The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-10
INTERNECINE WAR DEPL0RED
CONFLICTING CLAIMS OF JURISDIC-
TION A SERIOUS MENACE.
Antitrust Legislation Condemned
The "Open Shop" Questionable
Treasurer's Report.

into working order before an adjournment
was taken late this afternoon. President
Samuel Gompers delivered his annual ad-
dress to the delegates, and Secretary Frank
Morrison and Treasurer John b. Lennon
presented their annual statements.
About 450 delegates were present when
the session was called to order. They
were welcomed to Boston by Dennis D.
Driscoll, president Of the Central Labor
Union. When Mr.. Gompers was presented
with a block and gavel he referred to the
honor accorded the convention in having
its sessions in Faneuil Hall.
President Gomperss address took UP most
OF the afternoon. 1t showed that the gain
in membership of the affiliated information
al unions and Of the American Federation
of Labor during the last year lad been
442,10o. Mr.. Gompers reviewed al length
what the Federation had accomplished
during the year, and he made numerous
recommendations. He pointed out that the
grave danger which confronted their move
ment was the internecine strife. due to the
conflicting claims of trade jurisdiction. Mr..
Gompers condemned such antitrust legis-
lation as was secretly against labor, and
urged eternal vigilance with respect to
legislation. In regard to the 'open shop"
Mr.. Gompers said:
Recently the opponents of organized
labor have started agitation for what
they euphoniously designate as the open
shop; and several employers. otherwise
sition on the surface appears TO be ethical,
have advocated Ii. On the other hand, our
movements stand for the union shop, not;
as our opponents designate il, the closed
Shop for. as matter OF fact, union
shop Is not closed shop. Any wage
Garner, member of an organization in any
part or the country, can enter the union
shop. And any wage-earner, competent 10
fill any position in the union shop, is not
only eligible TO enter to work therein, but
the organizations have their hundreds OF
missionaries at work, in and out of season,
urging and pleading with them TO enter
the wide-open doors of the union. This So
called open shop is the disintegrating factor
that leads to the nonunion shop; in other
words, the shop which is closed to the
union man, no matter from whence he
halls or what his skill and competency
The so-called open shop influences wages
and the standard of life to the downward
course, for ii Is based upon the sycophancy
of the most docile, and the most Immediate
needs of those in drest distress, of the
poorest situated among the workmen.
Agreements or joint bargains of organized
labor with employers depend for their sue
cess upon the good will Of the union and
the employers toward each other Neither
should be subject to the responsibility or
lack of intelligence OF the nonunionist, or
the equal responsibility of, the unionist.
Hence, the so-called open shop makes
agreements and joint bargains with en-
p!Oyers impraCticable, IL not impossible.
The union cannot be responsible for nom
unionists whose conduct often renders the
terms of the agreement ineffective and
nugatory.
"Inasmuch as the most conspicuous an
tagonists of organized labor are sponsors
for what they term the open shop, upon
the pretense of the liberty of the individual.
th0flRhf forces 10 r..
when, in history, have the opponents of
any movement for the uplifting of the
| masses constituted themselves the advo-
Gates and defenders of the liberty and free
| dom of the people?' The whole hue and
| cry is designed TO deceive the ignorant and
enthrall the masses. / took occasion to say
recently: To a non-unionist, despite that
which his advocates say for him, cannot
| be attributed the virtue of helping his fell
| low-workmen or contributing toward the
establishment of more rightful relations be-
| tween workingmen and their employers No
| force but that of persuasion, moral and in
tellectual influence, should be exercised to
convert the non-unionist to membership in
our organizations, but 1t is hurtful from
every viewpoint, and to every enlightened
interest. to advocate the open shop. AS the
, nnt Id nneGn SAD This country can
| So say we, that any establishment cannot
| long remain, or be SUCCESSFULLY operated
| part union and part non-union.'
The report declares IL to be Sin the inter
| est of the masses of foreign countries as
well as our own that the fioodgates of immi-
| grafton to our country should be. If not en-
| tirely closed, at least so guarded that we
| may not be overwhelmed" A strong stand
is taken against Monaghan immigration 10
| the Philippine islands. Attention is called 10
the alleged fact that most of the so-called
antitrust bills introduced for enactment
are intended TO serve as cover for attacks
on organized labor, and it is urged that an
/ effort be made that all such measures in
| the future include clause declaring thai
| nothing contained therein be construed tc
| abridge the right of wage-earners to organ.
lie. A protest is voiced against a number
| of State anti-boycott laws, and further
| strengthening and rigid enforcement OF
| child labor laws are urged.
| The treaSurer's report showed the income
/ of the year was $247. 500, the expenditures
$l96,0l5 and the balance on hand $4,000
Secretary Morrison's report presents 8
vast array of statistics, showing member.
| ship, benefits paid, etc. Speaking OF the de.
| Tense fund, he says:
THE good results accruing from the de.
Tense fund established for the local trade
| and federal labor unions are of such char.
| acter that they must meet with the approya
| OF everyone who has given the workings OF
| the fund careful consideration. Three loca
| unions protested against paying the ad
ditional cents per capita. They base theil
protest on the fact that they are engaged
| in a calling that practically prohibits &
strike or lockout and therefore hold it 1.
| an injustice TO compel them to pay into 8
fund from which they will never have an
| opportunity to receive benefits. The mem
bership of the coal unions has materially in
creased during the past year. The averag,
| membership for the year ending Sept 80
| 1902 was $500, while the average member
ship for the year ending Sept 80, 1903, Il
| $500. The increase in the average mem
bership paid upon for twelve months O.
| this year. over that of last year, is Is, 900
| This must be recognized as a satisfactor,
| increase, when IL is taken into consideration
| that 40 local unions surrendered thei
| charters and were turned over TO the twent,
| international organizations formed by tn
| American Federation of Labor during tn
past twelve months. The gain I'm member
ship is in great measure due to the fac
| that the American Federation OF Labor ha.
a defense fund TO place at the disposal O
the members of the local unions in case o
| strikes or lockouts. Realizing that fact th
members keep themselves in good standin;
with their local union and the local union
pay upon their full membership so that ii
case of trouble with their employers thei
members are eligible to receive strike bene
fits.
"A large defense fund creates confidenc
in the membership, and, in the same de
gree, IL causes the employers to pause am
hesitate before entering into a conflic
which may be of long duration. 1t is onl,
I'm cases where the unions are without fund