Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-10-20

ployer is always theoretically, and Of
ten practicaliy-in a position where he |
may make his choice between union
and nonunion labor.
To refuse TO work with nonunion
men is, to no grea1er AID to no less
extent compulsioR than for a life or
fire insurance company to refuse GER
tain classes of risks for a church to
refuse membership to certain classes
of people, Or for any association what
soever to set conditions under which |
it will have dealings with certain per-
sons.
Admits Certain Danger.
There is, it must be admitted, a
certain danger apart from antagonism
OF employers in compulsory unionizing
of shops. The union button does not
make unionist at heart. An enemy
is sometimes more formidable within
the lines than on the outside. The
presence of a few anti unionists at
trade union meetings may enable en-
ployers to inform themselves of the
plars of the organization and thus
cripple the union more effectively
than if the avowed friends We're open
enemies.
Y believe that trade unions have
perfect legal and moral right to eN-
c.ude nonunionists but that this right
should be exercised With the utmost
care and only after persuasion has
been tried and failed. I also believe
I that, with the growth of trade union
ism in the United States, the exclu-
sion of nonunionists will become more
complete, although the animosity to-
! ward the nonunionist will diminish
4 with the lessening of his power to do
| evil
Woodlocl< Makes Reply.
Thomas T.. Woodlock editor of the
Wall Street Journal said the greatest
! possible conservatism would be nee
| essary on the part OF labor unions in
the near future to avoid u clash With
4 employers and prevent the great losses
/ which always come to both sides as
the result Of strikes and lockouts Con-
corning the open shop he said.
The question OF the open shop re-
solves itself into whether associated
/ labor has the right to aid at monopoly
of employment for its members. The
union notifies the employer that he
must choose between union labor and
/ all nonunion labor, and it notifies the
nonunion man that he may not work
alongside the union man. 1t explicit
ly denies the right of the employer to
hire whomsoever he pleases, and it
explicitly denies the right of the nom
union man to work for whomsoever
he pleases
Leaving out of consideration the
matter of violence-which, While it is,
unfortunately, at times a very practi-
cal question, is not necessarily part of
the principle of closed shops-it seems
to me clear that the principle of closed
shops is as complete and perfect an
example of restraint OF trade in labor
Us anyone could wish.
Restraint of Trade.
, mo more direct denial of the prin-
ciple of equality in opportunity could
possibly be imagined than denial
, of the open shop principle. If assoc
cfated labor is justified in aiming at a
. monopoly of the market for labor Their
there can be no just ground for pre-
venting associated capital in any form
from aiming at q monopoly of the mar
ket for it's products.
why is not restraint of trade TO,
associated laboring men to agree no.
> to work with somebody else or fo
4 somebody else? individuals may d,
5 things as individuals.
! When the union denies the principl
n of the open shop it enunciates
o principle of monopoly, relying for it
: enforcement either upon the necessit
S Oh TIE employer OF LIE use Oh coercion
@ toward the nonunion man.
). Other Speakers cf the Day.
a Other speakers of the day included
: former Judge A. n. Waterman, VIII,
, opened the convention; Oscar
: Straus, the presiding officer. who trac
: ed labor developments of the past yea
I and the history of the National Civil
q federation: City Prosecuting Attorne.
/ Howard S. Taylor, VINO represente,
q Mayor Harrison in bidding the guest
If welcome to Chicago; Henry White
General secretary of the United Gar
A. ment Workers, with the topic "Asso
n ciated Efforts as a Solution of the In
"a dustrial Problem Francis L. Robbins
- president of the Pittsburg Coal com
= pany, who urged the impracticabilit
y of compulsory arbitration. and job
IL NJ. Stahl, who touched on the indus
" trial situation as seen by the farm
IL err
n In addition to the open shop TIL
,e following topics are to be discusse
h before the close of the convention
~ The practicability of "a universal eight
!; hour day; the benefit OF joint trad
~ =, agreements; methods of paying wage
~ piece work and bonus, and conciliatio
e and arbitration as rational methods {
+. preventing strikes and lockouts.
is Chicago, Oct 16.-The views by |,
Or Dor and employers in regard to tn
nt open shop We're again presented t,
70 day before the National Civic Feder
ton. Henry G. Hunter, the COMM
sioner for the Metal Trades associ
tion Of New York, spoke in oppositio
to the closed shop on account, as /
said. of the present condition of o
Or ganized labor and the methods pu
sued by labor organizations for tt
N accomplishment Of their ends. Union
ef he said, assume control of shop met
lg DDS and regulate wages to the financi
l. loss of the employers, disorganizatic
$ of industry and without regard
ne economic conditions. The speaker to
an of acts of violence on the part of
n Dor, which he asserted were done Wi
III the knowledge and approval of Il
unions and appealed to the represent
y tive leaders to wipe out these blots
- violence.
on ,rco,1