The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-06-15
CAPITAL 5 NEW SYSTEM
lnterborough Strike Demon
Strated its Effectiveness.
NON-UNlON RANKS GROW
Employees Were Kept Informed as to
Every Movement Of the Union by
Secret Agents--Strike Breakers
Massed Beforehand Ready to
Meet All Emergencies.

|
Meet All Emergencies.
Those who followed closely the de-
| velopment and conclusion of the re.
cent strike on the Interborough Rapid
! Transit Company's lines are aware
that a new order of things has been
established in handling labor diff
culties, says the New York Herald.
This system, which has been per-
fected largely within the last year, is
comparatively unknown to the general
public. The rank and file of the vast
army of organized labor do not yet ap-
preciate how perfectly the system has
been organized. An excellent evil
dence of that fact is the sudden and
bewildering defeat that followed the
strike of the lnterborough men. 1t
was the new method that defeated
them and they did not know how 1t
was done until ii was all over and
they had an opportunity to examine
the moves that had been made.
The general amalgamation and CO.
operation of employing interests, the
placing of shrewd secret agents in
every union and the enlistment of a
standing army of strike breakers un-
der able commanders are the three
fundamental principles upon which
the new system is built. In reality
employers have taken leaf from the
union book. They are working secret
edly. They know when strike is go
ing to be ordered and are prepared to
break it before it begins. The old
way was to fight 1t out. Frequently
the result was a prolonged and dsas-
trous struggle, with no particular vic
tory on either side. The new method
brings quick and decisive finish.
Since the summer of 1903 extensive
organization Of employing interests
has been going on all over the United
States. Only employers themselves
know how extensive and how closely
allied these organizations are. 1t is
not merely a movement for the forma-
tion of builders associations of trans
portation managers associations, but
for the general welding together of all
men who have to deal with trades
unions, and they are working togeth-
er just as the carpenters union might
help the bricklayers' union, each hav-
ing behind it the support of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor. Business
competition for the time is put aside,
and when war is threatened by organ
lied labor organized capital is ready
to meet it.
The formation of the New York
Building Trades Employers Associa-
tion two years ago gave the new sys-
TEN a marked impetus. The destruc-
tive fight with the union here in 1908
demonstrated the necessity of closer
relations of employers. The New
York association was established, the
mechanics union was defeated, md
then quickly followed the the es lb-
lishment of similar organizations in
Pittsburg, Chicago, Philadelphia, Bal
timore and in nearly every city in the
country. Supplementing these organ
izations came national secretaries
leagues and national employment
bureaus and system of correspond
ence and cooperation so well arrang-
ed that the employing builder or the
employing garment maker in New
York knows precisely what is going
on in his line of business in Chicago,
and if strike is threatened he knows
within few hours just where, when
and how he can get workmen enough
to fill all the places in his own shop.
Under the new system a new call
ing has been created, which requires
men of superior ability and which
commands good pay. 1t is that of To-
cal of travelling secret agent. The
New York Building Trades Employ
ers' Association is said to have six
of these agents, constantly moving
al out from city to city, and a much
larger number who are employed as
regular workmen in the various un-
ions. Not move is made in any of
the unions that the employers do not
know about at once. Ever since I'M
ions got foothold in this country
employers have had "spotters," but
the secret agent is an entirely differ.
ent sort of man. The old spotter was
always sure to be spotted sooner or
late~, when his usefulness was ended,
and frequently he went to the hospital
for repairs. The modern secret agent
is 90 necessity a very capable style of
pei son, as important to the employer
as his superintendent, and not infre-
quently as well paid. Usually, too, he
is unknown to the superintendent
and to every one else connected with
the business except one person to
whom he secretly reports when it is
necessary.
Secrecy and cooperation are he
agencies of strength in organized la
Dor, and employers have learned the
lesson. With the added advantage of
unlimited capital many employers be-
lieve they have absolutely found
way to put an end to strikes in most
trades and method whereby tiey
will be able to force the unions int,
more businesslike relationship, do
ing away entirely with violence and
enforced idleness on the part OF the