Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-04
FOES OF UNION LABOR
IN GREAT CONSPIRACY
Secretary Morrison of A. F. of
L. Says Mcnamara Case
Will Be a Test.

BINGHAMToN. y. Y, September T.
\ gigantic conspiracy by tn" trusts
and employers associations To throttle
the cause of union labor was charged
by Frank Morrison of Washing on.
-. C.. secetary of the. American Fedc-
ration of Labor. in his Labor day al
dress here today.
lie cited the Mcnamara ease as an
instance of tho operations of these
antagoniStic associations of employ
ers. and made a direct appeal to all
members Of union labor for funds to
aid in their defense of these men.
IF in this case organized labor shows
its weakness in not being able To de-
fend its position" he said then future
contests of similar character will oc :
cur.
IF the organizers of la hor do their
duty--and We feel confident they will
tho corrupt employers associations
VIII not desire 10 try conclusions with
again kidnapi must stop Ma
liciouS prosecution must stop. Organ
lied labor is being put to the test.
Do Not Expect Conviction.
These employers associations he
continued. do not hope for final con-
viction of tho men charged. their pur-
pose being to cast odium on our entire
movement. They apparently are de-
termined by fair means or foul to
strike union labor q fatal blow.
Argument for Unionism.
This anita soniSn. however" he said
lis simply Il more potent argument 70,
trade unionism.
The trusts of TODAY have no federation
for that class of labor which is amhi
tious to secure for i.s children !, better lot
in life than has baen its own. BY thei,
anrasonism 10 every organized effor-
they place their stamp of disa pproyaf or
labor's desire to perpetuate American
standards and the chance Of putting
within the reach of every coiler the OBJ
portunitv and ambition for a. creditable
citizenship:
The chief question of interest TO the
trusts today is how they can prevent
their employees from becoming members
of unions. thus minimizing the possibility
of "A demand being made upon them for
an increase i'm wages or shorter hours of
labor.
THE trusts are employing the ablest
men that money can secure to perfect
more effective plans TO bind the work
erS to the industry
"One Of the most plausiba and at the
same time the most vicious system that
tn" representatives of great corporations
are trying to fasten upon the workers at
the present time is the so-called dividend
dividing scheme, Il scheme in which the
employees cannot make suggestions
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 thIt::a roH call OF the
corporations that favor tho system will
reveal the fact thatth6y arestlle corpora
tons and trusts ,tf ~ have absoi,ftelyF e-
fused to permit theil employees to organ
lie. ave. more. they have demonstrated
their Willingness to cXpend millions Of
dollars to keep their employees as helpless
to change the condition under which they
abor as the slaves were helpless to do
other than the bidding of their masters.
Influx of Aliens.
Some will say there is a difference
that the employees of the trust can quit
and look for work elsewhere, while t,ie
slave could not, but l ask you where can
those mon secure other employment, when
you take into consideration the constant
influx of over a million aliens a year.
About 2tD.ia0 men are working for the
steel. trust-few IL any of these men are
today members 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 employment 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 employment elsewhere.
There are times when strike Is juSti-
fable. God help US if the day should ever
come when the right to protest is denied
the workingman. In so far as these or
ora MI ions to- e 1ov md nv1 xx-o
are with them, but in their present atti-
tude. which only makes for class dis
tinctions. class privileges. and. as re-
suit. class hatred, we are diametrcally
opposed to them
Secretary Morrison referred to his state
ment at Pittsburgh year ago, practically
predicting the result of the last congress
sional election, declaring 1t was triumph
for the wage Garner and a protest against
existing conditions.
Controlled by Corporations.
Il declared" he said, chat the almost
insurmountable obstacles that organized
la Dor and the people of this country were
facing was the fact that the Congress of
the United States and nearly every state
legislature were absolutely controlled by
the representatives of the great corporate
interests of this country: that a law af
fccting these corporate interests could not
nc enacted by Congress or placed in the
statutes of the various states until il had
been most carefully scrutinized by their
representatives, representa- tiNes who owe
fhcir election to the support received from
these great octopuSes. and in that way
they became the slaves of these mon
STEERS of human greed. that are savagely
and ruth!essly degrading millions of free
men. for no other purpose than to be able
to pay dividends upon stock watercd to
the third and fourth degrees.