The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-12-12
FIGHT FOR
OPEN SHOP
Building Trades Employers Meet to
Form National Association,
GREAT CONTEST IMPENDING.
Organized Capital Prepares to OPP
pose Organized Lakor and an
Epoch Making War
May Result.

every branch of the building industry
in the United States have assembled in
this city for the purpose of forming a
national association OF suilding trades
employers, a movemeEt which many
believe to be the beginning Of the
greatest contest between capital and
lab9r this seuntry has ever seen.
The new beas will represent hun
dreds Of muh1As Of capital and viii
test its strength with 100000 mem-
bers Of trades unions 1t will be or
ganization against organization and
may result in declaring the open shop
/ policy In every city in the country.
| The idea of the National Association
Of Employers had its inception in the
formation of the Building Trades EN-
ployers' association in New York last
spring. Nothing of the kind on so large
a scale had ever been achieved in any
city in this country, and al cities which
had been disturbed by labor conflicts
watched the outcome. When the arbi-
tration plan was announced and it was
demonstrated that it had proved sue
cessful employers in other cities made
a closer study of the New York move
ment, with the result that many similar
associations of employers have sprung
| up in various parts Of the country.
Much of this work has been done
very quietly. Officers Of the New York
association have visited other cities to
assist in the work, and many delegates
have journeyed TO New York to study
the work Of the association there.
Copies Of the bylaws of the New York
association have been sent to cities all
over the world.
The delegates to the convention from
| New York are Benjamin J. Traitell of
| the Employers Tile, Crate and Mantel
association and James K. Strong of
the Electrical Contractors association.
/ Many other members of the New York
Employers association are here.
right For sOpen shop"
What is Of greater Importance than
the mere fact Of forming a national or
ganization is the advance notice given
that q movement is to be fostered for
the "open shop" the privilege on the
part of the employer 10 hire union or
nonunion men, as he sees fit. In the
1 call sent ont for the convention some
/ Of the objects of the organization were
given. Here are two Of them:
"All workmen are at liberty to work
for whomsoeyer they see fit. All en-
| ployers are at liberty to employ and
discharge whomsoever they see fit
That is declaration for the open
shop az plainly as it can be expressed,
and union men have always commended
that successful movement to estab
fish the open shop meant the end of or
gained labor For this reason it is pre-
dicted that the new association will
arouse the antagonism Of the unions
from the very outset II the open shop
is made one of its objects.
Apprehending that movement Of
this character was approaching, the
national convention Of the American
Federation Of Labor, recently held in
Boston, gave extended attention to the
1 open shop issue and formulated a re-
port strongly opposing ii Threefourths
Of the 100000 union men in the Unit
ed States belong to the American Fed
| GRAFTON Of Labor. and their opposition
will be a factor to be reckoned with If
a determined effort for an open shop
movement Is made.
But in the face of the opposition of
organized labor it is a question that
has been very seriously discussed by
employers all over the United States.
| Prominent delegates to the convention
say that the formation Of the national
association probably win not mean a
decrease in wages. They declare that
the purpose Of the amalgamation Of
employers is for the protection of their
own interests and not to injure organ
iced labor
mo matter what the declarations OF
the unions may be-" said Charles /.
Eidlitz athe successful employer in the
building business does not want to
cheaper labor. In this country it il
not profitable. But conditions have
reached that point in this country
where employers must protect their in.
i terests. by rapid degrees organized la
Dor has become aggressive, and it is
! its right to the aggressive, but il
( has gone beyond that and has be
5 come tyranical TO the extent Of crush
ing us ard itself as well. Larger
organization seems to be our only safe
guard now. One Of the fundamental
E principles OF our local organization is
i recognition Of the unions ana we shal
Q stand by that as long as the unions aci
] in good faith with us.
Employers everywhere have Learned
much from the unions. They have
taught the advantages Of organization
! and they have also demonstrated HOY,
much may be accomplished through
legislation. The unions are constantly
going to state legislatures for law
which prove burdensome to employers
and it is possible that a national or
ganization Of employers could get o.
the statute books great many law
that would be beneficial both TO them
selves and the unions"
Many bills have been drafted for dis
cussion at the convention These bill
seek to establish uniform state laws
prohibit sympathetic strikes and fC
the better regulation Of industrial col
ditfous