The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-09-02
UNITED STATES ~
CAPT ALISTS
Display Patriotic tendencies by
Enlisting Canadian Troops to
Subdue Striking Nova Scotia
Miners.

For some time past there have been ap-
pearing in the columns of this paper re-
ports of strike at the mines of the Do
minion Coal Company in Nova Scotia,
Canada. This strike has created features
that lend it peculiar significance.
The three principal labor organizations
in Canada are the Dominion Trades and
Labor Council, the most important central
body affiliated with the American Fedora
ton of Labor; the Canadian Federation
of Labor, composed chiefly of French Ca
nadians, and the Provincial Workmen s
Association of Nova Scotia. The two lat
ter organizations are opposed to any af-
tiliation with the American labor move
ment. In point of actual strength the
Dominion Council is by far preponderant,
for its membership is reported to be
about $4,000, while that of the two ex-
clusively Canadian bodies together is put
at $4,000
That the Dominion Trades and Labor
Council is also the most progressive of
these labor organizations hardly needs to
be stated. Its very utilization with the
great body of American organized labor is
bound to result in a wider outlook The
other two organizations, moreover, are
not merely exclusively Canadian, but also
provincial in character, the one being con-
lined to the province of Nova Scotia and
the other mainly to Quebec
Last year the Provincial Workmen s
Association of Nova Scotia decided by a
referendum vote to join the United Mine
workers. But this action was reversed by
the Grand Council of the Association, and
later the annual convention of the AS
ISOLATION gave the Grand Council power
to expel any lodge declaring for union
with the American organization. But not
content with overriding the majority vote
of the referendum, the officials of the AS.
ISOLATION entered into close alliance with
the Dominion Coal Company, and, when
its expelled lodges joined the United
Mine Workers, the company continued to
deduct the dues from the wages of its
men and turn them over to the Associa-
ton of which they were members no
longer.
The strike, which began early in July,
for the recognition of the United Mine
Workers, higher wages and shorter hours,
is thus fight not merely of labor against
capital, but also of the new American
union against the old Canadian Provin.
cial one. The fact that the latter is back
ed by the Dominion Company, as well as
Canadian capitalistic opinion is general.
makes it clear that the Provincial organ
ization has ceased TO be 4 genuine labor
union deserving the sympathy of the
workers
But the significance of the whole af-
fair is enhanced when we learn that the
DOMINION Coal Company, which tries to
play off Canadian patriotism against the
internationalism of the union, is itself
largely controlled by American capitalist
interests. OF its 100000 of capital.
$26,OO0,O0O is said to be owned by Amer
leans, who We're the leaders in the organi.
cation of the company. The Americans.
whose patriotism is so fervid at home that
IT is ever ready TO employ all the forces
of the government against unpatriotic
and rebellious strikers, become equally
patriotic Canadians in Canada and en-
ploy the troops of the Canadian Govern
ment against Canadian strikers who have
dared to affiliate with American work
man.
Capital knows no country. notwith.
standing all its hypocritical protestations
of patriotism and its constant demands
for governmental protection at home and
abroad Capitol knows but one object
profits. Increased profits, by whatever
means, at whatever cost in human life.
are ITS sole aim Whether these profits
are obtained with the aid of American
or Canadian troops is-like the tariff
a purely local issue ~. Y. Call
Demand the union label on vour mr.