The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-03-21
BY HENRY GEORGE, JR.
THE NEW ENGINE

|
palled the trade unions of the coun-
try. 1t is, moreover, prosecuting
the Bucks stove damage case
against Samuel Gompers and other
officials Of the American Federation
| of Labor in the supreme court of
the District of Columbia. and in
| cidentally has obtained an injunc-
ton against Gompers and the Amer
lean Federationist that shackles the
press Who are in or behind this
potent association?
| That is a question that multitudes
are asking. But few are finding an
swer, for the reason that it is a Sc
cret, or as it's secretary, Mr.. Boo
cock, describes, it is a "confidentiaP
organization
| It has offices in the Wall st. sec
ton of New York-27 Williams st.
Mr.. Boocock there keeps couple
Of stenographers busy with CORE
spondence and the mailing Of print
ed matter.
Among the latter are two pamph-
lets, one bearing title of Million
Against One, a Conspiracy to Crush
the Open Shop 1t is the story
of the Danbury halter case from the
anti-boycott point of view. The
other pamphlet contains the argu-
ments in the supreme court in that
same case.
Mr.. Boocock received me cordial
ly when | called. but would give lit
| tie more information about his as
sociation than that it's membership
was made up o. a great number OF
manufacturers Of the country and
| that Mr.. Daniel Davenport of
Bridgeport and Washington was it's
attorney.
But later at Danbury and else
| where | learned some Significant
things about this "confidential" or
ganization.
In the first place, it should be ex-
planned that there are three great,
active, powerful anti-boycott organ
izations, which include in their
membership large and small manu-
facturers, among them the indus
trial" trusts.
The first of the anti-boycott or
CARNATIONS is the National Associa-
ton of Manufacturers. 1t has a
large suite of offices at 40 Broad
way, New York Mr.. Jas. w. Van
Cleave is president. He is also pres
ident of the Bucks Stove & Range
Co.. which, through the American
| Anti-Boycott association, is conduct
| ing the case against Gompers and
others at Washington. The Nation
al Association of Manufacturers has
5000 members, whose annual dues
are said to be S25 each, which would
| give it an annual income of SIS 900.
| These members are the heads OF
manufacturing concerns, including
| monopolies like the United States
| Steel corporation. The association
publishes a monthly, American in
dustries.
This association devotes itself
more particularly to such matters
of material concern to it's members
as resisting attempts in congress to
reduce the tariff, to limit the scope
of injunctions and to reduce the
hours of labor.
The second of these great organ
iZations is the Citizens Industrial
association. 1t has spacious head
quarters at 1872 Broadway, New
York. Mr.. c. w. Post of Battle
Creek, Mich, is president. Presi-
dent Van Cleave of the National
Association of Manufacturers and
of the Bucks Stove & Range Co.,
is first vice president. It's members
are composed of organizations ana
individuals, and includes the Ma
tional Association of Manufacture
ers 1t publishes monthly maya
zine called The Square Deal.
The purpose of this association
is to conduct campaign of educa-
ton for industrial peace which
means a kind OF Roman peace-the
death of all trade union resistance.
The Square Deal for February,
1908, says that some citizens are
paying toward" this campaign las
high as 81 900 month"; and that
zone citizen pays $4,000 a month. y
That is to say the Citizens Indus
trial association is a huge press
bureau, with means sufficient not
merely to run a monthly organ and
send out large quantities of circu-
lars and pamphlet matter, but tC
take whole pages in newspapers
when occasion calls.
The third Of the great OrganiZa
tons against trade unionism is the
American Anti-Boycott association
One of it's members described it tt
me as the fighting section of the
great league of manufacturers. It's
membership Is, to large extent
identical with that of the other two
organizations. 1t has all the eyl
dences of large income, employing
very high-priced counsel.
Its president is Mr.. Chas. Fl. Mer
rift, formerly hat manufacturer; o
Danbury, Conn. and reputed Il
have inherited Independent means
Although fighting unions, Mr.
Merritt has the distinction of hav
ing been sued by the Hat Makers
union-the United Hatters of Nortl
Amortization using an imitation 0
the union label. The union wa
sustained all the way up to the su
preme court of Connecticut. Tha
highest court declared, not so mucl
for Merritt, as that the union label
| 1T hnr