The apostle of free labour : the life story of William Collison, founder and general secretary of the National Free Labour Association, told by himself . hey sacrifice the interestsof the shareholders and those of the men who come to theiraid in times of difficulty and danger without the slightestscruples, if they think that their employment will in any wayinterfere with their pohtical aspirations. These remarks explain why it was that while the Sunderlandshipbuilding yards were manned by Free Labour during theNorth-East Coast Shipsmiths Strike—the West Hartlepoolyards closed down rather than
The apostle of free labour : the life story of William Collison, founder and general secretary of the National Free Labour Association, told by himself . hey sacrifice the interestsof the shareholders and those of the men who come to theiraid in times of difficulty and danger without the slightestscruples, if they think that their employment will in any wayinterfere with their pohtical aspirations. These remarks explain why it was that while the Sunderlandshipbuilding yards were manned by Free Labour during theNorth-East Coast Shipsmiths Strike—the West Hartlepoolyards closed down rather than employ it. There is anotherclass of man besides the Free Labourer who suffers from thetyranny of Trade Unions. The pohticians suffer.—Will anypolitician reading these fines deny it ? A disheartening aspect of strikes is the effect they have uponthe mentality of the strikers. A Trade Unionist, of course,pays his leaders to think for him. And when the strike breaksout, the Union Trust turns the ordinary peaceful workman,released from all obligations of thought, into something like awhimsical savage. The men entirely lose their normal PhMo Ill Frnnk d- ., Gateshead. W. COCKBURN. North-Easl Coast District Secretary, National Free Labour \_Facingp. 228. CONFESSIONS OF A STRIKE-BREAKER 229 They become transformed into creatures of revengeful the strike fever is upon them they are as dangerous asviolent lunatics. Here is an instance. Some years ago—it was a bitterly cold winter—Free Labourwas working behind barred gates in a big shipyard. Early in theevening I put on a heavy overcoat and made a tour of the ground was covered with snow, and snow was still was quite alone. All our men had ceased from work andwere far away at supper. I was walking along a truck-line,smoking a pipe, and very peaceful in mind, and undisturbedby any thought of violence, when suddenly I heard a hard gratingsound behind me. I wheeled ro
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1913
