The state herald., 1910-09-02

There is seldom 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
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 so mil
lion Americans protest against the
growth Of this crime-tainted organiza-
tion comprising perhaps one and one
half million men. of which II Is esti-
mated at least seven-tenths are peace
loving citizens and are members by
coercion and are not In sympathy with
the threetenths who have gained con-
troll and force their methods.
We flnd 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 25 to rs
cents 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 exoites the emotions OF work.
men and they are induced TO Join and
pay fees to the leaders.
The 5000 workmen In Battle Creek
are. as n 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 si25O0
TO 100000 n month TO the big trust
and be subject 10 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.
The trust has sent small bales OF
money and last winter rs organizers"
TO tic up Battle Creek. They hired
halls. gave picture shows. smokers.
etc. M nm investment. looking 10 rich
returns when they succeeded In hav.
Ing them tied hand and foot.
But they failed and the last Of
these SorganIfersn left Battle Creek
on May ist saying Its no use"
The workmcn knew the record OF
this great trust and formed their own
association 10 protect their rights and
also 10 protect them from the big
Labor Trust
In Philadelphia some 1000 indcpen,
dent street car men. who mainly had
families. had their own union and re-
/ fused 10 Join the big trust. prcferring
20 ne free 90 work or not M they
pleased,
iiu, the trust planned 20 force them
into the foepayins ranks, no n strike
was ordered TO compel the traction
company 10 kick out there men and
hire only Labor Trust members.
II was not n question Of wages or
hours hut 10 push the free men out OF
their positions where they were earn
ing good money To support their fami.
Hes The strike was ordered, not to
rAlse wages or reduce hours, romem.
bor. but solely 90 throw out members
of hn independent union and make
places only for Labor Trust members.
and thus show tho Independent, mon
they could not earn living unless
they frs, paid fees ,n the trus, man.
nscrH.
Incidentally the people Of phllndai.
phla must submit 20 no car service,
rIotlng and bloodahed with millions
In losaaH while these fee hunting, noto,
rie,r seeking trust leaders were teach,
Ing the world that industry cannot be
carried on except by workmsn who
firnt bend the knee. bow the head and
pay fees
How these men ne strike leaders
love 10 soc their names In tho papers