Omaha daily bee., 1906-07-03
To Mongrels, TyrantS,
Slaves and Freemen

I dropped In to inquire how the slaves
in your community are getting on these
days, and what is being done to support
the children of the citizens murdered by
the members Of the labor trust.
These fatherless children number into
several thousand now and the trust adds
quite a few each year, you know. Don't
let's talk about It," someone says.
Lately there has been a decrease in
violence owing to public opinion but the
assaults and murders may be expected
again when new strikes are inaugurated.
OF course, it's easy to be a coward and
shut the eyes, turn deaf ear, and pre-
serve discreet silence" so you won't
get the lash and bludgeon of the trust on
your own back or invite it's Influence to
ruin your business or political chances.
Those are the threats the labor unions
hold over the people. you know. But II
you could be in the little barely furnished
home of the workingman who left the
wife and babies in the morning to try and
earn a little to feed them, and see the
despair of the stricken wife and the plead
ing children when the bruised and bleeding
body OF the father was brought in at
night, the fruit of the entertainment
committee" of the labor trust, perhaps
your inherent humanity might awake and
give you fair look at the appalling
slavery all about us-slavery Of American
free born whites.
Within a moderately short time up
wards OF twenty thousand OF these have
been brutality beaten, generally until un-
conscious, sometimes acid poured down
the throat eyes gouged out fingers cut OF
Ito prevent further work., bodies thrown
into the water, thrust into red hot furn-
aces, pushed OF buildings and others
placed, while unconscious, on railroad
tracks for complete finish Of the job"
Shooting and clubbing of these poor vic
Tins is so common that frequently no
mention is made in the papers, for the
readers are so used to such items that
they cease to have news value" Is this
indictment true? Don't ask the writer for
authority, but simply turn 10 the daily
record for the facts.
1t seems that the struggle OF our still
living felowmen seeking to earn bread for
their little ones in the face Of the danger
to life and limb from the labor trust
excites a sort OF lukewarm sympathy
among the better classes" but ] am led
to inquire how the American people can
steel their hearts against the mute appeals
of the little children Of these murdered
fathers. and the widows left to battle
alone for their support. Why God permits
such things, and how severe will be
the punishment for our apathy, He alone
knows.
Some readers Of this living in luxury
only know of the misery Of their fellow
human beings by an occasional cry that
at the damnable steel manacles cruelty
locked on the hands OF the common man
and his wife and children. But you cannot
and must not refuse to help with moral
support at least. your fellows now strug-
Cling for relief from the strangling grip
OF this rapidly grown creature, the tyran-
nous labor trust. Examine 1t carefully
head. body, legs and feet. In localities
where It has full sway and complete con-
troll the workmen must Join the trust and
pay fees each month to support the rulers
or they are not allowed to work and sup
port their families. That starts the slavery
Then perhaps a fine of SO to 500 is put
upon the slave. for some past independence
or present infraction OF trust rules" He
is ordered to quit work at command. To
quit trading at his grocery, meat shop. or
other store where he has credit. In many
cases the grocer or butcher is ordered
not TO supply food to certain citizens
other citizens are ordered" not 10 buy the
favorite hat. shoes, or clothes, because
they do not bear the trust trademark. the
"uniUn label"
You mustn't read your newspaper for
II prints some truths not exactly favorable
TO Tue labor trust.
shod at your blacksmith's for he uses
ygsils made in an independent shop.
You mustn't ride on the street cars for
tbs labor trust expects TO break the win
dows and tip them over.
You are instructed not to have your
printing done in any independent shop.
Your public officers are threatened IL
they award public printing to the lowest
bidder II he happens TO be under the ban
Of the unions"
Some newspapers are so completely tied
up by the union printers, stereotypers and
pressmen. that they dare not print facts
and news not in sympathy with the
unions"
The common man who works TO support
his family and refuses 20 slave for the
labor leaders is liable to be beaten I'M
conscious and have his little home and
family dynamited.
The public officer who endsavors TO main
tain peace and support the laws Is threat
ened. and where the trust is strong enough
the citizen is not allowed TO paint his
house, hx his water pipe, lay brick,
mix mortar. play In orchestra, clerk in
store, dig trenches, wait on table. drive
teams deliver milk, or work as machinist.
blacksmith, moulder, carpenter, painter,
typesetter. pressman, cigarmaker. paper
hanger, OF do any other form OF work
without permission OF the labor trust and
paying money to support Its leaders
| Observe, l say where the trust is strong
enough" and It is daily striving TO GET
strong enough" In places where It e. yet
too weak TO rule. Il even has a hod car
riers union and a horse leaders union
TO federate with other slaves among the
unioniEed doctors and grand opera singers
The punishment OF refractory members OF
! citizens who dare assert their persona
rights includes attacks on funeral pro
| cossiOnA, and at times the heaTse u oVa,