The daily Nome industrial worker., 1916-04-24
THE SPY SYSTEM.

A good deal of criticism has been made in many papers which cannot be considered very friendly to Gcrmany over the elaborate spy system which that nation is alleged to havc established all over the world, even during peace. And 1t is denounced as a characteristic of that Culture which is to be consid- cred impossible in America.
 Only a national hypocrisy can visit condemnation upon Germany on that head, especially in America, for In this country systems of spying under a variety of names have found not only favor but wealth.
 We need only refer to such names as Pinkerton and Burns and Thiel to show that great fortunes have all ready been made by tho profession of spying so that today there is no &C., tivity whatever that is not worm holed with the most contemplate form of espionage.
 Some years ago there was puO- lished the story of his experiences by a Pinkerton operator that re- vealed to the public tho extent to which this spying had proceeded. The spy system was elaborately or ganized and almost militaristic in it's efficiency, Labor unions, .socisl organizations, private homes were invaded by thoSe wolves in sheep,a clothing to ferret out secrets that would be of value to those employ CTS wHhao, hired. tho operators.
 The Industrfal Rotations commis- sion had brought to Its notice the enormous extent to which this ,sy- stem has rooted itself into ipdustria, life. 60 that literally and .,tryly ons cannot be at all certain that one Is speaking to a fellow unionman or a labor spy in. niAny industries.
 Daiiy- reports are furnished .em. ployers through these agents of everything. that has happened throughout the day: who shirked upon the job. who agitatedi for higher pay. who believed in Q short CT working dey. who romsEted dis content and who favored tho sido oI employees as against employers.
 This condition is well nigh. uni pcrssl and thore Is not militant organization in tho labor movement which from time to timc hrs nor Deen confronted with such as these.
 In the present industrial situation it is perfectly safe to say that there is no industry which is not literally wOrmholed with spies who are paid to discover and report multitude Of things which the employers want to know about their employees.
 Therefore it is only 8 national hypocrise to condemn the German system when there is no country in world wherein the fine art of spy ing has reached the game degree of efficiency as tho Pinkertons ana the Thiels and the Burns have brought it to. The dictagraph is an essentially American invention and has been the bosom friond of the spy and the sneak since it saw the light of day.
 Moreover the German spy is in spired by motives which are not sordidly material. Right or wrong be believes in his country and he serves that country for gain. He takes tremendous risks and he dares tremendous dangers for the sake ot serving what he has ennobled as q sentiment.
 But the labor spy has no such re- deeming feature. He is the mos. despicable of all tho breed. For a few lousy dollars he bctrays the class to which he belongs and serves to defeat their every effort for ad- vancemcnt. He serves no country, is inspired by no fine sentiment, has no ideal; he follows no flag and possesses not one ennobling inn pulse.
 All he is concerned with is to be- tray for money those whom he has welcomed and by whom he was wei comed as brother. The miserable dollars that he receives is all the re- compcnse for pawning his soul and