The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-05
ORGANIZED LABOR
BE|AGPUT TO TEST
Morrison Declares There
Gigantic Conspiracy to
Throttle Cause.
NO ToLERATIoN BY TRUSTS
Makes Appeal for Funds to Aid
Men Held in Connection With
Mcnamara Case.
Especial to Tho Times-pispatcb !

Especial to Tho Times Dispatch.l
Binshamton, n. Y, September A
gigantic conspiracy by the trusts and
employers associations to throttle the
cause of union labor was charged by
Frank Morrison, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor in his
Labor Day address here to-day
He cited the Mcnamara case as an
instance of the operations of these
antagonistic associations of employ
ers." and made direct appeal to all
members OF union labor for funds to
aid in their defense of these men.
II In this case organized labor
shows its weakness in not being able
to defend It's position" he said. then
future contests Of similar character
Will occur.
duty-and we Ell confident they will
the corrupt employers associations
Will not desire to try conclusions with
US again. Kidnapping must stop. Ma
licious prosecution must stop. Organ
lied labor is being put to tho test
These employers associations" he
continued, do not hope for final
conviction of the men charged their
purpose being to cast odium on our
entire movement. They apparently are
determined by fair means or foul to
This antagonism, however" he said
Is simply more potent argument
for trade unionism.
The trusts of to-day have no toll
Grafton for that class of labor who are
ambitious to secure for their children
better lot in life than has been their
own: by their antagonism to every
organized effort. they place their stamp
Of disapproval on labor's desire to
"a 4 mr. rI 81 ,lnr a ,t,.
chance of putting within the reach OF
every toiler the opportunity and am
billion for credttable citizenship
Chief Interest of Trusts.
The chief question of interest to the
trusts to-day is how they can prevent
their employees from becoming men,
bers OF unions. thus minimizing the
possibility of demand being made
upon them for an increase in wages
or shorter hours of labor.
The trusts are employing the ablest
men that money can secure to perfect
plans to more effectively bind the
workers to the industry.
One of the most plausible and at
the same time the most vicious system
that the representatives OF great cor
porations are trying to fasten upon the
workers at the present time Is the
So called dividend dividing scheme-a
make o suggestion, either as to wages,
hours or share of the profits This
scheme of the trusts to hold their en-
ployes is particularly interesting. when
1t Is known that a roll call OF the cor
poratons that favor the system will
reveal the fact that they are the cor
porations and trusts that have abso-
lutely refused to permit their en-
ployes to organize, aye. more, they
have demonstrated their Willingness to
eXpend millions of dollars to keep thciy
employees as helpless to change the
condition under which they labor, as
the slaves We're helpless to do other
than the bidding of their masters.
'Some will say there is a difference
that the employees of the trust can
quit and look for work elsewhere,
while the slave could not; but ! ask
you where can those men secure other
employment, when you take into con-
sideration the constant influx of over
1000 900 aliens year. About 100, 900
men are working for the steel trust
few. ii any. OF these men are to-day
members OF n trade union. The steel
trust in the late strike defeated the
union.
THE influx OF aliens constantly COM
ing to our shores TO secure employment
at any price. because they must live.
is used as a club by the trusts to pre-
vent men from quitting work for fear
they cannot secure employment else
where.
There are times when a strike is
justihable. God help us If the day
should ever come when the right to
protest Is denied the work!ngman. In
so far as these organizations stand
for law and order, we are with them
but In their present attitude, which
only makes for Glass distinctions class
privileges. and, as result. class ha-
tired, we are diametricslly opposed to
them.
Triumph for Wage Eurncr.
Secretary Morrison referred to his
statement at PittsburE a year ago.
practically predicting the result OF
.;hc last congressional election. declar-
ing it was a triumph for the wage
Garner. and protest against existing
conditions.
81 declared" he said, that the al
most insurmountable obstacle that or
Sanized labor and the people of this
country were facing was the fact that
the Congress of the United States, and
nearly every State Legislature, was
absolutely controlled by the repre-
sentatives OF the great corporate in e.
terests of this country; that n law
affecting these corporate interests
could not be enacted by Congress or
placed In the statutes OF the various
States. until IL had been most care