The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-06-13

GRAFTON OF Labor, ana according to
custom long In use, have, the honor
to submit the following report OF my
fiscal year ending June 1st, 1908.
There was much history made during
the past year for the American labo.
movement. Just while our hopes were
the highest, reverses began to set in.
rounded and. being attacked from all
panic. resulting from a Wall street
conspiracy, and furtl1e-ed for the pur-
investigation of the criminal methods
Of certain predatory interests, forced
thousands OF workingmen into idle
ness. Construction work and improve
ments were summaraly stopped. and
western banks were filled with. money,
and the grana-ies and storehouses
were, overlooking with the products Of
an abundant harvest. - -:
there was. so little reason for a panic.
However, the awful power Of. the
kings of finance manifested itself,
bear. the br9nt Of the conspiracy. Not
satisfied with tying UP our savings, and
starving our babies, the enemies Of
labor. seeing an advantage in the un-
favorable Industrial @situation; imrae-
diat4lly inaugurated a cruel and sys-
means of defense, the trade union.
Every snbterfuge,- resorted~ to by
tyrants of old to tighten: the shackles
Of serfdom about the limbs of labor,
,culprit who attempts to deceive his
pursuers with the cry: tStop Thief
they played upon the prejudices Of a
thoughtless, but reasonably fair. pub
lie. with the delusive charge against
the tyranny Of labor. 1s:,- =:
Quick to perceive that an attempt to
reduce wages would divorce from them
a large number of people, and recog-
nizlng that the union shop was labor's
t Pulwark AGAINST Industrial tyranny,
wage reductions by, insisting upon
open shop" w1ichsln fact is the non,
union VI shop IN hdisgdise. undier union
s s1,opE,t rules labor.haa. omathing to say
conditions Of toll Hnd S op Ben ,s G.ps
conditions labor has nothing to say III
, There: is method1 IA me mad a i. e 81 81
cleave doctrine. Apt students az 81 t ti1e
spirit which has ii. sper i characts rfzed
Americans in generaIafor irness. thew
have artfully pla yea upon passions and
e easns aat M VI
90 so,1 Ions az taeir selfish purpose is &C.
One day they tickle the public. ear !:
WIN the demand for open shop. for
erty for the American workingman. as
II they were the sole custodians Of the
liberties of labor. And strange to saw
a goodiy nnmberaof honest people &C:
the moment every condition .of Indus
trial serfdom forced upon labor ,bv the
avarice and. greed OF capitalism, IN
ROOFING the home of its charms that
!womeT may be used to turn the wheels
tnat condition Of slavery which steals
the child from the school house ana
the play ground. that its life blood
may pc coined into dollars: Every
Industrial system, the sweat shop. the
tenement, the unsanitary factory. the
crimping system. the time check .eVil,
t t5e c4}mpany store long hours 81 labor,
made: the organizations OF: labor ne eesi.
Parryites, lisp IN, deceptive tones tn: the
words: Industrial Liberty .S@%,. :, =
:. When labor hnr1s back the charge to
!Is opponents that their desire for the
ductng. wages, no matter how much it
may be denied, when forced for q t1i-
rect reply they will inva riablv- hold
mat wages must sbas controlled by the
' ment q this sP peSly an e asa 9S m
the prstense that they are seeking In
dustriAl liberty Tor labor: becomes
ibly eo con as 5Tusl ostsn
Tor the DuFnOSe sfiOf X rn1aneo 4f,1isr 81 =