The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-02-24
SINISTER
Lawyers, Courts and the
Black List Some of
Weapons Used
By Enemies to Wipe Out
the Trade Unions and
Enslave Toilers Says
Rev. Chas. StelzIe.

don't believe that one-half of the
deviltry that comes from the bosses
side of the labor fight can be traced
back to the bosses themselves. And
there's a good deal of it, even though
it's covered up with the polite phrases
and smooth dealing. There is no slug
glng done, and no picketing, but they
use the courts as clubs, and the silent
blacklist as bludgeon, to say nothing
about some other weapons that make no
sound, but which quietly do the busi.
ness in n way that is cminently rcspect
able. That IS what makes the thing all
the more maddening J The fellows who
hatch these things are the sharp law
yers who have gotten fat jobs as secre-
taries' of employers organizations.
They are certainly making the most of
their chances for holding on to the DO
sitions which pay them more than they
would ever earn in legitimate law prac-
tice. 1t s simply another way that some
lawyers have of getting living by keep
ing folks stirred up. They have the
advantage because Of the fact that they
can do their dirty work in the dark.
where no one can meet them, and com.
pei them to prove the charges that they
are all the time making against the labor
union.
There s sometimes just enough truth
in what they say to make the whole yarn
seem plausible. They will select some
insignificant strike event and play it up
to beat the band. That's always been
their business. They have been accus-
toned to making out case for their
client, no matter how poor a ease he
might have to begin with. 1t been their
policy to keep out of court every fact
which might in any way favor the other
side. And they are doing it in this new
job. Once in a while they will get hold
of something which is clearly in line with
their general charges, because, under
great excitement, labor men do occa-
sionally commit acts of lawlessncss, and
they will say do some other fool
thing.
Then is the time to watch the game.
Your expert employers agitator will
work the daily papers for all they are
worth-and they are worth good deal
to him then-and he will print hundreds
of thousands of circulars and booklets, so
that the whole world may know about
the "great menace of organized labor.
If we had as many press agents the
bosses have, and if they were onc-half so
slick, and provided that we could get
our stuff into the newspapers, we could
put out some stories that would make
mighty interesting reading. But we have
neither the men nor the money with
which to do the job. and I don't know
that we can do it. These business agents
of the bosses have n fashion of calling
secret conferences of frightened employ
ers of labor, and then, with much mys-
tory and many confidential whispers,
they go through the motions. When they
get the bosses into the proper hypnotic
condition their poor victims are ready to
cough up millions of dollars Hto fight
this demon of the industrial world-the
professional labor agitator.'' -
1t s amazing the way the bosses fall
into the trap. I'll confess that there are
times when some labor unions should be
fought to a finish. If I were n boss.
] rather think ID feel like putting them
out of business when, for instance, they
get into rank iurisdictional fight which
works the very mischief with all the
trades concerned or when they make de-
mands which are simply ridiculous. But,
in the first place, you can t put the labor
union out of business. 1t is simply a
question to whether it s going to be
a good unionism or a bad unionism And
yet thousands of employers being
fooled by the vain hope that if they can
throw out the labor union they will have
solved the labor question. If it ism t the
labor union, it will be something else, and
probably something worse. Furthermore,
it s up to the employers to help improve
the labor union. They have & response
bility in this matter which they can t
evade. The bosses simply can't go on
prospering unless we prosper with them
We'er going to rise or fall together
that s pretty well established by this
time Either our interests are mutual or
else they aren t. If they are, then we d
both better find ont. and work more like
partners. If they aren t then II act
accordingly. Most workingmen and most
employers believe that they are, and the
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