The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-08-31

There Is seldom a day passes but
somewhere in our country from one to
a score Of our fellow men are assault
ell 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
pcace-lOving majority of over so mil
lion Americans protest against the
growth of this crime-tainted organiza-
ton 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 bv
coercion and are not in sympathy with
the three-tenths who have gained con
:rci and force their methods
We find that a few designing men
Rave seized control of the American
Federation OF Labor. just as some
shrawI capitalists have secured con-
:rcl of some railroads and other in
terests and are now twisting and turn
ing them into machines for personal
rroft and fame.
These men cunningly plan TO force
wGrkmen TO Join and pay p TO as
cents a month in fees.
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 uD 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
nav fees TO the leaders.
The 5000 workmen i'm Eattic Creek
are as rule. free from the dictates
Of the great Labor Trust and still get
the highest wages in Michigan If
thcv had yielded TO the smooth talk
Of the agents OF the trust and joined.
they would pay in fees from s1c5o.OO
10 so000.Oo a month To the big trust
3ilu Ut SuDiSCt to StT!he 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 is ''organizers"
TO tie up Battle Creek They hired
halls. 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 Creek
on May LIST saving 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
dent street car men who mainly had
families. had their own union and re-
fused to Join the big trust. preferring
10 ne free 10 work or not as they
pleased.
But the trust Planned 10 fOrce them
into che fee-paying ranks. so a strike
was ordered TO compel the traction
company to kick out these men and
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 to support their fami-
lies The strike was ordered. not to
raise wages CT 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 inderendent men
hey could not earn living unless
thew first paid fees to the trust man.
ayers.
Incidentally tie people Of Phi,adel- /,
rhia must submit to no car service, I
rioting and bloodshed with millions
in losses while these fee-hrntine. noto- !
rietv seeking trust leaders were teach /
ing the world that industry cannot be /
carried on except bv wnrk.nen who |
FIRST bend the knee. bow the head and !
rav fees
How these men as strike leaders
Ove to see their names In the papers