The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-22
What Alien Domination Of American
Trades Unions Really Involves.

''' . . 81
Trades Unions Really Involves.
Until the fact has been established
by competent testimony. THE Sun
will refuse to give credence to the
reports which describe the
trades unions Of artisans in this coun.
try as submitting to the direction Of
leaders who from Inherited proposes
slons or In pursuance Of bargain and
sale manipulate them to serve the pur-
poses Of foreign Governments and to
advance the interests Of foreign mill.
tary administrations.
We can conceive the possibility of
a vicious leader selling himself to the
highest bidder. and e%ndeavoring to
hamper the industry whose workers
entrust their welfare to him. Beyond
doubt. there are men base enough
thus to abuse the influence they have
acquired. But that they constitute a
majority, or a substantial minority.
Of the advisers OF trade unions Is
outside the possibility Of belief.
That any number Of the men en-
rolled in these organizations would
allow themselves to be transformed
into tools Of foreign politics Is a sup.
position so absurd that 1t needs only
to be advanced to be dismissed from
the mind. The membership Of trades
unions is not composed either Of
knaves or of fools.
Nor Is nj incredulity founded alone
on understanding Of the sentimental
and patriotic impulses that operate
in the minds Of unionists and non
unionists alike. 1t has a basis In our
confidence that no American working.
man would willingly cut his throat
for the advantage OF his competitors
in other lands.
When the war that now engrosses
mems. .-lention has reached a con.
clusion. 1t will be followed imlnedi-
ately by an industrial and commercial
struggle desperate to a degree hirh.
erto unknown. victors and van
qu!shed alike will resort TO every
known method TO reinstate themsel yes
In the worlds trade. No ruSe and no
eXpedient that can be devised will be
overlooked or neglected in that I'M
precedented contest and the first OBJ
ject Of assault will be. must Of neces-
sity be. the trade and industries Of
the United States Of America.
In such circumstances. what would
be the plight Of employers and work
ers alike II foreigners, through venal
men, controlled the trades unions Of
this country, and had accustomed
their members to strike, to resort to
sabotage. to obstruct the processes Of
industry for the benefit OF aliens? The
Instruments that It Is alleged are
forging TO Inconvenience. and II
possible stop. u lawful commerce,
would be turned "a Iva gely against the
essential well being Of every American.
They would be directed from foreign
factories, counting houses and chan
celleries against the prosperity Of this
country in each detail. Not the en-
ployer alone. nor the middleman. nor
the merchant. but every craftsman
and laborer, every citizen In the land.
would be at the mercy OF relentless
and INSCRIPTIONS enemies whose eco
nomlc plight would compel them to
adopt whatever means suggested itself
to further the reesta bli shment Of nor.
NAL conditions In their own countries.
No person not an imbecile would
surrender his potent weapon OF de.
fence TO the hand OF his bitterest an,
tagonist and the American working
men are not devoid of brains.