The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-12-31
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
MEETING FIRE WITH FIRE

II will be agreed, no doubt, that the, most omi-
nous menace hanging over the future materai
progress of the United States during the next year
is that of labor disturbances
One can not seriously analyze the purposes OF
the Lewis faction in the ranks of organized LABOR
without clearly sensing the threatening possibilities
involved in this crusade.
What is to be done about it? How can society
immunize itself against the germ of paralysis that
lies lurking in such sinister programs as Lewis pur-
poses-programs that would tear industry and bust
ness into shreds if, by so doing, this man may gam
his purpose to become the greatest potentate IN
the American republic?
What is the best plan to pursue at any or all
times when subversve activities are abroad?
The shortest, perhaps of the many long answers
TO that inquiry is that the most sensible and sue
cessfu way to combat a destructive idea Is with
n counter constructive idea the education OF
those who are being solicited to embrace the bad
idea.
We wonder if American industry has not been
generally sleeping at the switch at this point! Per-
haps not but nevertheless, there is question mere
The usual procedure when labor troubles appear
is to try to go along in spite of Them Ihs seldom
succeeds, at the moment at any rate
In the long run employer-interests are more
powerful for a long process of attrition than the
employe-interests and by the simple method OF
wearing down the opposition capital often energies
into the clear of partial victory at least. But un-
told damage to all concerned has already been done
in the meantime.
We have notion that if American industry
would spend more of its time with the honest edu-
cation of it's employees, the problem would soVe
itself-not their education in books or IN hgures
in reading, writing or arthmetic-but education in
the FACTS OF THEIR CASE, the facts of their
industry the facts of their employment, the facts
of their social and industrial relationship.
When descriptive campaigns begin in an industry
and the labor agtators are sealthily going around
at night pumping employees full OF propaganda
arousing their prejudices infaming their passions
and awakening their social speens, what is INDUS
try doing at the same moment to the end OF COM
batting such campaign and getting the other size
of the question presented?
Are employees always to blame when they finally
explode after absorption of mass OF misinforma-
ton rammed down their threats by subtle ana
sn,ooth-talking propagandsts paid for that pur-
pose?
If they have never had any information sup
piled them from that which is generously offered
them from these subversive sources, why blame
them if they act on the basis of the untruth or
the half-truth literally left with him from both
tongue and pen? ..
Fire should be met with fire, destructive propa-
ganda with constructive propaganda
Give working people the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth, and they will be IN
clined to follow its CLEAN.
Let them alone, however with only the subver-
sive information with which paid partisars ply
them and the likelihood is that they will act upon
that basis-and act honestly upon that basis with
the guidance and information which they possess
Charlotte Observer.