The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-05-06
'UlPARAll TALE
DECEIT AND TREACHERY
How August Belmont Planned
for a. Year to Break New
York Subway Strike.
Worked the Civic Federation
on One Hand and Organic
ed Labor on the Other.

ton and failure Of the New York sub
way strike, but nothing heretofore
printed is more intensely interesting
than an article recently published in
the New York Herald, which, if true
and there is scant reason to suppose
that the Herald did not verify the facts
given-comprises tale of deceit and
treachery that has seldom If ever, been
paralleled in the Industrial world. The
Herald, of course, does not criticise the
methods employed to defeat the strik-
ers, nor does it appear to discover any
inconsistency between the actions Of
Mr.. August Belmont, chairman Of the
Civic Federation, and Mr.. August Bel
mont, president of the marlborough
Rapid Transit company. The story
printed by the Herald follows:
Cold Arabic Expressions.
Those who followed closely the de-
velopment and conclusion Of the recent
strike on the marlborough Rapid
Transit Company's lines, says the New
York Herald, are aware that g. new
order of things has been established
in handling labor difficulties This
system which has been perfected large
ly within the last year, is COMPARE
lively unknown to the general public.
The rank and file Of the vast army of
organized labor do not vet appreciate
how perfectly the system has been
organized. An excellent evidence Of
that fact is the sudden and bewilder
ing defeat that followed the strike Of
the Interborough's men. It was the
new method that defeated them, and
they did not know how it was done
until it was all over and they had an
opportunity to examine the moves that
had been made.
The general amalagamatjon and CO.
operation Of employing interests, the
placing Of shrewd secret agents in ev-
cry union and the enlistment Of a
standing army OF strike~ breakers un-
der able commanders ~ >he three
fundamental principles upon which the
new system is built. In reality en-
ployers have taken leaf from the
union book. They are working secret
ly and concertedly. They know when
a strike is going to be ordered and are
prepared to break it before it begins.
The old way was to fight 1t out. FIRE.
quently the result was prolonged and
disastrous struggle, with no particular
victory on either side. The new meth
cd brings a quick and decisive finish.
Employers Organized Everywhere.
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. It is not
merely a. movement for the formation
Of builders associations or transpor-
tation managers associations, but for
the general welding together of all
men who have to deal with trades
unions, and they are working togeth-
err just as the carpenters union might
help the bricklayers' union, each hav-
ing behind 1t the support OF the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor. Business
competition for the time is put aside,
ganized labor, organized capital is read
to meet it.
The destructive fight with the unions
here in 1903 demonstrated the neces-
sity Of closer relations Of employers.
The New York Building Trades EN-
ployers' association was esta b1fshed,
the mechanics unions were defeated,
and then quickly followed the estab-
lishment of similar organizations in
Pittsburg, Chicago. Philadelphia, Bal
timore and in nearly every city in the
country. supplementing these organi-
cations came national secretaries
10 md
reaus and system of correspondence
and cooperation so we'll arranged that
the employing builder or the employ
ing garment maker in New York
knows precisely what is going on in
his line of business in Chicago, and If
a strike is threatened he knows within
a few hours just where, when and how
he can get workmen enough to fill
all the places in his own shop.
No Trouble to Get Workmen.
In the building business greater DIFF
f1culty is experienced by employers
than in any other industry, because
for years the mechanics unions have
held tight rein on the apprentice sys-
tenn and the supply Of union mechan-
les is always kept even with or below
the normal demand. But the growth
Of employers associations and the
growing tendency toward the open shop
have greatly augmented the ranks OF
non-union workmen in all branches
and now employers find little trouble
in filling strikers places as soon az
the union men walk out There are
thousands Of good workmen in the
country today who have deserted the
union ranks within the last year be-
cause Of some real or fancied griev-
ance against their union and because
also, Of the growing demand for in
dependent men to step into the shoes
of those who desert their posts.
Under the new system a new calling
has been created, which requires men
Of superior ability and which COM
mands good pay. It is that Of local or
travelling secret agent. The New York
Building Trades Employers associa-
ton is said to have six of these agents,
constantly moving about from city to
city, and a much larger number who
are employed as regular workmen in
tho vqriO11a Unions Nof q v,ooxyo ic ma Ia