Police and "Free Labor" for Bosses

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 79, 13 September 1912, Page 4

Police and "Free Labor" for Bosses

Federation Invincible!

The police are crushing into WaihiAnother critical development is with us. "Freo Labor" is to be tried as strikebreaker. Wo are in the eighteenth week of the strike, and for sixteen of those weeks not an extra policeman was required, cither at Waihi or Reefton, to maintain order. With hundreds of men idle, and despite every insult and incitement, the strikers and the loekod-oufc have kept cool, calm and collected, giving tlio lie magnificent to the great lying press sooling-o.it the populace against men fighting for their class and for humanity— sooling on the populace by means of virulent and unscrupulous blackening of fighters for freedom morally and intellectually among the highest because they have studied and suffered and been burnt in tlie furnace of pain. By this time tho rotten-rich mineowners and their press must know that these strikers, these lockrd-out, these Fcderationists are not the raw fools and wild Apaches they have been painted as being—but instead are men of Cromwellian character in purpose and determination, whose reckoning some day will be in a liberated people glorying that they lived and exalting them the more because of the grotesque deception which duped and dazed their working-class contemporaries. Here and now, the eighteenth week of tho strike and lock-out finds the libelled Fcderationists giving better and fighting better than at the outset. Tito trouble was to be all over in a few weeks, prophesied tho foes, fondly believing that levies wero not collectable and that secessionists were numerous enough to break the ranks into confusion, dismay and wreckage. They calculated without any understanding of the New Messago making a New Spirit, generating a New Time, which had entered into New Zealand and found its expression and representation in tho shadily-maligned Federation of Labor. Wo will not pause to rcccunt tho obstacles upon obstacles overcome by the Federation, but it will bo well to insist once more that in this Federation is the gieat white hope for an insular and belated New Zealand working-class, and that to preserve a Federation upon which so much depends its friends nuts: he dauntless to the end. The real issue, as we have repeatedly emphasised, is the presence and pcrpc.t.nation of the Federation, and recognition of the Federation is therefore to be insisted upon at whatever cost. The enemy is weakening in this latter particular, but seems to still have the expectation, as the longing, that miraculous or other ml ■*iTontinn wi'l prevent the humiliation ol.' recognition on its pari. Hails are lying thrown out designed io lift ray the unwary and mislead the sympathetic, but nothing must weaken the position firmly taken from the start—settlement cf strike and

lock-out rests in accepting the Federation of Labor. This right to recognition—as security and safety of ellicient organisation —was threatened when the renegade Trades Councils sought to segregate Reef ton by their treacherous "bracketing soft-soap, and was again threatened when Governmental Commissioners wore sent to Waihi; and yet again is daily threatened by indirect overtures from tbo Waihi and Reefton mining companies per announcements in newspapers and correspondence with Parliamentarians. But it will not avail. Either the Federation of Labor shall be recognised or shun, which is as much as to say tbat roeogirHinn is inevitable. They are fools who think the Federation is finished. It is only commencing. Win or lose in strike or lock-out, and the Federation of Labor emerges stronger because fighter. It cannot be smashed. It is like Truth, solider than a Gibraltar. True, the would-be smashers do not know this, though even among them some see as in a glass darkly tho invincibility of organisation destined to unchain Labor. These faint glimmerings already make the papers less cocksure about tlie ending of the Federation. Writing last month, the "Evening Post" was compelled to admit that, "contrary to expectations/ tho strike fund had reached five figures. In tlie main, however, the would-be smashers aro of 'the sort who learn nothing by experience and who the louder ana'licmatisa the more they are rebuffed. Of such is the raging Cliristchurch "Press" and most of the stupid country papers. After drawing a. harrowing picture of conditions at Waihi, tho "Press" concludes: "All. this trouble and inconvenience, loss, and in many cases distress and misery, lie directly at the door of the Federation cf Labor. It can say with truth, 'Alone I did iid' A proud boast, truly." To find the boasters who were going to give short shrift to the Federation and quickly, if nob sooner, administer sudden death to it, now crying over what they dared and taunted t'he Federation to do is beyond patience. Tho Federation is making no such boast as the "Press" craftily puts into its mouth. For long months the daily newspapers combined to goad the Federation into action, and were tireless iv proclaiming to New Zeahmders that the Federation was all bluff—merely bluff and nothing more. How tbey sneered, how they jeered! It is to be hoped that New Zealanders have tumbled to the real bluffers. Nevertheless, it is truly astonishing how almost all the haters and vilifiers and critics will persist in laying all the trouble at the Federation's feet, with never a word of reprimand for the blacklegs and papers and employers who deliberately manufactured the trouble in order to "smash the Federation." Smashing was on the braiu. "And tho smashers were prepared to ruin not only Waihi but the Dominion in order to vent their spleen and spite and — smash. To what a pass our boasted democracy has come is revealed in the fear of tho lashing mine-owners and tbe worship of mining methods. The Waihi mine-owners make a profit of three hundred thousand sterling a year —0300,----000 in dividends! Other figures of their operations aro positively startling. They arc vampires with a vengeance, are draining tho country of its gold, are ehicfiy absentees gorging at tho expense of the people—and yet, not even a Trades Councillor or Labor partyite ca.n find it in his heart to denounce the parasite.'- and bloodsuckers of civilisatic'i. but parrot-like repeat with painful iteration the jibes and charges of the capitalists, whoso work it is and whose inter"st ifc is to saddle tlio Federation with all the responsibility of the strike and lock-out, conveniently forgetting, as tbey do, how tliat strikes and lock-onis enme of evils unendurable and wbher.** terribV. li i< sad. It li tragiV. As wo were saying, those who snarled "bluff" and urged the Federation to do something expected that everything was

over, plus the Federation's funeral, but now tlicy aro calling loudly upon thGovernment also to do something. 'J hey wanted a strike, and now they aro getting the police to break it. Evory w-ideawake worker will know why the police aro stonuin.j; U'aihi. Let u-c-uotc our Waihi correspondent -.— '•The real meaning of tlie presence in Waihi and Waikino oi a large squad of police, detectives, etc., is unconsciously yen by the •-!!■•[■.*lU s" conespondent . 'Tli-- pre.-eii-. pe.it ion would 5 ■-*.-*!•■-. to indir-a. that a mi-Fedora i iou- [.>■-. y-ibs hi ilii-. oaro'i call now safely coir..- mto the .iiUKct. and take up .such work as the Waihi Company has to ofiVr. Tho n.oie v.*ho como die '.rrenger the resistance they would ho able to make to any organised attempt to terrorise, or interfere with llicm.' It is quite plainly announced that a largo police force will be beneficial in enticing scans to work for the Waihi mine-own-ers. Til AT is tlie real meaning of police declination of Waihi. They arc simply uniformed tools used by the Mine-own-ers'. A* reciai ion t-o safeguard scabs aud nan' lie v.-;*-- to the- introduction of fr'ali labnr in the, mines." H<d;viive*io the foregoing this from tho "N.Z. Tunes'' of Saturday last is illuminating :— ''Mr.' if. I.\ Barry. superintendon 4 *- of tho Waihi Coaipany, has drawn att--n----iien to a misnpprelicusio'.i likely to arise from the prctalent use of the term 'free laborers' as implied to men being employed by the company at its property, five, miles from Waihi township. It is quite wrong, ho says, to suppose that the company is averse to employing unionists. The company Avould prefer t-o employ unionists if they could be obtained, but they must bo unionists re-ei.-terer.l iind-r H:e Arbitration Act. H° surests tint the term 'arbitretionist.' would indicate more accurately tho kind of worker the <~omnany wanted. EXCEPTION WAS TAKEN ONLY TO MEMBERS OF THE FEDERATION" OF LABOR. liy Monday next, fully 40 workmen will he employed by tho company at Waikmo." The capitalised words thunder the anxiety to smash the Federation. They prove the Class War. They ought to rivc-ttingl.v add to the evidence we have sorted out to show ALL unionists the capitalistic object of the present conflict and ought to (lame forth the baseness of Labor party aid to the soulless enemies of the working-class. Unionists of any experience will not need reminding how that in earlier days scabs were named "freo laborers" by the bosses in order to soften the stin,-*; and shame, and these will surely see. that, ns the sting and shame could not bo long subdued the same process of pass in a; on results in "free laborers" bocomiiis "arbitrationists." All tho same, the stained creatures who yield to bosses' bribes when men come out on si riko arc scabs, impugn it whoso list. Again, the readiness of the Waihi Company to employ "unionists" is but the readiness of the mammon-tossed employer to employ anybody by any name providing such can be used to break solidarity. Every industrial upheaval presents instances of similar tactics. It is sheer madness to believe Mr. Barry —his company fought unionism once as keenly as it now fights militant unionism. Cursed arbitration, that has lived to earn exploiters' patronage and come to designate and cloak scurvy blacklegs. Will not every genuine arbitrationist resent the insult and the calumny? Will genuine nrbitrationists allow scabs to capture their sacred terminology? Well, tho police and "free labor" (they always come together) are the next means to be tried to defeat the strikers. Wo gather from the press that it is believed.' "free laborers" will bo plentiful, speedily outnumber the Fcderationists, and bo masters of the labor market. And then? Scabbery victorious over solidarity, and ALL unionism injured. McManus of Dunedin, isn't it time you saw the cat? Isn't it time ALL unionism saw tho light? Or will unionists submissively sec tho strikers beaten to be themselves beaten in (urn? If the strikers can be beaten it is by scabbery alone. Nothing else can beat them, unless the Government loses its head and sends Gatling guns and soldiery to down the people and massacre for Prolif. The Fcderationists at Waihi havo stood unflinching as the rock, and must now more than ever practise the strength of self-restraint. It will bo a lasting reproach to New Zealand, and a terrifying reflection upon its alleged progress and prosperity, if scabs aro forthcoming in numbers. We do not consider they will be forthcoming. Miners do not scab, anyway. By the way, at the debate at tha Wellington Chamber of Commerce on the application for financial assistance to the black engine-drivers the Chairman (Mr. Mabin) said that their sympathies wero with the men. Mr. Jones said he considered the endorsement of the appeal was a highly political action which aimed at smashing the Federation cf Labor. Mr. Ballinger held that the Chamber should uphold the union. They wi}re> fighting what was an illegal action to prevent the men from working, and he the tight it- was their duty to help these men. "urn set. the Ballingers keep repeating the lie of the strike's illegality, which wasn't illegal, and keep ignoring tne truth of the lock-out's illegality, which was illegal. As for Mr. Jones, it's a wonder ho wasn't crucified for blurting out facts of a "privato and confidential" nature. We wish to say that financial help to tho Federation saved the situation in respect to tho strike and lock-out, and that if such help had not been afforded the Federation would have been dealt a heavy blow. Had the miners not responded so splendidly other givers would not have given, that's sure. We question if Australasian working-class annals provide so creditable a record of sustained generosity. It is memorable inspiring, unconquerable. Some deductions will be interesting. The strike started on May 13. On May 27, a fortnight later, the levy was imposed. On June 22, six weeks after the .■■tart, fl'.e fir-4 linaiieial statement of receipts was issued. It showed a total of £22(1 2s. 9d., of which total £'2205 Mere sent by aliilialion.s. Statements have been is-nod weekly since. The one printed in this issue—up to September 2—-shows total receipts of £13,630 19s.

3d., so that since June 22 the income has been over £101)0 per week and the grand total to the credit of the Federation membership is i.11,322 os. 6d. £20,000 is in sight, eh? With Longfellow, we are justified in triumphantly vet reverently calling:— "Sail on, 0 UNION, strong and great! Humanity with all its fears, With all the hopes of future years, Is hanging breathless on thy fate!" '■V;.' are not to be smashed. Wo shall see this thing through. The future is brightly golden. Our message and plan named Industrial Unionism will prove as irrosi-dibic as it is incontestable. What though the strife be long and weary, the stars shine and the everlasting doors open wider and wider to exultingly welcome and vindicate emancipated humanity. It is a noble work is the work of striving to set men free and give to Labor its deserved majesty as supreme wealth-builder and therefore sole owner. There is nothing sweeter than tho smile of a mother upon a toddling babe. There is nothing' more heroic than a father daring in a cause thereby to treasure and honor the motdier and the ha ho, and all mothers and all babes generation upon generation reaching into endless joy forijvory son and daughter of Life — this tlio superb outcome of twentiethcentury allegiance to working-class emancipatory purpose of product to its producer. Take heart, fellow-w-orker; cheerily goes it, comrade. 'Tis war—class war— a blest destiny to have lived for it and fought for it, imperishable as the seas and linked-up as privileged past of the eternal march of the deathless army "For the cause that lacks assistance, 'Gainst the wrong that needs resistance. For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do" Even so, come as the lightning comes, 0 radiant Future child of creative Present.