Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1903-10-08
STANDS FIRMLY BY
RIGHT TO ORGANIZE
A. f. Of L. Executive Commit.
tee Protests Against
Open Shop.
Mr.. RoosEvELT's viEws
Statement Sets Forth tho Position Ia,
ken by Him in Recent Confer
ence-Labor 10 Called on to
Perfect Organization.

Washington, Oct. 3.-The executive cour.
ell OF the Federation of Labor issued an
address to organized labor, OF which the
following IL an abstract:
Because OF the wonderful Improvement
In the methods OF wealth production. by
which the needs of man and tho luxuries
OF life can be created III u work day OF
eight hours, We demand Its enforcement
not only In private employment, but also
on all work performed by or on behalf OF
the government,
While WI seek to avoid and avert strikes
and industrial disputes. any attempt to
cripple the right OF labor as Il last resort
to strike In defense of our rights simply
means labors ensaavefnent.
The writ of injunction in its proper
the use, but the abuse, by the courts of
the writ Of Injunction, against which we
protest, which is In direct conflict with the
rights guaranteed to our people by the
constitution OF our country.
The American principle of equa! Justice
pe1ors me law IL being violated day after
day. The relics of a%ntiquated judicial
tyranny are being revived by some judges,
while others SO mtsirtcrprct existing law
as thereby. to aim financially to ruin our
unions and mulct our men out of their
deavored to lay aside for their projection
In middle or Old age. when the employing
class and society have no further use for
their services.
ed0SI WNSS organize.
Without organization of labor in our
present industrial era of wealth concern
tration even Il fair degree OF Industrial
peace could not be maintained. The wage
workers condition would be forced down
to the lowest possible plane, their liberty
would be crushed, their manhood and In
telilHcnce stunted and the intellectual, in
dus'rial, commercial and political sland-
ing OF our country almost annihilated.
In spite CT strikes here and there. or
ganized labor has established and is es-
tablishing Il greater degree of uninter-
rupted industrial peace by agreement with
employers. The so-caAlsd open shop
makes agreement With employers imprac-
ticable If not Impossible. for the union can
mot be responsible for the non-unionists,
whose conduct often renders the terms Of
the agreement Ineffective and nugatory.
ne right OF the non-unionist to work
when, where and for what he pleases car
Ties with IT the logical right of the union
ht to work or to refuse to work when.
where and for what he plcases and with
whom he pleaSca.
1T Is Eurtful from every vicwpoint and to
every enlightened interest to uphold the
open shop AS the immortal Lincoln
SAID. This country cannot long remain
nan lree and half slave so say we that
no establishments can long remain or be
successfully operated part union and part
non-un.on.
In connection with the meeting of the
conference vas held with the president Of
the United States for the purpose Of dis
cusstn bon ,mr h,,t labor Hesitation. The
the president stating that his mind had not
changed on that form of legislation since
ne had favored ii as governor of New
!, o.h STATE: and. therefore, was favorable
10 me passage of the proposed act.
On the anti-injunctson iii, IN response
70 questions SUBMITTED. the president re-
pied the subject would have his most
careful and earnest attention..
Other important questions affecting
ieslsl.tion. as per decision of the last
convention. were taken up. and on behalf
CT the international Raokb'nders' union
inc Miller case was discussed. The exec
utive council brought to the presidents
attnnti",' The i:,a'i11er IN which his deci-
IN r.'utl' nshsr CT Mir. Miller to the
bookl,inders' union as brought forth in
the charges asains. him the open shop
idea was carefully considered. Replying
i'ooseyelt set forth that in his decision
NJ mad nothing in mind but IL strict COM
piinnce Win federal. including civil scrv-
ice law, and he recognized a difference be-
tween s~nip.oyment By the government
clrcufnscrihcsl by those la VS. and any 9TH
er FORM or e~'np;oyment and that his de-
understood to have any other influence
than affecting employment by the gov
:nmcn in accordance Herewith. He
furtherrinre wade pla' n that in any form
of employment; excepting that so circum.
scriied he believed the full employment
of union men was. preferable either T.
iSii-uI.icU u. open SHOPS.
r Gall to Organize.
In view of Ire publicity given this sub
ject, the executive council Ct the Amerl
can Federation c: Labu- takes this OBJ
partrniiy to say that the trades union
movement stands FOR strictly union shops,
sNreriri,ce having proved hat where the
".o..sn sfop system has Lecn tried reduc-
tions in wages and profits have ensued.
with General disaster t.. the Industry
prac;ic.nr that system. ami therefore de-
Hlarcs tsat the best interests OF the labor
movement calls for the employment of
onion workers and liscourages in every
say. shape and form the deteriorat.nR
effects which follow the recognition OF the
open shop Tho toiling masses. and
articulafiy the organized wage earners.
enc jut az iii:! wisicl. They have secured:
must Organize the yet morgan. zed, unite
I'D federate these already organized. to
Present a sol.l rliaianx of the grand
Protest against judicial usUrpation Of
iirtta!'stic .nvnsicn of our rights, at
Inptcd no matter hy whom, or from
whatever source.
The here far right and justice here
fer. as WI as the lerpertnat.on Of lib
srty end our republican Institutions, lies
=. crg2nizoa labor. Therefore. with the
,tnacicusness Of the justice and sound
Joss OF our position. we appeal to the
ids ment OF all men. ard particularly to
ne toilers CT America, that they organize.
mite and Tolerate without regard to
fade. calling. nationality. locality, sex,
ours,
Samuel Gomrers. President.
James Duncan. First Vice President.
John M n!s c ses Th.l, Vice Vice PP resi,dn;t
Max Morris, Fourth Vice President.
Thomas l.. Kidd. Fifth Vice President.
D. A.. Hayes. Sixth Vice President.
John ID. Lennon. Treasurer.
I Ernn1. tfncr1o Garra.ar.