Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-01-18
Spies B6ilg Made
n Religion


McKeesort Pa. The true inward
ness Of the Men and Religion Forward
Movement has been SO thoroughly re-
vealed here that it has stunned some
Of its former supporters and has
aroused a wave of general indignation
against it. That it is an adjunct Of
capitalism, an enemy Of the working
class, q new form Of opposition to
the trade union and a relentless foe
Of Socialism, was revealed by the
inquiry blanks sent out to the mill
workers here.
These blanks are not application
blanks for membership in the new or
ganization, but inquiry blanks concern
ing applicants and are usually sent to
those VIZ are already members,
Among other questions are the follow
ing: tn
'Is he (the applicant or the possible
member) a member of a trade union?"
"Lodge?"
"Does he call himself Socialist"
The first two questions are partic-
1larly insidious because there are
many men here who are secretly
members of trade unions. In some
cases to be known as trade unionist
is equivalent to instant discharge,
So the general opinion has grown
that the Men and Religion Forward
Movement has taken on itself the
work Of ferreting out and exposing, so
they may be discharged, those per
sons who have secretly allied them
selves with the trade unions.
That it is spy movement can no
longer be doubted.
Working under the cover of religion,
it seeks to gain possession of those
secrets which even the sying detective
, agencies could not gain.
From the employers standpoint,
there is another advantage, and that
is the cheapness. A small donation
not only gives to the Employers all the
secrets of the unions, but the employ
ers hope that the leaders of the move
ment will be able to keep the men
from combining.
Such force, destructive of all con-
idence among the workers and plac-
such a premiums on treason t.
ones fellow men, has never before
been set in motion, and the resentment
against it is intense and bitter.
The blanks which are being used in
this city are similar to those used in
other cities, and they are all arranged,
so that they are accessible to employ
ers in any given trade.
There has never before been more
thorough comprehensive system of
keeping and arranging a black list, for
any man marked on these slips as
either a unionist or Socialist, is
doomed to be branded as an undesir-
able workingman and will probably be
unable to obtain employment any
where in the district.
Fortunately, the criminality Of this
new detective scheme did not get by
unnoticed and unrebuked.
A brave clergyman, Rev. Singleton
Neissor, Of the Fifth Avenue Baptist
Church, detected instantly not only
the criminalIy irreligious nature OF
the movement, but also its appallingly
inhuman social bearing. SO he has de-
nounced it unsparingly, and has shown
up what it really means.
His action was unexpected, as he
has never been konwn as radical
clergyman.
But as true clergyman, he re-
VOTED against the church being an
organizer OF spies and a crusher Of
Workingmen.
His words have caused consterna-
ton among the promoters here. But,
whether they viii result in the preven-
ton Of the Men and Religion Forward
Spy and Scab Producing Movement
or in his own removal are questions
not yet settled.