Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1922-05-26
EMPLOYERS ARE
EASY MARKS FOR
SPY SYSTEM
fBy E. H. FITZGERALD)


Having examined literally hundreds
of reports made by spies to employ
ers, | am prone to marvel at the cre-
dulity of those who are paying fancy
prices for services that are OF no
value to them.
Many employers are paying out
good money to spies for information
that they could just as readily obtain
from the columns of the daily news
papers.
Or course, there are "secret, conf
Dental reports" in which the spies
set forth suspicious and attempt 10
SOW discord. There is rarely any
basis for these statements, which the
employer would discover II he would
use the ordinary prudence that ne
gives to the conduct of his business.
Here are some extracts from the
reports which large spy service Is
making for employers in a large IN
dustrial center:
THE bazaar which was recently
conducted by the combined locals real
lied several thousands dollars. The
money, it is claimed, is being con-
seryatively used in the purchase OF
food and clothing for famllles OF
needy members"
The council will invite other or
CARNATIONS to participate In a gen
eral celebration. If none care to come
in the council will act independently"
The Amrecian Federation of La
bor, according to advice given the
Council, claims the union label the
most effective weapon against the
open shop, and all delegates are re-
quested to advocate more extensive
purchase of union-made articles on
the part of members and their fam
lies
The Teamsters' Union seems to
have grievance against the -
laundry, which concern they have
placed upon the unfair list"
In all the reports that have gone
through my hands not one statement
was made that in any manner reflect
ed dlsereditably upon a labor organ
lzation. In the main they were sum.
maries of the business meetings OF
local unions and central bodies. They
had TO do with elections of officers,
with help of needy members, of agita-
ton for the use of union labels, OF
contributions made for the support
Of unions on strike and similar mat
ters.
Union Would Give Live Facts.
Had the officers of these unions
been sought for information they
would have given it just as fully and
probably more accurately than the
labor spy who had worked himself
INTO the union in the interest OF the
employer.
ct hundreds of thousands of dol
lars are being paid yearly for this So
called information service and be-
comes a direct charge against indus
try.
1t should be said that many employ
erS are frightened into employing
labor spies by the incendiary litera-
ture with which they are bombarded
oy the so-called services. They are
Told that the unions are up to all sorts
Qi things and are advised that unless
they keep posted they may be caught
unawares.
Il is comprehensive that many en-
powers are caught by this campaign
% afightfulness, but that they permit
themselves to be deceived indefinitely
uy reports that convey nothing Of
value TO them is beyond understand
ing.
l have already stated that in my
"!1aoG the greatest obstacle TO a
aattsIa Iaetory relation between employ
et and employe is the mischievous,
unnnneipled spy.
HRen he is eliminated a source of
!!tieaon viii have been removed, and
tne employer will come to realize that
.is employees are as sincerely striving
-of the upbuilding of industry as he
possibly can be.