The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-03-20
BOSSES EMPLOY
spy SYSTEM IN
TEXTILE MILLS
Company Stools Must
Make Lengthy Report
BY MARGUERITE LARkIN.

rOrizati0n carried on Dy means OF q
spy system in which every smallest
word,antIg act of a tired textile worker
may be reported. The Passaic, N.
IT, Council of Wool Manufacturers has
done it's part with its employment
bureau and its undercover spies to
put fear into the heart Of every
worker who needs job.
s.as A set of instructions issued by the
wool council to a worker who needed
money badly and who consented to
help the mills" has been discovered
by Robert W. Dunn, and is available
for publication for the first time now.
1t tells the spy how to report every
detail of workers day, every con
versation on the way to the mills,
every evidence of dissatisfaction.
Spy on Workers In Shop.
estate whether employees work
steadily thru the day. If not give the
particulars. If they prepare to leave
the department before the whistle
blows, give the facts. III there is i'll
feeling among the employees toward
the company state why. Give the
names, machine number or check
numbers and the reasons why they
are dissatisfied"
This is the first instruction on the
list of ten. The second is more dan
gerous to the worker. BY its pro-
visions the mill bosses are to be in
formed of the private beliefs and
views Of the workers, with what re-
suits may be imagined.
Seek Out "Aeltstors."
'Tf there are any employees in your
department who are cranks or agita-
tors on the labor question, Bolshe-
vism, socialism or any other ism,
write up what they have to say, men
ton their grievances and give details
so that we will know as much about
it as you do"
This is the provision that has halted
more than one first-hand investiga-
d ton of the workers conditions in the
mills. Justine Wise, daughter Of
Rabbi Stephen L. Wise of New York
City, who worked in the Passaic tex
tile mills for several months, was
fred from one mill and iblacklisted in
others when a spy like this one re-
ported that she was a Crank" an
"agitator," and college woman work
ing in the mill to better the lot Of
the workers.
The warning against "cranks" and
'agitators" is linked with paragraph
on 'Americanization, for the spy was
expected to act as propagandist for
Z the bosses as well as informer.
Spies "Amerieanization" Experts.
"An Americanization movement is
going thruout the United States.
Americanization, when brewed down,
is nothing more than the ability to
speak some English and use common,
ordinary, everyday horse sense" says
the bosses instruction sheet. when
a fellow worker spouts lot of silly
propaganda you should put up q SEN
sible argument based on facts that
will make monkey of the would-be
trouble-maker. Eventually he or she
will see his or her fault and become
sensibly American"
A sensible American" as is made
plain by the tone of the document, is
an American who is willing to bow
down to the tyranny of his boss. "Sen-
sible Americans" are those that work
long hours for low wages, and see
their women forced to slavery on the
night shift, in the opinion of the
bosses. The spy is urged to be "sen-
sible."
A blank is furnished him for his
report. Whom did you meet on way
to work (names, checks or machine
numbers)? What did he, she or they
say? What did you say always talk
sensibly)? These questions and 9TH
ers like them are to be answered in
great detail for every conversation of
the day.
Must Report Meetings.
ATTEND meetings. Say where they
are held. Give names of speakers and
write UP what they say. Mention
number of men and women present.
Furnish complete particulars and de-
tails concerning all meetings" These
are the Instructions by which the spy
kept his bosses informed Of any little
movement that might mean the dread
ed union. Any speaker who was not
sensible" would have his words quot
ed to the bosses. Any worker who
agreed with the speaker would be re-
ported by name, check or machine
number" No detail was to be safe
from the spy. No common, human
activity of worker was to be carried
on in private. The labor spy was
everywhere, mingling with the crowd
of men and women going to the mill,
listening to what they said when they
snatched their hasty lunch, reporting
to the bosses II they got so tired that
any calamity seemed preferable to the
vicious routine.
Keep the closest watch on any and
everything" The labor spy was both