The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-02-06
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III. ,l),Ii..|
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OF course we do. not expect at any
time to be able to convert the dead
set opponents to organized labor, and
particularly those who, through merce-
nary motives or prejudices,. charge
our movement and our men with
"rong-doing; but there are unpre-
JUDGED, thinking men for whose opin-
ION we entertain a high regard and,
1or the purpose of 1nterposing against
tnelr judgment being warped and their
sympathy weaned from labor, as we'll
az TO defend the good name Of our
cause we desire to present here a
matter of great moment to our readers.
1t Is the favorite- way of the most
v1rulent Of the capitalist press and
other opponents to charge all manner
OF violence and lawlessness to organ
lied labor, and in no instance was this
more clearly manifested than in the
awful catastrphe which occurred in
the conflagration Of the Chicago
theater when nearly 600 human beings
were sacrificed upon the altar of
parstmoney and greed.
For some time the carriage and cab
drivers of Chicago have been on strike
Tor An increase of their former wages
from $40 to $12 week and for a re-
duction of their IL to IA hours a days
labor.
Mr.. A. C. Bartlett, of Chicago, who
some time ago said something favor
able to the recognition of organized
labor, addressed letter to us repeat
ing the charges and enclosed a clip
ping from the Chicago Chronicle, one
OF the bitterest opponents of organ
lied labor, which in lurid phrase de-
picted the supposed Indifference and
brutal conduct of the striking carriage
and cab drivers. This was the first
INSTANCE in which direct representa-
ton Of such charge was made to us
and we determined to: make an invest
1gation of the entire matter.
We wrote letters to the president of
the Cigarmakers' International Union,
Mr.. George w. Perkins; to the presi-
dent Of the International Brotherhood
of Teamsters, Mr.. Cornelius P. Shea;
to Mr.. Thomas I. Kidd, vice-president
Of the American Federation of Labor,
and to Organizer Emmett, Flood who is
member OF the union to which the
strikers belong. =
We know Of no better way to refute
the charges and insinuations made
than to print copies of our letter and
the answers OF the men thereto. They
clearly show the malicious untruthful-
ness of the charges made and will, we
hope, tend to have men in the future
withhold their unjust criticism or de-;
nunciation of the labor movement and
it's men. Extracts from the letters to
which we have referred follow:
MR.. GOMPERs' LETTER.
washington, d.. G., Jan. 4, 1904.
MR.. THOMAS 1. KIDD; z
Fifth Vice PRESIDENT american Fed
z:eratione Of Labo No., s. s:
tSz5s;
Dear. SIT and Brother:*8 MI. A. c.
Bartlett, OF >Hibbard,@ Spencer, Bartlett
& Company, manufacturers, Of Chica-
go, has written me two letters making
| complaint against the "livery drivers
belonging to the International Brother
hood of Transfers.
In one Of his letters he encloses a
clipping, evidently from Chicago
| newspapers which bears the following
heading and sub-headings: "Strikers
jeer at holocaust" livery drivers re-
fuse aid to the Iroquois fire victims;;'
''flout entreaty to man vehicles to car
| ry away dead and dying;'' 'pickets
loafing in saloon laugh at call for
| volunteers" "tie-up is broken and
| carriages will be sent out in the morn
| ing
You may be able to ascertain the
| I wish you would, and then read the
o~f3o -
| upon the conduct Of the men.
Now in connection with this entire
| matter I sincerely hope that If you
have the information upon the subject
| you will write me fully and freely
| giving the facts in Increase. I need
but say this at present: while know
that some newspapers are given to ex-
aggeration. Misrepresentation, and I'M.
truthful statements regarding organiz-
ed labor and the actions of it's men,
| yet our movement can not tolerate
such condition of affairs as is de.
scribed If they are based on fact. ]
am unwilling to believe without proof
that union men would be guilty OF
such reprehensible conduct as is charg-
ed against them, or II the accusations
are true, that the unions or the men in
charge Of the affairs Of the unions
will countenance or tolerate, them; and
In the event Of the charges being true
It becomes the duty of every sincere
union man to use every power at his
command to stamp such course out
Of the labor movement Of our country
The permanency of our movement, the
success of our cause, depends largely
not only upon the confidence and res
pect Of our fellow-members, but of the
| public in general.
In view OF these facts and the furth-
er fact that there is a. systematic ef-
fort on the. part Of the Parry sort
Of organization among some employers
in their antagoisn to cast odium up
on labor organizations and labor men,
we should. do everything In our power
to enlighten the, general public as tc
the truth or unthruth of the *accusa-
tions and insinuations, and. If true, see
that they are" eliminated once and fol
all time. ~, $780, = -%~.-:
Hoping for: q reply at your earliest
( convenience, I am, = -: