The Detroit times., 1909-05-18
VAN CLEAvE RAPs
LABOR UNIONS
IAN Organization That Cannot Live
Without Breaking Laws Should
Die" He Declares.

NEW 1Ohh, May lo.-DeIendlnS
: the aggression of the association In
It's stormy relations with skilled and
unskillod labor, President James w.
Van Cleave, of st. Louis. today start
led the fourteenth ANNUAL convention
OF the National Association OF Manu-
facturers by sensational attack
upon the methods OF the American
Federation OF Labor and affiliated or
CARNATIONS. IL was the feature of his
annual report.
President Van Cleaye surveyed at
considerable length the events OF the
past year. he said, In order 10 reveal
the "Adroitness, persistency and I'M
scrupulousness of the enemies with
whom every employer in the United
States will have TO deal. and thus give
an indication of the manner In which
we have to proceed In future in order
TO make our labors count
But" continued President Ven
Cleave, before | go any further. let
me mention that, In an amicable way,
some OF the associations best friends
have. from time TO time. suggested
that our course on the labor issue was
little too aggressive. They believed
that Cancellation would have accom-
plished more. To everyone OF these
doubters we pointed out the fact that
the program which your officers have
pursued was marked out for US by the
association.
when principle Is involved con-
cessions are as wicked as they are
vain.
Some OF us representatives OF the
association were compelled 10 fight or
surrender Confronted with these al
ternatives, we fought. And, as the
labor union chiefs sorrowfully con-
Tess, we fought with effect"
Rebuke to Labor.
Referring to the efforts OF labor
leaders to secure the enactment OF
antiinjunction legislation. President
Van Cleave said:
I'VE defeated them in Washington,
then the conspirators massed their
forces in Chicago and attempted To
Brighten the Republican national con-
vention and its candidates into sane:
tioning their un-Democratic, anti'Re-
publican and un-American propaganda
| We defeated them there also. As
these plotters then contrived TO place
their doctrine OF class favors into the
Denver platform, and as they obtain
cd formal endorsement for them from
! the Denver candidate, We had no al
tentative except to throw our support
to the Chicago nominee. And We have
excellent reasons for knowing our
work told decisively in the general -
suit
with a cunning engendered by a
quarter Of a century OF duplicity, the
labor leaders transferred their field
to the state legislatures.
"Fair-minded. philosophical citizens
will say that an organization which by
the acknowledgment OF its own lead
ers cannot live unless 1t gets license
TO break laws. deserves TO die.
LET me warn the association right
here that under the cloak OF legisls-
ton for the defense tor the pretended
defense of working women and chill
:cren. insidious attempts will undoUbt-
edly be made by the politicians OF the
trades unions To get special fayors Tor
their order"
Mr.. Van Cleave went on record In
favor OF the amendment providing for
q tariff board as urged by the senate
finance committee.
In conclusion he spoke OF the men
ace he sees in permitting immigrants
ITO fall under the influence OF the
federation which has grown up
amongst us and which sets the de-
.crees of its leaders above the laws
OF the land" He continues:
I'm the United States at this mo-
ment there is an absolutism which
violates the orders OF its courts. which
d1nounces It's judges and which re-
= puOlntes and defies the laws and au
fhcrity OF the nation.
<A ~As I have just pointed out. the
\ united States in 1906 abolished the
MADAM tribal governments and France
I'm 1909 Gubverted its insurgent civil
ntv1nts Now let me ask all OF you
- borttof treatment will the Ameri-
poDple In 1910. 1912 or 1915 be
&edf 70 deal out to the rebellious
AIktf1tan Federation Of Labor"
N TIE report OF the committee on In
Dfnkate commerce assumed almost the
1rm OF railroad epic-denouncing
the Legislative regulation of common
carriers. the $29,000,000 fine imposed
upon the Standard OIL company by
Judge lands as a mere outburst or
acute judicial frenzy" and winding up
with complimentary chapter refer
ring to the Justice of the interstate
ing the Hepburn law Instancing one
Injustice that is still inflicted upon
the railroads the report says:
I'VE must enter a protest II the
shippers are taxed in order that me
postofice department may show
! small deficit in operation
The report further demands modi
ncation OF the Sherman antitrust law
20 far as II applies to railroad COM
panies and refers to the construction
Z Of such formidable array of battle
ships as Merely a mad excitement OF
military spirit--our only danger being
the dream of an over-heated fancy
ond we find our national perplexities
more moral thar economical
The report urges the construction OF
the lakes to the gulf canal, an interior
otill waterway between Massachusetts
and the Carolinas.
Finally the committee deplores the
INSTRUCTION OF natural forests and est.
mates that the present rate OF lumber
lue will directly deplete our supply
and Indirectly destroy many water
ways within eight years.