The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-05-06

not lnrreQuently as well paid. Usual
~. too. he is unknown to the superin- |
tendent and to every one else con-
nected with the business except the
one person to whom he secretly reports
when it is necessary.
Secrecy and Cooperation.
Secrecy and cooperation are the
agencies OF strength in organized la
Dor, and employers have learned the
lesson. With the added advantage Of
unlimited capital many employers be-
heve they have absolutely found a
way to put an end to strikes in most
trades and a method whereby they will
be able to force the unions into q more
businesslike relationship, doing away
entirely with violence and enforced
idleness on the part of the men.
Until recently the corporation or en-
ployer had not become acquainted with
the major general in command Of the
army of strike breakers. Usually the
corporation did not know exactly what
was going to happen until the men quit,
and then for weeks or months the
officials parleyed and bluffed, while
the men and their sympathizers burned
and not 1nfrequently had things their
own way In the end. Now the local
secret agent informs the company when
the strike is likely to occur, and the
travelling secret agent, with the aid Of
corporate cooperation and the major
general strike breaker, assemblies an
army and moves to the front before
hostilities begin. If the company needs
help it will get it from other compan-
les under the ethics Of the new sys-
TEN, just as railroad men on one sys-
tenn were aided by those on all con-
Meeting roads in time of strikes a few
years ago.
Where James Farley Entered.
The public has been amazed at the
prompt and effective way the Inter-
borough company met the recent strike
with apparently only few hours in
which to prepare for it. AS matter
of fact, it had been making prepara-
lions for more than year and its
success in defeating the unions is very
largely due to the clever work Of
secret agent, very unassuming man,
who was a detective in the employ
Of James Farley few years ago. Only
one official Of the Interborough COM
pany has ever seen this man to know
who he is. That official met him in
an out Of the way place one night
two or three years ago and all ar
rangements were made. The next day
the man presented himself at the Of
flee Of division superintendent Of the
elevated branch Of the system, bear
irg a letter from the official which
told the superintendent that, a we'll
known democratic politician wanted the.
mar put to work. He was examined
in the usual way and put on the wait
ing list. Three weeks later he went to
work as a ticket chopper. Then he was
promoted to the position OF guard and
later became a conductor.
OF course, the moment he became an
employee his comrades compelled him
to Join the union, and thereafter all
was plain sailing. Twice he was re-
ported by an inspector for trifing in
fraction Of the company's rules and
was once fined. None Of the officials
who passed upon his case, except one,
dreamed that he was their secret agent.
Complaints are made against en-
ployes for slanming gates. In passen-
gers faces and other acts Of discount
esy every day in the year, but these
are rarely noticed by. tho company, be-
cause to dismiss man for such a
cause would make trouble with the
union in no time. Six weeks ego there
were several serious accidents in the
subway, which it was said were caus-
ed by the carelessness Of motormen.
and when the company talked Of dis
missing the men the unions talked
strike, and the motormen were REIN
stated. But the secret agent took good
care not to do anything that would
endanger his position. His chief OBJ
ject was to prevent being discovered
in his true position.
Before the subway was opened the
unions had resolved to make many
demands upon the company. At first
the company had decided to man the
subway with men from outside New
York. The II" men demanded that they
should have an option on these places,
and to avoid trouble the company gave
In. The chief, however, was Informed
that as soon as the subway was in
good running order tho men would
demand an increase of wages and short
er hours and the abolition Of the ply
steal test to the motormen.
Pepper and Jencks told the men the
company would be sure to give in at
once In view Of the efficiency Of the
mon and the trouble the corporation
would have in breaking in others in
case Of strike. But tho instigators of
the strike did not know how the COM
pany had planned to meet the emerg-
ency. Before the subway was opened
the company could have obtained nom
union men to operate it, but that would
have precipitated q strike on the IL"
and strike they knew was bound to
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