Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1910-11-17
The True Cause OF The
Los Angeles Times Disaster
Z California State
Report Of Investigating Committee Of the
Federation Of Labor.

! SIN. This campaign was directed not
only against ,unionism and unionists,
but against progressive ideas end
progressive persons OF every sort.
10 OTIS, every class of refurmer, from
the advocate of direct legislation to
he conservationist, was alike red,
anarchist crank or. "listurber,"
AS a result OF Otis liter hostility,
and the uncomprom'sing attitude
whic hhis bulldozing ia tics compelled
The employers. TO take, it was in
eVitable that a time should come
when there would be sharp contest
between the forces Of organized labor
and the employers associations in
Los Angeles.
The great humanitarian movement
tor the association of he workers OF
The world may be hindrred and check
ed for time, but as surely as the
world is marching forward, so surely
will this vast movement extend it.
elf. BY his fanatical opposition to
unionism as principle OTIS was only
sIaying up for 7 .os Angeles lOckouts,
strikes and boycotts, which are only
the fruit of a, misunderstanding and
interpretation of the beneficent ends
of labor unionism.
Los Angeles being an open shop
town, wages here are generally low.
The skilled mechanics in the metal
trades; for example, hare been receiv-
ing from 81 to So day less money
Than mechanics of the ,ame standing
are receiving in othe: cities of the
United Sfates. The brewery workers
also been receiving a wholly in
adequate wage.
In May of Ibis yea: Lhr.I men in
these two crafts decided TO ask for
more wages as partial Offset to the
increasd cost OF living. Making their
advances in the most respectful and
tactful way, thu Brewery Workers
Union asked an increase If from 81
to So = week The Metal Trades Coun-
Gil asked for a minimum wage Of $4
day. The brewery workers We're
promptly locked out. The communi-.
cation Of the Metal iades Council
was consigned to the waste-basket,
and when it became evident that the
mechanics were to get no consideration
whatsoever, .hey went on strike.
The Los Angeles Strikes Were Begun
in Justice and Conducted in Peace.
AT the time of the Times disaster
both these struggles seemed on the
point of being won by the union men.
Despite tie exasperating efforts Of the
police to stir up trouble, the Iuen
have INDUCED IN no serious acts of
violence, and every precaution has
been taken to prevent members from
resisting tn aggressions of the police.
There have been many arrests, but
nearly al of these ahye been the ar
tests of peaceful un"n pickets. in
enforcement Of the anu'picketing law
which the CITY Council passed under
pressure from the Times and the
Merchants & Manufacturers Assoefa-
ton.
But tho strikers were on the point
of winning. For the first time it ZIP
oeard that the grip Oh the Times On
the industries of Los Angeles vas
about to be broken. Wherefore the
attacks of the Times Upon organized
labor became more ipfurtated, more
insane, than ever. Daring the few
days previous 10 the disaster the
Times applied, in its Columns the fol-
lowing epithets to unioaism or'union-
lists:
asiuggers,' Union Rowdies,"
Hired Trouble Breenrs, Horde"
'Lawless Agitation" Bullies." dis
rurbers of the Industrial Peace" Cor
ganized Ruffianism "RUfians,"
.'Brutes," "Mob,' "Loca! Mdlcontents,'
Union Brutes, Strong arm Union
Labor Gang Rough. necks, Law
less Ones" "Union Wolves,' "Toughs,'
CORPSE Defacers," "Mprderers," and
-sAssassins."
Without the slightest FOL ndation
for its. statements, during this period
the Times charged union men with
some Of the most he1nous crimes,
among them Sc yeral attempted dyna-
mitings. The day perv GUS to the dis
sster, the Times accuse Los Angeles
unionists vaviously with attempting to
blow up the Hail of Records, with at
tempting murder. win conspiring
mayhem, with attacking corpse.
During this period General Otis,
The Times, the Merchants & Manu- ac-
.urers, Association and their allies
were exerting Tremendous efforts to
bring about a coalition Of the employ
ers of the Pacific Coasl for the pur-
pose of launching a war of exteImina
zion against organized labor from
Seattle to San Diego.
Such was the situation just previous
to the blowing lap of the Times.
Why Did the Times Burst So Suddenly
Into Flames?
It has not been stab4sbed that Inc
Times building was DESTROYED by
dynamite
The only two points which can pos
silly be urged in support OF the dyna-'
mitingS theory, atser four weeks OF m
vestigati9n, are
FIRST That 4 comtGittee appoint
ed by ii. Mayor reported th concur
sion that 1.-THE explosion used was
lone of high spoUer, such as nitro
CONTINUED on page two.)
-. 49, r. = 49,