The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-04-03
UNIONS ATTACKED
National Association of ManufaC-
turers Makes Charges.
MERE BOMBAST.

Methods of the Manufacturers
RoundIy Denounced,
simultaneously with the meeting in
Washington of the Chamber of Com
mprce of the United States of Amer
lea appeared a paid advertisement in
the local press signed by George Pope
president of the National Association
of Manufacturers. who volunteers ito
say word about business mems asso-
Citations and the work they have to
do " Mr. Pope $ introduction Isl
Much of the time of the men in these
larger associations is given to prevent
ing pernicious legislation. The most
dangerous legislation that these men
have had to combat is what is known
as anti-iniunction bills, which have
been presented to state and national
legislatures at the inStigation Of the
trade unionsts." AS is customary
with opponents of those working men
and women who insist on their right
to organize for the purpose of better
ing conditions Mr. Pope abaudJnS
argument and reason for the bludgeon
of abuse. and. after his Introductory
declaration. makes the following fran
tic effort to appeal to blind passion;
These unions take from men the
right to bargain for themselves, and
are. therefore. lawless organizations,
and, because they are lawless. the
courts. as we'll as the national guard.
meet with their enmity.
"All the talk about the right of col
lective bargaining by the trade union
officials. like all their adroitly worded
phrases. is for the purpose of deceiv.
ing.
Trade unions, because they take
from men the right to bargain for
themselves. are lawless organizations
and because they are lawless they must
go, and when they are gone, long will
remain the memory of the brazen inso
fence of the trade union officials and
the trade union leaders, while forever
will remain on the pages of history.
which they have blackened, the story
of their awful crimes"
Pope indicate that the National ASso-
citation Of Manufacturers has learned
no lesson from the bisterng indirt
ment made against it by special com
mittee appointed by the house of rep
reSentatives July 9. 1913, to investigate
the National Association Of Manufac
turers and its offspring, the Nationa
~ T,,.,I
The congressional committee was in
session from July . till Dee. Q. 1913.
when it made its report to the house
of representatives This report declared
in language with only one meaning
that officers of the National Association
of Manufacturers, who were stigma
tized as paid hirelings," were looked
upon with the greatest suspicion.
The following sentence will give some
idea of the opinions held by the com
mittee on Mr.. Pope's organization:
The extent of the political influence
thus eXcrted your committee cannot
tell, but the method was improper and
dishonest and to the extent that this
method was used it was the eXertion
of improper influence and was disrep
utable"
This scathing rebuke. agreed to by
majority of the committee, was not sat
isfactory to Congressman Macdonald,
who submitted a minority report on
Mr.. Popes organizations effort to ''pre-
vent pernicious legislation" Among
other things. Mr.. Macdonald says:
The naive effrontery shown upon the
witness stand by the officers of the
National Association of Manufacturers
in assuming that the committee would
accept at face value the bald denials
and ridiculous evasion and perverson
Of the meaning of action all too plainly
corrupt and sinister and would simply
and guilelessly make these explana-
tons their own and attempt to hand
the deception on to their colleagues
and the public. cannot be permitted to
pass without mention. Their plainly
shown attitude was that the American
congress was considered by them as
their legislative department, and
viewed with the same arrogant man
ner in which they viewed their other
employees. and that these legislators
who dared to oppose them would be
disciplined in the same manner In
which they We're accustomed to dis
cipline recalcitrant employees"
The National Association OF Manu-
facturers. piloried and condemned by
the United States congress. now as
sumes to sit in judgment on iegisla-
ton before that body, declaring at the
same time that the trade unions OF our
country are "lawless organizations"
The best answer to this charge Is the
report of the congressional committee
that so emphatically condemned Mr.
Popes organization The committee
also investigated the American Fedora
ton of Labor. President Gompers and
Secretary Morrison presented all
books and papers and the committee
finds:
THAT the organisation is actively
and earnestly engaged in political and
HAH