A Monstrous Conspiracy by L. A. S.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 4, 1902

“A Monstrous Conspiracy”

By L. A. S.

Some noteworthy facts pertaining to the nature of the modern boycott are set forth in a pamphlet by Mr. Walter Merritt, of Danbury, Conn. Danbury is a hat manufacturing center, containing some thirty factories of this kind, all but three of which have been “unionized.” These three firms are being subjected to all the pressure which the other twenty-seven can exert, in the form of a boycott and otherwise, to compel them to come into the union or go out of business. Mr. Merritt has been an observer of the ways and methods of the labor unions in this matter, and hence is qualified to speak with authority upon this part of the subject. He finds that these methods amount to “a monstrous conspiracy” of the labor unions “to put up prices, to stem all the forces of economic laws, and rise upon the ruins of their victims.”

“The boycott,” Mr. Merritt says, “is used in defiance of right, and as a power to subdue both employers and employees who dare to exercise their liberties;” and the union label, which makes the boycott possible, “is a club to coerce employers and injure independent workmen.”

The boycott, Mr. Merritt tells us, has brought in an actual “reign of terror” upon jobbers and retailers in very many kinds of manufactured goods, and this is all the worse because it acts silently, and does not attract the notice of the public. We are accustomed to class the boycott with the strike and other disturbances of a temporary nature; but an investigation of the subject, such as Mr. Merritt presents in his pamphlet, reveals the fact that the labor unions have put into effect a perpetual boycott against the dealers who dare to handle non-union goods. Mr. Merritt says:—

Though the articles manufactured by independent manufacturers may be better or cheaper than those of union manufacture, the consumer does not have access to them; for they lack the union label or sanction of the unions, which is the necessary passport to reach the market. Retailers and jobbers dare not buy them. Extravagant as the phrase may seem, it is literally a reign of terror. Let it be emphasized that these are not strike

conditions, but the ceaseless boycotting of goods during peaceful times when public sentiment is indifferent. It has not the excuse of angry passion or sudden impulse. It is the result of an elaborate and premeditated scheme to bring to disaster and ruin all non-union manufacturers and employees, and to deprive them of their inalienable right to the unimpeded pursuit of a livelihood.

Except in towns where union sentiment is predominant, this does not ordinarily take the form of popular boycott by the consumer. The average purchaser does not know whether he is buying a union or non-union article. A majority undoubtedly would not recognize the union label. This emblem of tyranny and injustice is generally situated in an inconspicuous place. It is not the influence wielded over the consuming public that makes the boycott so successful; it is the terror and fright excited in the minds of the jobber and retailer when the walking delegate appears. They fear that their trade will be boycotted if they buy non-union goods, and would rather buy goods against which there is no opposition, and the purchase of which would make them no enemies. As there is no organized anti-union sentiment, they think they will remain on the safe side, and buy only union goods.

And this is not all; for when this regular form of boycott fails to accomplish the end designed, a special boycott of a more vindictive character is instituted. Of this Mr. Merritt says:—

It sometimes happens that this general and continuous boycott is not disastrous enough to satisfy the unions, and they institute what is termed a special boycott. Some independent manufacturer, because of his victory in a strike, or because of unusual business success and the failure of their ordinary efforts to injure him, will arouse their antagonism, and his name will be virulently denounced in the usual terms of demagogical extravagance. All union men will be exhorted to become active in the destruction of his business. Special agents follow his salesmen from point to point, and secure the countermand of orders just placed.

Such is the boycott by a reign of terror—terror to the dealer lest his name too be added to the unfair list, and he be unable to find a market for his goods. It is enforcing the boycott by a boycott and fear of boycott. People must attack others that they be not attacked themselves. Many who condemn such a policy as repugnant to justice, fair play, and honest competition in which the most competent succeeds, are obliged to co-operate in it for self-defense.

Thus does despotism find ways to make itself felt in this land of supposed freedom, where liberty has seemed secure under the forms of republican government. Despotism cannot be shut out of a country by laws and constitutions. Despotism is not a being in the form of a king, an emperor, or a czar, nor is its fountain head a monarchy. Despotism has its throne in the carnal heart, and from thence it will issue forth and find means to invest itself with oppressive power, even under the freest form of government that men have been able to devise.

And all this illustrates the truth of the Scripture which declares that “the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.” Isa. 57:20. Where selfishness dwells, strife will inevitably follow. Peace is not a fruit of the flesh, but only of the Spirit. Only a government based upon the principles of heaven contains a guaranty of lasting liberty and peace.

From the facts which Mr. Merritt’s pamphlet sets forth, it is easy to see how the way is already prepared for carrying into effect the decree of Rev. 13:17 against those who will not worship the beast nor his image. It will only be necessary to coerce, by a threatened boycott, the merchants and storekeepers with whom the proscribed class of individuals might trade, to make it impossible for these either to buy or sell. Just as the non-union manufacturer is now debarred from selling his goods to the merchant, by the latter’s fear of a boycott, so will public sentiment, when it shall be aroused against those who will not join the union controlled by the powers specified in the prophecy, easily make effective a decree against buying from, or selling to, those against whom the anger of these powers has been aroused. This special boycott, which has proved so effective a weapon of coercion in other cases, will be instituted against the people of God not very long hence, and only the power of God will enable them to fight the battle and gain the victory in that day.

L. A. S.