The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-07-13
Labor's. Great Chieftian Arises to
the Occasion and Challenges the
American Manufacturers Asso-
~ciation to Destroy Trade Union
ism.
They Have a Bigger Job on Their
Hands Than They Expect, and
Van Cleave Will Find That it
Takes More Than Money to An
nihilate Labor.

= 3AVS4N0AV VI VAV 39AA04 4C0kN 8 GU
Grafton of Labor Gives Able
and Convincing Answer to the
Parryites, and Clearly Exposes
Their Purpose.
WASHINGTON, D. c.. July 11.-Sam-
uel Gompers, president Of the American
Federation Of Labor, took advantage OF
the first opportunity this week, in an
editorial In the Federationist, to answ-
er the argument OF the Parryites in
their desire for big war fund to op-
pose trade unions. He writes as fol-
lows:
Parry has been out-Parried. The
National Association Of Manufacturers
which recently held its convention in
New York city revealed a degree of
bourbonism, stupidity, malignity, and
impudence that astonished even the
corporation organs. The comments OF
the press throughout the country on
the proceedings of that gathering have
been almost uniformly unfavorable,
and this is a good sigma sign OF pro-
gress. But how Is one to account for
the violence and folly of the moving
spirits of the convention? Is it pos
sible that the manufacturers Of the
country, many Of whom have just and
rational ideas, maintain friendly rela-
tions with union labor, have trade
agreements with labor, conduct union
shops; will allow an association, con-
trolled by reactionaries and ranters to
misrepresent them and create strife, Ill
will, and bitterness?
The president Of the association, Mr..
Van Cleave, of st. Louis, is evidently
Jealous of Parry and determined to bet
ter that gentlemans instructions. One
Of his recommendations In the annual
address was contained in the following
passage:
The Big War Fund.
1--WE want to federate the manufac-
turers Of this country to effectively
nght industrial oppression. The presi-
dent ought TO have fully $500, 900, q
Year Tor lie next
shou1h certainly provide ways and
means to properly finance the associ-
alton. to federate the employers Of the
country, and. to educate our manufac-
,turers to a proper sense OF their own
duty, patriotism, and self-interests."
The convention agreed with Mr.. Van
Cleave and appointed a committee of
IS to raise the amount specified.
What does the association propose to
do with such a fund? Hire spies, es-
tablish agencies OF strike-breakers.
corrupt and bribe lawmakers, or 9TH
ers,, maintain lobbies?: mot at ALL"
say the officers. The fund is to be de-
voted to educational purposes. The
public Is to be Informed as to the aw-
full aims and methods of organized lab
or. and manufacturers who are not suf-
ficiently alarmed and excited are to be
worked up to the proper pitch.
= Mr.. Van Cleave indicated in his ad-
dress what it was he wanted to COM
bat In the union movement. He was
modest and generous. He did not pro-
pose to destroy unions, root and
branch. He had no objection to bene-
violent associations Of workingmen. He
was opposed to, and would fight, If you
please, the abuses" and "evils" of
unionism. And what are they from
the Van Cleave point of view?
What They're to Fight.
The closed shop. the boycott, limita-
tion of apprentices, limitation Of out
put, dictation by the unions or the
officers, and the attempt to control leg
islation. New. issues, the convention
was told, had been raised by the appa-
rent resolve OF labor to "terrorize the
president, congress, Judges and juries" +"
This danger had to be fought at all
points and at any cost.
Now, union labor will not give up the
right of contract upon which the
closed" or more properly speaking,
the union shop. Is based; nor the right
to dispose Of it's patronage as it Wills,
which is the basis of the peaceful poy-
colt. 1t will not give up the right to
have a voice in the management Of. the
shop, and to determine on what terms
and conditions 1t will cooperate with
capital In production, and the right to
work steadily for the improvement of
the position Of the wageearner.
Employers who do not like this will
have to accept the situation all the
same.
The notion that employers are mas
ters," and that labor should bow to
their will and be thankful for the op-
portunity to work at all, is out Of
date.
What the Parry-Postvan Cleave ele-
n1ent calls "dictation" is merely La
boris assertion Of its own rights and
interests.
Not Employees Business Alone.
Output. apprenticeship, wages. hours,
and so on. are not the employers
business" alone; the employees are con-
cerned In them, and hence such matters
should be settled by agreement, by dis
cussion, by friendly conference, and in
a spirit Of mutual respect and good
will. - Z
AS to the charge of ""terrorizing the
president. congress. courts" and 50 on,
it is as impudent as it is ridiculous. !.
Are the nanufacturers and mer-
chants to have a monopoly OF the right
to present their demands to congress
and the executives. to pass resolutions.
to approve ana disapprove records of