Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-09-02

There is seldom a day passes but
somewhere in our country from one to
a score of Our fellow men are assault
band.
up or burned. The families bounded,
the rioting, burning of street cars,
wreck1ng 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 c~rime-tainted ~organiza-
ton comprising perhaps one and one
half million men, of which it 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 IN
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 cunn1ngly plan to force
workmen to Join and pay rs to IS
cents a month in fees.
Various methods are used to Gin
duce" workmen to Join.
First, they talk Of the tyranny of
capital" making slaves OF workmen.
Then they work I'D enthusiasm
about the brotherhood of man" and
other talk which experience has
shown excites the emotions of work
men and they r induced to join and
pay fees to the leaders.
The 5000 workmen in Battle Creek
are, as a 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 $125O.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 b
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 10 "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-
inc fhanZ ffo1 hand and foof-
But they failed and the last OF
these "or%ganizers" left Battle Creek
on May LIST saying 'it's 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. -.r
But the trust planned to force them
into the fee-paying ranks. SO a strike
ordered to compel the traction
company to kick out these men and
hire only Labor Trust members.
1t 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 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
first maid fnnS RI tho fr1,cf ~na- .
ayers.
Incidentally the people of Philadel-
phia must submit to no car service,
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
bend the knee. bow the head and
pay fees. /.
How these men as strike leaders
love to see their names In the ssDera