The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-04
CONDEMNS PRIVATE
WARFARE on LABOR
Secretary Of Labor Wilson
Takes Fling at Detective
Agencies Used in Strikes.
Sending of Armed and Trained
Private Soldiery Into the
Troubled Districts Calls for
Attention.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 3.--In his FIRST
annual report. made public tonight
Secretary Wilson, OF the department oil
labor asks for legislation by con-
gress, which will prevent the interstate
transportation of firearms or armed
men for use in connection with labor
controversies. Secretary Wilson has
long been known as an ardent cham
pion of union labor and his conduct OF
the department thus far has caused
considerable comment because OF his
pronounced Views on this subject.
In the recommendations contained In
his annual report, however. he has
gone further in support of organized
labor than on any other occasion. He
severely condemns the use of Are arms
In connection with strikes and Incl
dentalIy takes a ding at the use OF
detective agencies In such controver-
sizes.
Secretary Wilson says:
The use of firearms In a species
of private warfare in connection with
labor strikes calls for serious con-
sideration. Groups OF men on both
sides without military or police au
thority for II. have used firearms with
fatal effect in the coal strike in South
ern Colorado.
Private Scfdiery Furnished.
have doubtless been procured through
interstate commerce. and many of the
armed men are said TO have been i'm
ported into Colorado from other States
through business concern engaged
commercially across State lines in sup
plying corporations with an armed and
trained private soldiery or police in
numbers running into hundreds and
even thousands.
In connection with the Pere Mar
auette strike In Michigan, armed
guards. furnished by agencies in other
states. supplying men to take the
place Of local xtrikaEs- accompanied
those men to Grand Rapids. They
were there turned back by the United
States marshal under instructions from
the district Judge.
IN the Calumet copper mining re-
Eion. armed guards under contract with
the employers were forwarded TO the
locality by agencies in other States. In
view Of the facts In theee cases and
Of the well-known fact thAt detective
agencies are to 4 greater or less ex
tent engaged commercially In supply
ing groups of armed men aeross State
lines, the department recommends
that congress take action within Its
constitutional limitations TO regulate
this business in the interest OF public
peace and order.
Let strikes Rum Course.
Secretary Wilson apparently would
let strikes run their course and in the
case OF violence by the strikers would
depend on the law and the courts to
punish the offenders. even II property
and life IN the meantime were threat
ened
The secretary says that the depart
tnent Of labor was created I'm the In
terest of the wage-earner OF the United
States
while the department of labor sus-
tains friendly relations with labor or
CARNATIONS as in the interest of all
wage earners and of the general well
fare IL ought to do. nevertheless this
attitude must not be exclusive. SINH
lar relations with unorganized wage
earners and also with employers and
they themselves permit are likewise
duty OF the department.
The great guiding purpose. however
the purpose that should govern the
department at every turn and be un-
sierstcod and aeoutesced In by every
body---is the purpose prescribed in
terms by the organic act. namely, pro-
motion of the welfare of the wage
earners of the United States"
Tho report refers to the work al
ready done by the department in the
mediation and conciliatfon OF labor dis
putes and calls attention to the fact
that II fs without sufYicient appropria-
ton to fully carry out the intent
OF congress.