New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-07
SHEEP OR MEN, WHICH?
Traction Employees Need Backbone to With
stand Tactics of Alien Organizers.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Mr.. T. S. Williams, president Of the
B. r. T. system, ia confronted by dihcuit
situation He is right in printing vigorous
American protest against the alien ngitators
who have come TO New York to use New
York workingmen for their own purposes
The public realizes that until the PROBES
sonal strikemakers came, the street rail-
wny men Of New York were contentedly AT
work, and about as happy as any OF the rest
OF us which is not saying very much.
Our street railway workers are all right
but for one thing. They allow themselves
to be herded and driven, penned and branded,
like sheep One bullying, square-jawed
alien organizer "can chase thousand, ana
two put ten thousand to fight" They know
the tricks by which six men can bully ana
finally coerce 5000 into a strike that no.
body wants except the agitators themselves
The extent and the thoroughness with when
satisfied workngmen sometimes act IKE
spineless and defenceless sheep is amazing.
From time immemorial satisfied toners
have been the prey Of the vultures OF laoor'
Millions of men who have said, Il don't
want to strike!" have been compelled TO
strike regardless of ruin to themselves The
leadership is always in the hands Of labor
organizers, the makers of strikes and the
men who get big money for doing 1t.
Even in the most aggravated cases, we
rarely see a real leader on the side OF the
decent workingmen to fight the trouble
makers and avert calamity No one ever
Organizes" the men for the defence Of their
own interests Can you tell me why it is ?
r. ~ ~
here in New York, for half dozen years
the members tamely permitted that scoundrel.
Sam Parks, TO herd them and drive them like
sheep in order that Mrs. Sam Parks might
wear diamonds. For once, however-and l
believe only once-a predatory labor driver
got what was coming to him. That was when
Sam Parks went TO the penitentiary.
| suggest to Mr.. Williams that he and
Mr.. Shonts go among their men and see II
they can find some real men to come forward
as leaders and organize their men to fight
the trouble makers and save the men from
something that the great majority of them
would gladly avoid. There are plenty Of men
who are wise enough to desire to let well
enough alone, but they need leaders who are
a match for the alien "orgsnzers"
Il looks very much as IL the old tactics
will be worked on the human sheep Of the
railways, just as they have been on so many
others, here and elsewhere The organizers
know how to play on human nature, just as
a pianist fingers the keys OF piano. Until
the satisfied and contented workingmen Of
America acquire more backbone than they
now have, and learn to stand up against I'M
desired Organizers" like men, the organizers
will herd them and drive them whenever and
wherever their own selfish interests dictate.
Trouble for the men always means big /
money for the organizer
We know that the subway men are salts
fed and don't want 70 strike; but have they
sufficient manhood to withstand alien organ
zers? | doubt it, and | am planning to do
without the use OF the subway for period. |
WILLIAM TEMPLE.
New York. Aug. 4, 1916.