The Labor Spy

A Survey of Industrial Espionage

By Sidney Howard

III. The Spy At Work

In labor espionage, publicity and even advertised performance are plausible enough once the preliminaries have been accepted. If one can be persuaded of the existence and scope of the practice, if one can be resigned to recognizing it as an American and living institution, these things that it has said for itself sound very well, like good stories which ask of their audience only a little imagination. The real melodrama is not apparent until the spy himself is encountered.

Begging the issue of tedium, the present purpose is to continue in quotations. Any man can tell his own story better for himself. The detective has been allowed his say. The spy must be permitted his.

Herewith a series of quotations from the reports of a spy at work in an automobile factory in Racine, Wisconsin. He is a member of the Russell Detective Agency in Milwaukee. His reports are cited not for any significance in the situation which he is observing, not for any sensational content of their own, but because they give a fair impression of his business and because, out of hundreds of similar pages, they alone prove moderately readable.

They cover a brief period, from the 22nd of February, 1919, to the 1st of March following. A strike is on. The business is to report the strike. No glaring injustices; only the very usual sort of thing. The man is an informant and does his work well.

We Begin With The First Day.

As I was on my way to the plant, this morning, I noticed before I was within a block of the plant that the union pickets were more active than usual, and apparently they were doing something more than just picketing. At any rate, as I drew near to the plant one held me up and asked, "Are you a card man?"

I pretended not to understand. Then he said, "Well, read this and let us see you down at the Polish Hall tomorrow night." At this he turned his attention to another man walking across the street, and I continued on into the plant.

At just 6:48 a.m. I registered in my time upon entering the plant and joined Matson. Almost immediately he began talking to me on the subject of prohibition, and in this conversation I said to him, "Booze never got a man very far, but prohibition has made a man out of many a boozer." "What do you mean by that?" he asked, and I answered, "Well, many a good man was made a bum by liquor, but whenever anyone has sworn off drinking they have always realized that booze was a bad thing to get mixed up with." Just at this moment Moore appeared on the scene, and Matson remarked, "Here comes prohibition now." Moore's response was, "Never mind— you old booze fiends will be carrying a stamp on your forehead and be blackballed. You know what that means. Every boss will know you as a boozer and nobody will hire you."

At 12 :00 noon I left the plant in company with Huck and had lunch at his home. While walking together I asked him, "What do you think of these fellows out on picket duty?" and he answered, "I think they are a lot of d— fools, and don't know what they want. There they are, doing picket duty for $9 a week when they could be making $7.70 a day right at the plant and have it soft too." Continuing, Huck stated, "What good are they doing, standing around on the streets? If they wanted to do things they'd pound h— out of a couple of men who took their jobs. That would be more satisfaction than standing around conversing on the corners. They've been out fifteen weeks already and haven't gained a point." Huck added at that time they were trying to organize everybody in the metal trades line in order to strengthen their organization so that they will be able to have their demands acceded to.

At this time, we arrived at Huck's home and had dinner at his place as he keeps boarders.

For the afternoon I got back to the plant as soon as possible, noticing on the way in that the client was talking to two of the pickets at the east end of the plant. Apparently, the client "put it over" them in an exchange of words, as he smiled when he walked away. Different ones in Schmidt's department saw the client have a chat with the pickets and took a peep at him.

In this part of my report I wish to suggest that Stein be placed at the work of cutting and given piecework at a rate so low that he would quit. This would be letting him down easier than to discharge him. I am sure that if Schmidt kept him at cutting steady he would quit within two or three days. He is the "bad egg" that we must get rid of in order to put a stop to the organizing work he does among the employees of the plant at present. Then after we get rid of him we can take care of the lesser lights, and these I shall bring to the client's attention from time to time with suggestions how they can be gotten rid of. Only in this way can we avoid having trouble this summer with the present crew—that is, getting the agitators out of our midst. It would not do to let those fellows know why we are getting rid of them as it might only stir things up. Hence the reason why I suggest that we force them to quit of their own accord, rather than discharge them.

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A good day's work. Note at once that the spy is early. He always is. There is simply no curing him of punctuality. And he always claims credit for himself and calls attention to the tardy ones by name. There is the encounter with the pickets. Moderately instructive, that, if not surprising. And Matson on prohibition seems to have less to do with the case, but it really happened and must be included. Huck on the pickets is more comforting and we meet the client just after. The end lets us into the secret of blacklists. The blacklist without some form of espionage were impossible.

We Go On To The Following Day.

The union hall was the first place I paid a visit to this morning as I got down to business for the day. There I got in touch with Bonzen who informed me that $43 was received in the morning's mail which was not very satisfactory compared to the number of bonds which were mailed to outside locals. The girls have done well by way of selling dance tickets here lately as it was found upon checking up same that over 3,000 have been sold.

Union finances are the best sign of the duration (or non-duration) of a strike. The spy is always after facts and figures on the treasury. He continues, visiting other plants in Racine.

I thought it well to check up the employment situation at the plant. There were some men standing around outside, and I learned that they were a few who had been laid off. In the talk I managed to have with them they made the statement that sooner or later there was going to be trouble at that plant. "Just how do you mean?" I asked, and they answered, "Well, the men are going to demand an explanation from the company regarding just why ninety men were laid off. The men believe they were laid off for the reason that they are union men and they consider this just another trick of the manufacturers to break up the organization."

In continuing my efforts in the client's behalf, I got over on the picket line and as usual I found the boys assembled in the shanty. Now and then one would go out and walk around the plant but they preferred to stay inside. Peterson remarked that it would not be long before they would have many new members in the organization. He expressed confidence that they would get a large number of new applications at tonight's meeting. Not deeming it advisable to remain with the boys too long for fear of arousing suspicion I set out for the North Side.

A touch of caution at the end. Omitting the busy afternoon, we follow him to the meeting.

This evening when I got over to the Polish Hall I found about one hundred in attendance, most of them being Slavonians, mixed with Italians and Poles. Those of each nationality kept to themselves, Nickerson was on hand and gave a short talk in English. He spoke along the line of organizing and what would be gained thereby. He urged the men to join so they could put the eight-hour day in effect and still get the same kind of pay. He also explained how the employers were organized and what they were employing these days to break up the union. The manufacturers' association was uppermost in his mind. ... In the meantime the members continually talked between themselves. At the close of the address I should judge about forty went up and made out applications and others continued to stand around and jabber between themselves. There was no good opportunity this evening to learn if anyone joined the organization who is in any way connected with the client's plant, but I feel pretty sure that I can get this information tomorrow. At the close of the meeting all left for home and, going likewise, I discontinued for the day.

He Discusses Finance.

The client, it seems, has things coming his way. . . . The treasury from which the strikers receive their benefits gave me the impression more than anything else. First of all, upon my arrival at the hall this morning I found Carl Bonzen busily occupied making out the payroll, the total amount of which was $1,183. The total amount taken in this week was $1,588.50. After the benefits are paid this week the client can see just what balance they have and therefore they will no doubt have to do some tall hustling in order to get enough money to meet the next week's payroll. It goes without saying that many who have donated are getting tired of donating. . . .

It appears that the boys are not any too willing to help much. Apparently other steps will have to be taken to secure help. In my opinion things are coming to a crisis, a fact which all are beginning to realize, and I look for a break in the ranks of the strikers most any time. As soon as the treasury cannot help them out any more as in the past, they will not have so much backbone and hence the reason why I believe a crisis will be reached soon.

The aspect of all this is very good for the client, very dark for the union. Perhaps that is why the spy can turn, for a day, to observing the factory itself and report upon the conduct of the women workers.

The bell was apparently not heard by the girls, who did not make a move until Mrs. Madsen came in and said inquiringly, "Girls, didn't you hear the bell?" At this we all dispersed to our respective places but it was 7 :20 by this time. Both yesterday and this morning Mrs. Madsen had to come into the dressing room and dig the girls out. . . . She makes the bad mistake of talking and laughing too freely with them during working hours, as they take advantage of this familiarity. . . .

On the way home this noon I walked with Miss Urban who informed me that she was transferred to another department. She sure did not kill herself in our department.

After his luncheon hour, however, he has the satisfaction of discovering a loyal worker.

On my way back to the plant for the afternoon 1 got in with a man whom I recognized as being employed at the plant and as we walked along together we spoke of the miserable weather we were having today. This was kept up until we came within sight of the pickets and then he remarked that they were as good as lost. I asked him what he thought of unionism, and he answered by saying that the pickets had handed him slips several times, in fact went so far as to call him for not attending meetings and to tell him that he did not have any backbone, but he could see no reason for attending when he never intended joining.

At the plant I asked Alvida Clausen who the gentleman was. She was almost positive, she said, that it was Mr. Schultz who repairs the machines. At any rate he is tall and dark and rather heavy set.

Follows A Conversational Morning.

No. 310 who works under Heise and who was the first man to approach me on the subject of unionism when I took up work at the plant, came up to me early this morning as I entered the plant at about 6:45 a. m. and asked, "Were you down Monday night?"

"Yes," I answered and added, "I was initiated too." "That's good," he exclaimed, "It won't take long before we'll have all of them in. Then we'll talk to the boss. At present the boss lays down rules to us but after a while we'll tell him what we'll do." No. 322 joined us at this time and asked, "When is the next meeting?" I answered —next Tuesday evening. At this, he turned around, hung up his coat and changed his shoes. The latter although interested in unionism is not radical, in fact he has not previously talked to me on the subject of unionism once, but he always seems to have a lot of time to talk to his neighbor next to him.

Slim, who solders the rivets and hoods, was seven minutes late in getting on the job this morning.

At twelve noon I left for lunch. On my way back to the plant for the afternoon I stopped and asked one of the pickets when he said the next meeting was to be held. "Next Thursday night," he answered. "Did you join?" he asked and I answered, "Sure, why not?" "That's common sense," he responded and added, "I told the other fellows we'd get you pretty soon." Then he continued, "Here is where you have a chance to get some education, so be sure and attend every meeting you can, for you hear mighty good stuff at the meetings." I assured him that I would be on hand every time I possibly could. He said, "I'll let you know about every meeting that you can attend. Just look for me, and if I am not around, the other fellows will let you know of the meetings, as I tell them you are all right."

He has made strides, these past few days. 'He is trusted now, an "O.K." man. He proceeds to report an agitator and involve the agitator's boss.

I observed No. 310 and the new bald-headed fellow in Schmidt's department were talking to the radiator test crew. First they were after the first man on the tanks next to the lavatory and fifteen minutes later I noticed them further down west. Three-quarters of an hour later when I stepped into the lavatory, I came upon No. 310 and a short radiator test man talking to beat the band about the union. The short fellow wanted to leave when I entered, but No. 310 said, "He's all right." However "Shorty" left anyway and them turning to me No. 310 said, "Well, I got seven of the radiator test crew to promise to come down to the meeting tonight. If they only do we will have the shop seventy-five per cent organized."

The time study man timed me on three different occasions today and meanwhile I said to him inquiringly, "Say, did you say that the bald-headed fellow belongs to the union?" "Sure," he answered, "and a bad one too. Furthermore, he is as strong a Socialist as there is in Racine." "Does the firm know about it?" I inquired, and he said in reply, "I don't know if they do or not, but Schmitt knows it and he is the one who hired him."

The last day has arrived. One Palmerton is caught smoking in the factory where smoking is prohibited. And then the spy rounds up his blacklist.

Palmerton was in a bad mood all forenoon. At about 9:30 a. m. I stepped into the lavatory and, as I took a seat next to Palmerton, who was the only one present, I detected an odor of cigarette smoke. Apparently noticing that I intended staying for awhile Palmerton brought out his cigarette and puffed away on it leisurely. I cautioned him, telling him that he might lose his job if caught, and he responded, "I don't give a d— for the job, and I would be glad if the client in here had caught me at it because then he would have to pay me off and if I quit I would have to wait for part of my pay." "But you get a bad name if you are fired," I reminded him, and his response was, "There are enough places to work in besides here."

I wish to speak to the client about the union sympathizers or union men who are employed in Heise's department and in particular I wish to discuss with the client the best method of letting him know definitely just who they are so he can gradually get rid of them. There are several I can pick out by sight, but do not get the chance to look at their time-cards in order to catch their number, and I never get in touch with them so as to learn their names. If I could see the client personally we could arrange for the client to walk out into the plant sometime and I could point out to him which ones I have in mind. If I butted into Heise's department in an effort to get their names or numbers, suspicion might be aroused against me. At present I have their fullest confidence in regard to unionism and must not lose it. The pickets, for instance, think I am all O. K. as they greet me cordially Good night or Good morning, whichever it may be as I pass them, their attitude being entirely different from that of a week or two ago when I took up work at the plant. They told me this noon they would keep me posted regarding any meetings in the future as they liked to have everyone attend that could. I trust I may get the very best possible co-operation from the client in order to keep the union down in the plant and by co-operating I am sure the client will never experience any trouble with his present crew, but all the bad eggs must be kept cleaned out. At the close of the day's work I left for home, as did also the others and discontinued for the day.

There it is, the picture of a strike seen through the eyes of the labor spy, fairly vivid for all the unctuous limitations of his trade. A tattling, not very consequential document, of value because he is its hero, at his work, the heart of the espionage business.—The New Republic, March 2, 1921.

—The New Republic

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Go to: IV. Weights and Measures