Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-10-05
cisl and political standing Of our
country almost annihilated.

8N EEMNMTTN
organized labor has established and
is establishing a greater degree OF
uninterrupted industrial peace by
agreement with employers. Such
agreement implies the organization OF
working people in factories. shop.
mill or mine, for an organized body
Of workmen can only enter into an
agreement with employers and faith.
fully abide by and carry into execu-
tiun The terms of such agreement
when all the workingmen Of an ein~
ployer, In 1T least any given plant,
are all members Of the union.
"The so called open shop makes
union can not be responsible for the
agreement with the employers I'm
practicable II not impossible, for the
nonsnnionIst8, whose conduct often
renders the terms Of the agreement
ineffective and nngatory.
The agreement on JOINT bargain q
organized labor with employers de-
ponds for lis success not only upon
the good viii of the union and the
employer toward each other, but that
neither shall be subject 10 the IRE
spon4ibility Or lack of Intelligence q
The non.unionlst, Or his failure 70 act
in concert with and bear the equal
responsibility Of the unionists.
"The right OF the nonannionists TO
work when. where and for what he
! pleascs carries with II the logical
right of the unionist 20 work or re-
fuse to work when, where and for
what he pleases. and with whom he
pleases. II,
no d non-uniunist. despite that
which his advocates say for him. can
not be attributed the virtue OF help
ing his fellow worknicn or contrib
| uting toward the establishment Of
more rightful relations between
W%orldngmeIi and their employers, No
force but that Of persuasion and NOR
al aud intelligent influence should
be exercised 10 convert the non union
list 10 membership In our organlza'
tions, but IL Is hnrtful from every
viewpoint and TO every enlightened
interest 10 advocate the open shop
AS the immortal Lincoln said. This
country can not long remain or be
successfully operated part union and
part non-unionL.
In connection with the meeting Of
the executive council and by appoint.
ment, a conference was held with the
president Of the United States for the
purpose Of discussing important labor
legislation. The eight.hour bill was
considered al length, the president
stating that his mind had not changed
on TINT form Of legislation since he
had favored II an governor OF New
York state. and therefore was favor
able 10 The passage OF the proposed
act.
ION the an~ti.iniunction bill, In re
Spouse To questions Submitted. the
president replied that the subject
would have his most careful and earn
eat attention.
Other important questions af
|feeting legislation, as per direction 81
last convention, were taken up. and
on behalf of the International Book
| binders union, the Miller case was
discussed. The executive counci
brought TO the presidents attention
the manne In which his decision hat
been quoted and In addition % th'
relationship OF Mr.. Miller % The book
binders union as brought forth y
tile charges against him, the 'opeI
| shop idea was carefully considered
E M w
Replying to statements on the sub
iect. President Roosevelt set fortl
that In his decision he had NOTHING
In mind but a strict compliance will
the federal statutes. including th'
ciyil service law. and that he reeog
nlzed d difference between employ
ment by the government. circum
scribed by these laws. and amy otheI
form Or employment. and that hi
decision in the Miller case should no
DO understood 10 have any other Of
feet OF influence than affecting dirse
employment by the government In &C
cordance herewith. He Furthermore
made plain that In any form OF en-
ploylnrnt except THAT so eircum
scribed he believed the FUN employ
mcnt Of union men was preferahl,
either TO nonunion men or opel
shops
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An Idle man Is nearly always ]