Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-09-01
H00dwinking
Clergymen

There is seldom a day passes but
somewhere in our country from one to
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 citizens 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 % to rs
cents a 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 tie emotions of work
men and they are induced to Join and
pay fees to the leaders.
The 5000 workmen in Battle Creek
are, as 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 s1250.00
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.
The trust has sent small bales of
money and last winter 18 "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 saying cts 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, preferring
to BE free to work or not as they
pleased.
But the trust planned to force them
lnJO the l6o-pdyIUS Tdnhoy 81 d SIIIhS
was ordered to compel the traction
company TO kick out these men and
hire only Labor Trust members.
1t was not 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 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 men
they could not earn a living unless
they first paid fees to the trust man
ayers.
Incidentally the people of Philadel-
phia must submit to no car service,
rioting and bloodshed with millions
in losses while these fee-hunting, noto-
riety seeking trust leaders were teach
ing the world that industry cannot be
carried on except by workmen who
first bend the knee, bow the head and
pay fees.
How these men as strike leaders
love to see their names in the papers