law
abiding, and orderly as the employers.
I hese people are great. patriots and
wonderful exemplars of obedience to
law. This land would be an industrial
paradise if all Of us measured up to
their standard.
a1M !! lnoqR 97s sn l71 ill pInoM,,
accuse them of hypocrisy in discussing
their alleged devotion to the open
shop and painful as the duty is, we
must charge them with hypocrisy in re-
lation to their continued appeal to law
and order.
It is all for publication only They
talk about law and order to arouse the
public and to create prejudice and hos
tiity against organized labor, The
world has progressed since the legisla-
lures and parliaments. at the bidding Of
the manufacturers, simply prohibited
combinations Of workmen as criminal
criminal conspiracies. The things which
were brutaly and openly done then can
not be done today. Secrecy has to be
observed. Strong as capitalism is, it
must go through the motion of respect
for constitutions and law.
1t cannot take away the right to COM
bine for legitimate purposes. 1t cannot
deprive us of the right to strike though
it has tried 1t and induced a few of the
more audacious and unscrupulous fed
eral Judges to put out 'feelers' in the
shane OF radical decisions 1imitinE the
right to strike: It woufd re- nslave' Ia
Dor by means of compulsory arbitra-
tion laws did it not apprehend Disagree
able consequences to itself through such
laws.
What can it do to oppose the demand
Of labor for a greater share in the pro-
duct of industry? I can throw dust
and cause trouble by raising the law
nnd-order cry on every occasion by try
ing to makA the people believe that the
employers are angels and the unionists
devils. 1t can cry anarchy and 'revo-
luton every time striker makes a
face at a professional strike breaker.
All this and more it is doing, and hir-
ing lawyers and editors to do with as
siduity and ingenuity.
Now, we do not apologize for lawless-
hess in any form. We have never advo-
Gated and always discouraged violence,
and intend to do so in the future. We
realize that lawlessness Is wrong and
censure BILE, and olso that 1t never helps
labor. but on the contrary Injuries it..
But We do assert, with complete conf
dence, that labor is more aw-abiding
than the class of capitalists that is
for ever talking about law and order.
Employers do not assault strikers;
they do not intimidate' workmen, nor
do they picket homes and shops. But
they employ ruffians to provoke distur-
bance and violence. and they have
called into existence the noble profess
SIGN Of strike breaking. This profession
may be lawful, but it is not conducive
to peace and order.
At the annual banquet of the Illinois
Manufacturers Associa ton. held al
Chicago early in December, a Mr. Brin-
ton said:
"'If the fight for the closed shop is
allowed to continue, there will be scenes
of blood shed in this country that will
surpass those Of 1.-The French revolu
tion.'"
A nice specimen of speech for por.
fessor Of law and order to make! Sup
pose some workman had used the same
language, but changing the situation
Say, for instance if workman had
said:
"'If the fight for the open shop
WnlCn IS QnOLHeT udlIle lOl' the nOn-un.
ion shop, is allowed to continue, there
will be scenes of boodshed in this coun-
try tha: will surpass the days Of the
| French Revolution"
What howl would go up from tn,
| capitalists and the press denouncing
him MS an enemy to our people and oul
| country! And yet these Britons anG
Parrys can indulge in hysterical shrieks
| predicting bloodshed, provoking hatred
| tmong our people, and still accusing
workmen Of lack Of respect for law anc
! order. and not word of adverse COM
ment in any of the newspapers of the
country!
We hear much about the shameful
unpatriotic action of union ostracis'
ing member Of the militia.
We hear the little or nothing abou
the splendid patriotizm of the employ
arg 1ufo object to their c1erks ar work