New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1910-09-03

There is seldom a day passes but
somewhere in our country from one to
a 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 or
successful killing Of passengers.
The general disturbance of Industry
and the thousands of dollars forced
from tax payers to pay extra police,
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 organiza-
ton comprising perhaps one and one
half million men. of which 1t Is esti-
mated at least seven-tenths are peace
loving citizeRS and are members by
coercion and are not in sympathy with
the three-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 cunningly plan to force
workmen to join and pay rs to Is
couto a month in foes
Various methods are used to IN
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
pay fees to the leaders.
Tho 5000 workmen in Battle Creek
are. az a rule, free from the dictates
Of the great Labor Trust and still get
the highest wages in Michigan. II
they had yielded to the smooth talk
OF the agents of the trust and Joined.
they would pay in fees from $1250.00
to 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 the managers Of the American
Federation Of Labor have worked
hard and long to harness them.
Tie trust has sent small bales OF
money and last winter IS organizers
to tie up Battle Creek. They hired
haIls, gave picture shows, smokers,
etc, as an Investment, looking to rich
returns when they succeeded in hav.
ing them tied hand and foot.
But they failed and the last OF
these "organizers" left Battle Greek
on May LIST saying ITS no use"
The workmen knew the record OF
this great trust and formed their own
association to protect their rights and
also to protect them from the big
Labor Trust.
In Philadelphia some 1000 indepen.
dent street car men, who mainly had
families, had their own union and re.
fused to join the big trust, preferrins
to he free to work or not as they
pleased.
But the trust planned to force them
into the fee-paying ranks. 10 q strike
was ordered to compel the traction
company to kick out these men and
hire only Labor Trust members.
It was not a question Of wages Of
hours but to push the free men out oi
their positions where they were earn
ing good money to support their fami
lies. The strike was ordered. not q
raise wages or reduce hours, remem
Der, but solely TO throw out members
Of an independent union and make
places only for Labor Trust members
and thus show the Independent mer
they could not earn q living unless
they first paid fees to the trust man
ayers.
Incidentally the people Of Philadel
piia must submit 70 no car service
riotinG and bloodshed with millions
in losses while these fee-hunting. motto
riety seeking trust leaders we're teach
| Ing the world that industry cannot b.
carried on except by workmen whit
6rst bend tie knee. bow the head and
pay fees.
How these men - strike leader
| love TO see their names IN the paper