The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29

/ between the steel trust and the unlOn?
/ What are the men actually striking for.
Which does the Inter Ocean think is
right? III. j. X.
Freeport, ILL.,, Aug. 90.
To answer these questions intelligent
|#ly it is necessary briefly to review some
points in the history of organized labor
in the iron industry.
When the steel corporation was
formed there were three kinds of iron
mills union,'' "open,'' and mon
union" In the first all the "skilled"
workers belonged to the union. In the
second the union was recognized, ;"
and contracts were made with it by the
management, but the right to employ
men outside of the union was reserved.
In the third the men had no union, and
in some cases required to agree not to
join one.
The Illinois Steel company's mills
were generally considered "union," al
though that at South Chicago was some
times deemed "open." The Carnegie
mills were distinctly "non-nnion, their
employees being required, as condition
of employment, te agree not to join a
| union.
As long as these three kinds Of mills
were under independent management
the union could deal with each class
separately. 1t made annual wage con-
tracts with the union" and open mills.
Naturely, it unionized other mills
when it could. Some years it would
gain several mills. In others, as the re-
| suit of various causes, it would lose con-
troll of mills.
But when all these kinds of mills pass
ed under one central management the
union had to confront new situation.
1t was evidently in the power OF the
steel corporation to weaken the union
by shutting down "union" mills when
demand was slack, concentrating work
in the 'non.union" mills. The union
leaders believed that such policy was
contemplated. Their chief grounds for
that belief was probably the known op
position OF Mr.. Schwab, whose whole
training had been in Carnegie mills, to
the union idea.
When the wage scales for this year
came to be signed, the Amalgamated
association leaders asked that they ap-
ply to certain mills deemed "non-.
union" The steel corporation refused.
The concrete peins in dispute was
whether certain mills should be recog.
nized as s'union' or 'snonTunion..' 2
The steel corporation declared that
the unions demand amounted to re-
quiring it to discharge its "non.union
employees. This President Shatfer de.
MED. He asserted that all demanded
was that these "non-union men be re-
leased from agreements not to join a
union, and to be left free to do as they
pleased. From the foregoing statement
it will be seen that the real issue is the
policy of the steel corporation in dealing
with organized labor. The corporation
disclaims hostilities to unions as such,
and says it merely wishes to preserve
the present status. The Amalgamated
association sees in that status menace
to its existence. because it leaves the
corporation with power to favor "non.
union" at the expense Of union" mills,
and by so doing gradually to break
down the union altogether. From Mr..
Schwab's record, and for others reasons,
the union believes such policy is actu-
ally contemplated. Hence, from the
union viewpoint, the strike is really a
| fight for existence.
AS to which is right-the trust or the
union-The Inter Ocean would not at
tempt to give comprehensive opin-
ion eff hand. 1t holds, however, these
views: Labor organization is fact.
1t has vindicated its right to exist by
its works. 1t has, on the whole, and
despite many errors, proved conducive
to the greatest good to the greatest
number. Labor organization, there
fore, is not on trial. But such enor-
nous combinations of capital as the
steel corporations are on trial. They
have yet to prove that their benefits to
the commonwealth exceed their dangers.
AT the same time, The Inter Ocean
believes the strike was ill.advised and
a tactical mistake just now. 1t precipi-
tated an, issue which might better have
been left open until the steel corpora.
TONS policy had been more fully devel-
oped in concrete acts. If that policy
had proved distinctly hostile to organ.
lied labor public sentiment and legsa-
ton would have rapidly concentrated
against the trust. By beginning the
battle too soon the union may suffer a
defeat from which it will take years te
recover.
However, the conflict was bound tc
come some time. Abraham Lincoln said
: of this nation that it could mot endure
i half slave and have free". Without il
the least asserting that the existence O
such hugh combinations as the stee