The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1911-09-04
ESecretary of American Fed
Grafton of Labor Makes
Startling Charges in a La
Dor Day Address.
kM'NAMARA CASE is
USED FOR EXAMPLE
lOf Alleged Efforts of Big
: Employers to Throttle the
Cause of Union Labor
Sounds His Warning.
tNational News Association,

(gigantic conspiracy by the trusts and
employers associations to throttle the
cause OF union labor was charged by
Frank Morrison, Secretary of fhe Am
erican Federation of labor in his La
lbor day address here today.
/, 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.
IF In this case, organized labor
Ishows its weakness in not being able
ito defend Its position" he said then
future contests of similar character
will occur.
( III the organizers of labor do their
duty-and we feel confident they will
l--the corrupt employers associations
will not desire to try conclusions with
Jus again. Kidnapping must stop. Ma
|licious prosecutions must stop. Or
ganized labor is being put to the test.
What the Object 10.
I "These employers associations" he
lcontinued, do not hope for a final
'conviction OF the men charged, their
purpose being to cast odium on our
environment. They apparently are de-
ltermined by fair means or foul to
strike union labor fatal blow.
"This antagonism, however" he
said, ''is simply q more potent argu-
'ment for trade pnionism.
"The trusts of today have no tol-
Uration for that class OF labor who are
ambitious to secure for their children
Q better lot in life than has been their
own: by their antagonism to every or
,sanized effort, they place their stamp
of disapproval on labor's desire to
perpetuate American standards and
the chance of putting within the
reach of every toiler the opportunity
and ambition for creditable citizen
ship.
''The chief question of interest to
the trusts to-day Is how they can pre-
vent their employees from becoming
members OF unions thus minimizing
made upon them for an increase in
the possibility Of demand being
wages or shorter hours of labor
"The trusts are employing the ablest
men that money can secure, to per-
feet plans to more effectively bind the
workers to the industry.
Zone OF the most plausible and at
the same time the most vicious sys-
TENS that the representatives of great
corporations are trying to fasten upon
the workers at the present time, Is
the so-called divident dividing scheme
IA scheme In which the employees
cannot make a suggestion, either as to
wages, hours or share of the profits.
This scheme of the trusts to hold their
employees is particularly interesting,
when It Is known that roll call OF the
corporations and trusts that have alb
solutely refused to permit their en-
ployes to organize, aye, more. they
have demonstrated their willingness
to expend millions of dollars to keep
their employees as helpless to change
the condition under which they labor.
ms the slaves were helpless to do 9TH
er than the bidding of their masters.
Influx Of Aliens.
"Some will say there is difference
that the employees OF the trust can
quit and look elsewhere. while the
slave could not. but ask you where
can those men secure other employ
ment, when you take into considera-
tion the constant influx of over mil
lion aliens a year. About 100000 men
are working for the Steel trust-few
df any OF these men are today mem.
bers OF a trade union. The Steel trust
In the late strike defeated the union.
"The influx Of aliens constantly
coming to our shores to secure en-
ployment at any price, because they
must live, is used as club by the
trusts to prevent men from quitting
work for fear they cannot secure EN-.
ployment elsewhere.
There are times when strike Is
justifiable. God help us II the day
should ever come when the right to
protest Is denied the workingmen. In
90 far as these organizations stand for
law and order, We are with them, but
In their present attitude. which only
makes for class distinction, class priv.
ileges, and, as a result. class hatred,
we are diametrical opposed to them.
A Political Prophet.
Secretary Morrison referred to his
statement at Pittsburg year ago
practically predicting the result of the
last congressional election, declaring
Il was q triumph for the wage Garner
and q protest against existing condi
tions.
'T declared" he said. that the al
most insurmountable obstacle that or
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