The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1910-09-01
HOOdwinking
C1ergymen

There Is seldom a day passes but
somewhere In u country from one to
a Of our fellow men are assault
ed OF murdered by members OF this
band.
Then remember the homes blown
up or burned. The families bounded,
the rioting, burning OF street cars,
wrecking Of trains and attempted or
successful killing OF passengers.
The general disturbance OF industry
and the thousands Of dollars forced
from tax payers to pay extra police,
sherins and militia TO protect, even in
a feeble way. the citizens from the
mobs OF members Of the American
Federation Of Labor.
Then you will realize why the great
p~eace-loving majority OF over so mil
lion Americans protest against the
growth OF this crime-tainted organiza.
ron comprising perhaps one and one
half million men. OF which Il is estl-
mated at least seven.tenths are peace
loving citizens and are members by
coercion and r not IN sympathy with
the thTee-tenths who have gained con.
troll and force their methods.
We find that a few designing men
have seized control OF the American
Federation OF Labor. just as some
shreWd capitalists have secured con.
troll OF some railroads and other In
terests and are now twisting and turn
ing them into machines for personal
profit and fame.
These men cunninEly plan 20 force
workmen to Join and pay % 10 rs
cents a month in fees
Various methods are used 10 In
duce" workmen to ioln.
First. they talk OF the tyranny OF
capital" making slaves OF workmen.
Then they work up enthusiasm
about the brotherhood OF man" and
other talk which experience has
shown excites the emotions OF work.
men and they are induced 10 Join and
pay fees to the leaders.
The 5000 workmen IN Battle Creek
are, as a rule, free from the dictates
81 the great Labor Trust end stiII get
the highest wages IN Michigan. II
they had yielded 20 the smooth talk
o. the agents Of the trust and Joined.
they would pay IN fees from tl250.OO
20 100000 a month TO the big trust
and be subject TO strike orders any
time.
Now they save that and put the
money into homes and family com,
forts
But tho managers OF the American
Federation OF Labor have worked
hard and long 20 harness them
The trust has sent small bales OF
money and last winter Is organizers"
20 tie up Battle Creek They hired
halls, gave picture shows. smokers.
etc. ns an investment, looking 20 rich
returns whom they succeeded la hay.
ing them tied hand and foot.
But they failed and the last Of
these '@organlzers' left Battle Greek
on May lHt saying its no use"
Tho workmen knew the recuTd OF
this great trust and formed their own
association TO protect their rights aud
also 10 protect them from tho big
Labor Trust
In Philadelphia some 1000 indepeu.
dent street car men, who mainly had
families. had their own union and re-
fused 20 ioin the big trust, preferrinR
20 ne free 10 work or not as they
pleased.
But che trust planned 20 force them
thtH AAN ice NhgluE TRIMS 20 a hkflhe
was ordered 10 compel the traction
company 20 kick out these men ana
hire only Labor Trust members.
Il was not a question OF wages or
hours but TO push the free men out OF
their positions where they were earn.
ing good money 10 support their FAINT.
Hes. The strike was ordered. not 20
raise wages or reduce hours, remem-
Der, but solely 10 throw out members
Of an independent union and make
places only for Labor Trust members.
and thus show the independent men
they could not earn a living unless
they FIRST paid fees 20 the trust nan
ayers.
Incidentally the people OF Philadel-
phia must submit 10 no car service.
rloting and bloodshed with millions
IN losses while these fee-huntinF. noto.
riety seeking trust leaders were teach
ing the world that industry cannot be
carried on except by workmen who
first bend the knee, bow the head and
pay fees.
How these men as strike leaders
love 10 . their nance In tbs papers