The Butte inter mountain., 1903-10-01
At. OF |. ADDRESS
TO THE WORKERS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE EXPRESSES
ITSELF UPON THE "OPEN SHOP"
VERY STRONGLY.
SCHEME IS IMPRACTICABLE
Impossible That Union and Non-Unon
Men Should Work Together in
Complete Harmony.
ny ASSOCIATED rRrSS.

council OF the American feuefatlon VI
Labor last night issued an address to Or
ganized Labor of America"
The address says: THE executive
council of the American Federation OF
Labor has recently addressed organized
labor by circular on subjects including
bills which will be introduced i'll the forth
coming session of congress in the interest
of the wage earners OF our country and
which were committed to us by you
through your representatives at the last
American Federation of Labor convention.
Since then the executive council has held
several sessions and Of all legislative meas
ures the eight hour and anti-injunction
bills have received our special attention.
Because OF the wonderful Improvement
in the methods of wealth production, by
which the needs Of man and the lnxuries
of life can be created in a work day OIL
eight hours we demand enforcement OF the
eight-hour day, not only i'll private employ
ment, but also on work performed by or
on behalf OF the government. whether eni-
ployment be directed by contract or by
sub contract.
while we seek to avoid and avert
strikes and industrial disputes, any at
tempt to cripple the right of labor as
last resort to strike in defense OF our
rights, simply means labor's enslavement;
for industrial tranquility by agreement
through the method Of Cancellation and
fair arbitration is only possible and attain
able when the workers are organized, and
have the liberty to exercise their consiitu-
tional rights. The writ OF injunction in
Its proper sphere is right and protection.
II was never designed for the purpose to
which it is now put in industrial disputes.
There Is not now upon the statute
books of any state or upon the statute
books of the federal government, line
upon which authority is given the courts
for the issuance OF injunctions such as have
been issued in industrial disputes.
ut is not the use but the abuse by the
courts OF the writ OF injunction against
which we protest, which is i'll direct con-
hict with the rights guaranteed 10 our pco-
pie by the constitution OF our country.
"An organized body of workmen can
only enter into an agreement with en-
ployers and faithfully abide by and carry
into execution the terms OF such arrange
ment when all the working men Of an em'
ploycr at least in any given plant, are all
members Of the union
"The so-called open shop makes agree
ment with the employers impracticable if
no, impossible, for the union cannot be re-
sponsible Tor the nonunions,s whose con
duct often renders the terms OF the agree
ment ineffective and nugatory.
The agreement or joint bargain Of or.
ganizcd labor with employers depends for
his success not only upon the good will of
the union and the employer toward each
other, but that neither shall be subject to
the irresponsibil,y or lack of intelligence
OF the non-unionst or his failure to act in
concert with, and bear the equal respon-
sibiity OF, the unionists.
THE right OF the non unionst to work
when where and Tor what he pleases car
res with il the logical right OF the union
lists to work or refuse to work when, where
and for what he pleases. and with whom he
pleases.
TO non-unionist, despite that which
his advocates say for him, cannot be at
tributed the virtue of helping his fellow
workmcn or contributing toward the cstab-
lishment OF more rightfnl relations be-
tween working men and their employers.
No force but that OF persuasion and moral
and intelligent influence should be exer-
cised to convert the non.unionist TO mem-
bership in our organizations but it is
hurtiul from every viewpoint and to every
enlightened interest, to advocate the open
shop
"As the immortal Lincoln said: This
country cannot long remain half free and
half slave so say we that any establish
ment cannot long remain or be successfully
operated part union and part nonunion.
IN connection with the meeting OF the
executive council and by appointment a
conference was held with the President of
the United States for the purpose of dis
cnssing labor legislation. The eight-hour
bill was considered at length, the president
stating that his mind had not changed OH
that form of legislation since he had ia
vored it as Governor OF New York state
and, therefore, he was favorable to the
passage of the proposed act
"On the anti-injuncton bill, in re-
sponsc to questions submitted the president
replied that the subject would have his
most careful and earnest attention.
"Other important questions affecting
legislation were taken up and on behalf
of the International Bookbinders union
the Miller case was discussed. The execu,
tive council brought to the presidents at
tention the manner in which his decision
had been quoted and in addition to the re
lationship of Mr.. Miller to the Book
binders union as brought forth in til.
charges against him, the open shop ide;
was carefully considered. Replying Il
statements on the subject, President Roosc
yet set forth that in his decision he ha,
nothing in his mind but a strict com
pliancc with the federal statute including
the civil law and that he recognized diff
ference between employment by the gov
ernment circumscribed by these laws an
any other form of employment and tina
his decision in the Miller case should nc
be understood to have any other effect @
influence than affecting direct empoymer
by the government, in accordance there
with. He furthermore made plain that !
any form of employment excepting that S
crcumscribed, he believed the full en-
ployment OF union men was preferable
either to non-union or open shop
'In view of the publicity given this sui
ject the executive council of the America
Federation of Labor takes this opportunil
to say that trades movement stands fl
strictly union shops, experience havil