Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-12
Blamed by John Kirby, Jr.,
For High Prices.
Says A. F. Of |. Uses Civic
Federation as Catspaw.
President Of National Manufae.
turers Association at Springfield.

Springfield, Mass, Jan. 11.-Large
responsibility for the higher cost of
living was laid by John Kirby, Jr.,
president of the National Manufacture
ers' Association, upon what he called
the Labor Trust" in an address he
delivered today before the Employers
Association at Springfield. Mr.. Kirby
further declared that trade unionism
aspired to absolute control over all
labor that is hired and paid for by
employers" and charged that it's eff
forts to this end were being abetted,
although unwittingly, by the National
Civic Federation.
Mr.. kirby's address was largely a
reply to recent implied attack upon
his organization in an article in the
National Civic Federation Review He
said in part:
There is general complaint about
high prices of the necessities of life;
various reasons being assigned for
same, chief among which are the tar
if and the capitalistic trusts, while as
matter of fact, the primary cause of
the constantly advancing prices of
VI Oil hiiioo AiSo ttl thC
door of the Labor Trust, cardinal
principle of which is to raise wages and
restrict production. neither of which
can fail to diminish the purchasing
power of the dollar and when working
together they doubly depreciate it's val
ue. Therefore, just as long as the La
Dor Trust is permitted to interfere with
the law of supply and demand by re-
stricting production and artificially
advancing costs of commodities, by alb
normally high wages, just so long
Will our industrial affairs remain in a
state of chaos and unrest, and just so
| long will that great portion of the pub
lie who cannot uniOniZe be compelled
to suffer the consequences
1.-THE Civic Federation as a nation
al organization was brought into being
| by the late Mark Hanna. The names of
a number of men of influence in the
commercial and industrial world were
easily secured as endorsers of the
scheme, and a number of trades union
leaders, professional men and other
prominent citizens were gathered into
the fold. The meek lambs and ferocious
lions were thereafter to dwell together
in peace and harmony; labor troubles
were to be adjusted decently and in Or
der. Aside from it's political influence
which but few of its supporters know
anything about, it was sincerely be-
lieved by many that the organization
would accomplish wonders in solving
the so-called labor problem and for
those thus minded 1 have nothing but
commentator.
at soon developed, however, that the
affairs of the organization were being
managed in the interests of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, and Samuel
Gompers, it's vice president, promptly
became its commander-in-ch chief, and
with Mitchell and Easley as aide-de-
camps, proceeded to shear and trim the
lambs for their snug repose in the bel
lies of the lions.
,"Artful and cunningly- devised
schemes have been put into effect to re-
tain the names of prominent men in
all sections of the country and for add
ing more such names to the list, the
announcement that enrolment is free
being held cut as a special induce
ment to join in the great welfare ana
civic improvement work of the organ
ization which, if conducted In SIN
ceritv and free from alliance with an
organization of men who sat them
selves above the laws of the lana.
would merit popular commentator and
would, doubtless, accomplish some good
work in which the National Association
of Manufacturers would be glad to
cooperate.
but when it's official organ presents,
in croup form, as it did in it's Novem-
Der number, Photographic picture OF
"A of it's members, with GOmpers ana
Mitchell fresh from the toronto COIL
yention and their anarchistic defiance
of our courts still vibrating through
the air. occupying central positions,
the former located next door put one
TO President Taft and the latter touch
ing the hem of his garments, is not
such q spectacle enough to make hon
est citizens sit up and think?
ST do not wish to be understood as
condemning the many excellent "eil-
meaning and sincere men. and women,
too, ranking among the best people Oh
this nation. who lend the use OF their
names to the Civic Federation ana VINO
have done SO in good faith and with
patriotic motives, but who know very
little about it's inner workings, or OF
the real issues involved in the labor
question. and, perhaps, still less OF the
sinister threatenings of the LABOR
Trust For all such men ana "ofiieii l
have the highest esteem and deem II
myduty, now that the provocat'on mas
been given me to remind them OF the
Scriptural phrases: Blessed are they
that hunger and thirst after righteous
nesr., and they that seek shall find,'
and to suggest that, with those truths
in mind thew investigate for themselves
how and for what purpose. and by
whom. their money and influence is
being used" |