The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-10-20
DISCUSSED Open SHOP
Representatives of Capital and Labor
Address Civic Federation.
MITCHELL RAps STRIKE BREAKER

Miners President Likens Them to
Criminals and Says Some Were DIS
honorably Discharged From the
Unioa-other Addresses.
Chicago. oct Discussion OF the
question of the open shop by repre-
sentati.es of labor and Of capital took
up the greater part of the first session
of the National Civic Federation con
ference. which is endeayoring To es-
tablish more rightful relations between
employers and employees and TO end
strife. Various phases of the matter
of freedom OF employment which Is
now agiatng the industrial world.
were presented by interested per
sons.
John Mitchell. president OF the
United Slime Workers, in opposing the
"opon" shop said:
.By refusal to work with non-union
men labor organizations occasionally
excite acute irritation among employ
crs and invite grave criticism from
press aud public.
ITO refuse to work with non-union
mon is 90 no greater and to no less
extent compu.siou than for lie or
fin. insurance company to refuse GER
tain classes of risks. for church TO
refuse members hip TO certain classes
of people. or for any association what
s,oyer to s.i conditions under which
10 viii have dealings with certain per
Sous. The compulsion eXerted by UNI
ions. whether toward non-unionists or
employers must boz judged upon It's
merits and must NOT Doe decided merely
because 20 is comp1lsion.
1.-THE majority of non-unionists are
not mali Ious. ONLY al the worst stupid
and apathctic However, there Is one
group of n0n-uniouists the profess
sional strike breakers. but little r.
moved from the criminal classes. ! do
not mean 20 say that every strike
breaker is criminal Some OF these
professional strike breakers are for
mer uniorists. men who have been dis
honoaby discharged from the union
cashicrcd for conduct unbecoming
mionits. n not actually indicted for d.
falcations or ofhcr onenses against the
law. Others have never been in UNI
ION and have never been deiiled or con-
taminatod hy work
"ln conclusion. believe that trade
unions have q perfect legal and moral
rirht 10 exclude uon-unionists. but that
this right should boz exercised with the
utmost care and only after persuasion
has been tried and has failed.
John w. StahI. secretary Of the
Farmers National Congress. spoke Of
"The Public-by a Farmer lie said:
1T may provoke in some quarters
the smile OF derision to suggest the
ethical element in the relations OF en-
pioyer and employed. bat that element
must haze common recognition in any
consideration of the matter that VIII
prove az much profit Any permanent
peaceful and satisfactory adjustment
though almost certainly IL will not be-
In iha name. must be- In the spirit OF
Jesus Christ Tnoy find the true So
buttons of The problems that confront
this conference must be touched by
the spirit OF the Carpenter OF Galilee,
tho greatest teacher in an the ages OF
the brotherhood of man. and labor and
capital can be- brought into their nor
nal harmonious relation only on the
basis Of law. justice and the Golden
Rule"
Edward a. Nonett, Of New York. in
discussing the question. The Open vs..
the Closed Shop said.
"The trades unions of the country
are opposed 10 the open shop and
permit il only IN those few instances
where as yet they are powerless 10
alter IL. In the main they strive for the
express recognition Of the closed
shop policy. One after another they
are laying The strike and pledging
themselves 10 the peaceful methods
and sound sense OF arbitration. What
they have gained they will not yield
mp. least OF ALL 10 those who would
have had them gain nothing. Their
present position has been won at 100
high a cost and after too bitter strug
gle Tor them 10 retreat one inch. ex-
ccut before q superior force and In
broad and open contest.
James Duncan. secretary OF the
Granite Cutters Union. spoke on
Where We stand" He said in part:
"Distrust and misunderstanding are
the two great disorganizers Of modern
industry. and as long as the two great
factors. capital and labor. stand aloof
and fire az long range that long will
and unfriendly acts be
perpetrated by each toward the other,
Trade unlonism stands for peace and