The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-06
FIGHTING UNION WITH UNION.

A dispatch in yesterdays Journal stated
that the Manufacturers Association of Ma
rion would hold meeting Friday night.
presumably to discuss the existing labor
trouble and maintain the employers side
of it. The situation in Marion is typical of
that which exists in larger manufacturing
centers and throughout the country gen.
orally. Its main feature, and conspicuous
on account of its novelty, is that of organi-
cation and cooperation on the part of en-
ployers- They fighting union with
union. Latest dispatches indicate that the
trouble in Marion will soon be settled. If
so it will be largely due to the determined
stand the proprietors of the Gemmer fac
tory took that they would manage their
business in their own way. that they would
run an "open shop" and that they would
not yield to arbitrary demands of the union.
In this position they were greatly strength
ened by the knowledge that they had the
sympathy and support of the other manu-
facturers. nearly all of whom are members
Of the association. The settlement of the
present trouble will be a matter for con-
graduation, but 1t will not put an end to
the manufacturers association in Marion.
and the movement in other places will go
on Labor unions. eliminating in unreal
sonable and intolerable demands and in un-
just strikes, have rendered the union of
employers inevitable. The latter is as
clearly result of evolution and the nat
ural operation of social and economic laws
as were the former. That the organization
of capital did not follow Immediately after
that Of labor, but was, on the contrary
many years in coming about, shows that
employers were not quick to perceive the
value of union and cooperation for the pro-
| lection of their rights as their employees
| were. That the unions have been of great
value and benefit to wage earners there can
| be no doubt. and If they had continued to
make only just and reasonable demands
deferred much longer. 1t has come now be-
cause employers found it necessary to adopt
measures of seif-defense against unjust de-
mands and arbitrary methods The fight is
not against labor unions nor even against
strikes. which are justiiable for good
cause. but against unjust strikes and the
use Of coercive measures to sustain them
| The Manufacturers Association of Chicago
announces as its platform no sympathetic
strikes. freedom of employees. or. in other
words. the open shop; the right of the en-
ployer to hire employees or discharge them
for cause without reference to whether
they union men not; no limitation of
output arbitration and the enforcement of
| law The operations of the association are
| aggressive in any case, and 1t will only
come into action for mutual protection
| against unjust strikes or unauthorized in
reference with business. The secretary of
the Chicago Employers Association says in
a published interview:
In place of the unions strike fund we have
defense fund. I'm not saying what that
amounts to. The unions say we have raised
$50 900, 900 TO beat them. That isn't true of
course, but we have concerns in our associa-
| ton whose stock alone represents as much
as that. We have membership fee which
| / am not free TO name, and that has sup
piled us with all the funds we have needed
thus far. We ask an employer TO hold out
| as long as he can, and then say we'll
hold out for him and send him a certified
has been a member OF our association has
yielded in any dispute in which demands
were made which the association decided
were unjust, and the effect has been felt in
| every branch Of business.
Where the unions have their blacklists
we have our fair list. Ii a boycott is at
tempted In a strike put the name of
the concern boycotted fair list and
that means that we will get that place all
the business we can.
The plan we have worked out is a natural
development of the modern economic situa-
ton. IL Is the only salvation for employers
from unjust labor wars. Unless such an
association includes employers of every
branch of business IL must fail One union
is helped by another union. and one class
OF employers must be helped by another if
we are 10 have industrial peace.
In time this plan can be extended over
the country. Then the two sides in a labor
dispute can meet on equal terms. When
that happens this country will have seen
the last of strike fevers and labor graf,
such as has been revealed here in New York
A lust strike will succeed. for we do not sa \
there shall be no strikes. Our association
does say that the domination and control
of a mans business by union shall cease
and that strikes started with that purpose
i'm view shall not succeed.
Such an organization Of employers ough,
to make for industrial peace. The condi-
lions that favor oppressive demands and