Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-29
IN LABOR CIRCLES
g.


Washington working men are said to be
much interested in the discussion now TAX
ing place in the middle west in reference
to the statement on manufacturer that
anarchy and trades unionism are operat-
ing hand in hand" and that anarchy Is
one phase Of the labor problem that Will
have to be met and severely dealt with.
Indignant denials of these charges are made
on every side by trades unionsts who de-
clare that the enemies of organized labor
are trying to incite the working masses
by falsely connecting them with the an
archistic class.
Attention was directed to the recent an
archist-socialist parade in Chicago, which
workingmen say was held ostensibly to OBJ
tain the support of trade unionists In the
oyer-Haywood- Pettibone movement, and
which has created a furore In union cir
cles in Chicago The display Of red hags
during the demonstration has especially
aroused the ire of leaders in the chicago
labor movement
The following article on the subject OF
the red flag and the parade Is published
In the current issue of the Union Leader:
THE labor movement does not uphold the
red flag.
Trade unionIsts who lived in Chicago In
1855 and 1886 know what the red flag
trade unionism The man who threw the
bomb in the Haymarket Square swore by
that flag.
1T was an anarchist who dealt death
and injury to a score of people. That bomb
set the labor movement back ten years.
The men who carried the red flag In those
days paraded themselves behind the trade
union movement in order to make show
of honesty and responsibility. After the
bomb burst everybody who opposed union
ism charged that despicable crime to or
ganiZed labor
1T is, therefore, not surprising that trade
union leaders have sympathy with the
idea of again introducing physical force
propaganda into the labor movement
The parade of last Sunday was pure
bunco game. 1t was ostensibly in the in
terest of Haywood, Meyer and Pettibone,
now under indictment in Idaho. In truth
1t was to boost the socialist party and IN
cidentally the despicable beliefs of the mill
tant anarchist. In the speeches at the ball
park it was distinctly shown that the West
ern Federation of Miners officials were a
secondary consideration. Only one man
mentioned their names and talked about
them to any extent. The others told how
the brutality of the ruling class must be
stopped by the working class, meaning
the socialist taking over the government.
They talked socialism and what would be
the outcome if that party captured the gov
eminent. While the speaking was going
on several men carried banners about the
ball field upon which was printed:
TO HE'LL WITH THE CONSTITUTION.
The banner had been torn in two. Upon
the missing part had been the WORDS we
are not going by the Constitution -Sher-
man Bell.
The statement printed upon the banner
was credited to Sherman Bell. His name
was in such small letters that it could not
be read from the sidewalk. But in its en-
tirety it was too mild. Excited by the
speakers, the men who carried the banners
tore off the latter part and left the I'm
preston that the paraders were saying, 10
hell with the Constitution.
1t was such speeches as those made last
Sunday and the banners carried that led
up to the Haymarket tragedy.
In order to hide their real motives the
red flag contingent went into the Chicago
Federation of Labor and asked that the
delegates adjourn to take part in the pa
rade- 1t was said that the demonstration
was to show that organized labor demanded
square deal for the accused miners. 1t
was also reported to the delegates that no
red flags would be in the parade. This
aroused one of the old-time anarchists, who
praised the red flag and criticised the Hay
wood Meyer conference for passing mo-
ton to prevent its being carried in the pa
rade.
The federation adjourned. When the dele
gates reached the parade and saw the red
flags they quietly dropped out of sight.
They could not stand for adding that curse
to the labor movement.
But this did not discomfort the leaders
OF the propaganda parade. They took
pains to make everybody believe it was
really trade union parade, Endorsed by the
Chicago Federation of Labor. One speaker
was introduced in this manner:
THE next speaker is a member of the
Ctgarmakers' Union, a delegate to the Fed
GRAFTON of Labor and represents the latter
In the HaywoOd-Moyer defense conference.
His hair has grown gray working for the
la Dor movement.
Now the only motive in this was to show
that the parade and speaking was under the
auspices of the organized labor movement.
But 1t is doubtful if there were ten men in
the whole parade who have not persistently
voted the socialist ticket, or because being
anarchists have not voted at all. Neither
had the speakers hair grown gray in work
ing for the labor movement. 1t had grown
gray working for socialism
The organized labor movement should call
halt to this Interior attempt to use it for
purposes other than those for which trade
unions formed.
Let every honest trade unionist and the
men who believe in organized society and
abhor the tactics of the anarchist unite to
drive this despicable horde out of the labor
movement
Why is it that so many of the professed
anarchists have no visible means of sup
port? Honest men have to work for liv-
ing.
There must be no more red flag parades.
NO one or two men should be permitted to
turn over the organized labor movement to
aid in either socialist or anarchist propa-
ganda.
Down with the red flag
The stars and stripes is the trade union
flag.
Long may 1t wave.
Thomas E. Carroll, Columbia Lodge of
Machinists, arrived in Washington in July,
1901, from Richmond, Va, where he took
an active interest in the welfare of organ
lied labor, participating in a struggle of
the machn1sts for shorter work day.
which, although partly successful, it left
him without a position in that city, and
consequence he came to Washington
However his interest in labor did not cease
and his joining Lodge No. ia he was
soon placed in harness, and the result Of
his efforts have been a decided benefit to
his local financially, numerically and other