The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1910-09-01

There is seldom a day passes but
somewhere in our country from one TO
q score of our fellow men are assault
ed or 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 OF
successful killing of passengers.
The general disturbance of industry
and the thousands of dollars forced
from tax payers to pay extra ponce,
sheriffs 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
peace-loving majority of over 80 mil
lion Americans protest against the
growth of this crime-tainted organlza-
ton comprising perhaps one and one
half million men, of which 1t Is est1-
mated at least seven-tenths are peace
loving citizens and are members by
coercion and are not in sympathy with
the three-tenths who have gained con-
tro, and force their methods.
We find that 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 cunningly plan to force
workmen to join and pay rs to 70
| ,optc q month in fees
Various methods are used to I'm
duce" workmen to join.
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 to join and
nav fees to the leaders.
The 5000 workmen in Battle Creel
are. as a rule, free from the dictates
of the great Labor Trust and still ge
the highest wages in Michigan. l
they had yielded to the smooth tall
Of the agents of the trust and Joined
thew would pay in fees from $1250.0(
to 100000 a month to the big trus
and he subject to Strike orders an!
time.
Now they save that and put tn
money into homes and family com
forts
But the managers of the American
Federation of Labor have worke
hard and long to harness them.
The trust has sent small bales @
money and last winter IS "organizers
to tie up Battle Creek. They hire
halls, gave picture shows, smokers
etc., as an investment. looking to rlc
returns when they succeeded IN ha'
: ing them tied hand and foot.
But they failed and the last
these "organfzers" left Battle Cree
on May list saying 'it's no use.'
The workmen knew the record
this great trust and formed their ow
,, association to protect their rights an
also to protect them from the 81
Labor Trust
r In Philadelphia some 1000 indepel
: dent street car men, who mainly ha
families, had their own union and r
, fused to join the big trust. preferrln
2 to ne free to work or not as the
9 pleased
But the trust planned to force the
9 into the fee-paying ranks. so strlF
was ordered to compel the tractlC
/. company to kick out these men al
4 hire only Labor Trust members.
:, 1t was not a question of wages
l. hours but to push the free men out
their positions where they were ear
o ing good money to support their fan
v lies. The strike was ordered, not
v raise wages or reduce hours. reme1
a Der, but solely to throw out membe
r of an independent union and MAJ
h places only for Labor Trust member
and thus show the independent M
~ they could not earn a living unle
!. they first paid fees to the trust ma
" ayers.
i Incidentally the people Of Philad
t. phia must submit to no car servi'
IS rioting and bloodshed with millio
If in losses while these fee-hunting, no
II riety seeking trust leaders were tea'
ing the world that industry cannot
carried ON except by workmen W
r. first bend the knee. bow the head a
ID pay fees.
s How these men as strike leadt
love to see their names in the pap