Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-11


the general public. irrespective of political
affiliations. are interested in one of the
ma tiers to occupy the attention of the fed
Grafton during the present session 1t Is
the open shop" controversy. In recent
months the controversy has become so
tangled with politics that many persons
expressed the belief that President Com
pers would sooner or later be compelled to
commit himself politically. In abiding to
the matter. he says:
Recently the opponents of organized
Dor have started an agitation for VIVA.
they euphoniouSly designate as the open
shop and several employers. otherwise
fair, having been persuaded that the prop
osition on the surface appears to be ethcal
have advocated it. On the other hand our
movement stands for the union shop. mol.
opponents designate 1t, the closed
shop; for, as a matter Of fact. union
shop Is not closed shop. Any wage
Garner. member Of an organizati ton in any
part Of the country, can enter the union
shop. And any wage-earner. competent to
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 rae
tor that leads to the non-union shop; IN
other words the shop which Is closed to the
union man. no matter from whence he halls
o. what his skill and competency.
The so-called open shop influences wages
and the standard of life to the downward
course, for 1t is based upon the sycophancy
of the most docile, and the most immediate
needs OF those in direst distress. of the
poorest situated among the workmen.
Agreements or joint bargains Of organ
lied labor with employers depend for their
success upon the good will of the union
and the employers toward each other.
Neither should be subject to the irrespon-
sibility or lack of Intelligence Of the nom
unionist, or his failure to act in concert
the unfonfst Hence, the so-called open
shop makes agreements and joint bargain
with employers impracticable, If not i'm
possible The union cannot be responsible
for non-uniOnists whose conduct often rem
ders 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
the thought forces itself upon US to ask:
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 de-
ceive the ignorant and enthrall the ma sses
Il took occasion to say recently: To
non-u nionist, despite that which his advo-
virtue Of helping his fellow workmen or
contributing toward the establishment of
more rightful relations between working
men and their employers. No force but
that of persuasion. moral and intellectual
influence, should be exercised to convert
the non-unionist to membership in cur or
CARNATIONS, but it is hurtful from every
viewpoint, and to every enlightened inter-
est, to advocate the open shop. AS the I'M
mortal Lincoln said: This country cannot
long remain half free and half slave So
say We, that any establishment cannot long
remain, or be successfully operated, part
union and part non-union.
with the facts before us, with our mis-
sion to fulfill. unafluenced by attempts to
place us in false positions, answering In
our course for the attainment Of the right,
will not be deferred, but will take on
new zeal to organize the yet unorganiZed,
unite and federate those already organized.
and with clear vision and stout hearts move
onward and forward for labors ameliora
ton and final emancipation"
Secretary Owen Miller OF the American
Fedora ton of Musicians has petitioned all
affiliated organizations to send a respectful
protest to the President of the United
States against allowing enlisted men In the
service of the government to be used in
competition with civilians. The Secretary
of the Navy Is roundly denounced in the
current issue of the official journal Of the
Federation Of Musicians for his attitude in
the controversy.
The labor organizations OF the District.
especially the steamfitters and plumbers,
are especially interested in the manner in
which Delegate E. ]. Ratigan Of the Steam
Filters National Union, who Is also secre-
tary and business agent of the council OF
Allied Building Trades of the Central La
Dor Union of this city. will discharge his
duties at the fedora ,lon convention in pro-
gress at Boston. Mr. Ratigan has been in
trusted with several important matters
Irirr xE4 afn oF khN
convention.
The most important Of these is the trade
Jurisdiction controversy between the steam
filters and the plumbers. Each craft has
a national organization and until recently.
although considered dual organizations.
there was but little to disturb the relations
of the two bodies. In a measure the trade
of the steamfitter and the plumber was d.
vided between the two organizations: by
mutual agreement, and in that way both
were allowed to retain their aff1liation with
the American Federation of Labor. 1t is
alleged that the steam filters violated GER
tain of the provisions of the agreement,
and in consequence a bitter fight ensued.
The plumbers appealed to the American
Federation o. Labor. w, h the result that
the steam filters, 1t is said were suspended
from affiliation. until the mater could be
taken up by the convention Of the fedora
ton. There Is a possibility. 1t is under
stood, that the convention will revoke lne
charter Of one of the organizations.
Notwithstanding the truce in the fight
for supremacy between the Amalgamated
Society of Carpenters, Joiners, etc. and the
Brotherhood Of Carpenters. Jofners. etc,
by reason of the decision of Mr.. Adolph
Strasser, ex-president of the international
Cigarmakers' Union, arbiter in the dispute
the relations of the members of the dual
organizations are still greatly strained. The
parties to the controversy had clash in
this city few days ago. The brotherhood
workmen lett structure because Of the
presence of the amalgamated members The
places of the strikers were filled with the
latter.
The truce between the two organizations
is supposed to remain in force until Janu
airy /, 1905, the date set for the consolida-
ton of the two. It Is expected. however,
that the United Brotherhood will either re-
ject or accept the decision of the arbiter at