The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-29

manufac curing establishments have,
in the last year, abandoned the closed
shop and thrown their doors open to
workmen without regard to their
membership or nonmembership in a
union l have been informed of the
names of over 250 concerns in the
city of Chicago alone that have done
this. Is that not record for the
greatest hot bed of unionism in the
country? From all parts of the CEN
trail west l have received information
opened to independent workmen.
Many concerns in the east have also
gone to the open shop, although I
must say that the employers move
than it is here in the east and that the
results show it. The effect of the
open shop movement has been particu-
larly beneficial. In some factories the
output per man has been increased
from 25 to so per cent. Who can as
Sert that this increase in output will
not benefit the toiler as we'll as the en-
ployer? The theory that the less each
man does the better every one will be
is one of the absurd doctrines of the
union creed, and, if followed to it's
logical conclusion, would produce a
state of society in which no one
worked and every one went hungry
and naked If increasing the output
per man worked injury to the workers
then all machinery should be de-
stroyed, for the effect of machinery is
Mr.. Parry declared that the labor
question was not merely a controversy
between employers and employees, but
rather a question whether Individual
liberty was to be maintained He quo
ted from labor authorities to show that
the unions denied that there was any
SUCH thing as the inalienable right to
work. Mr.. John Mitchell said Mr.
Parry, and other labor leaders in order
to hide the real purpose of the unions
TO prevent men from working where,
when and for what they please resort
10 the Subterfuge that union men have
the right to refuse to work with nom
union men. Now the right of men to
refuse to work with or without stating
right of the employer to discharge men
without assigning cause. But when men
once quit their employment they no
longer have any claims on the jobs they
have abandoned. They have no right
to picket with the intent to injure their
former employers business or to coerce
or 1ntimidate or physically assault
those who take their places.
Mr.. Parry declared that the courts
have with practical unanimity held that
the closed shop cannot be maintained
by means of contracts between en-
ployers and unions for the reason that
such contracts are illegal and void in
that they tend to produce a monopoly
and are unconstitutional and against
public policy. The question he said
then arises whether the closed shop can
tracts by the method of the unions re-
fusing to work with nonunion men.
Continuing Mr.. Parry, speaking of the
socialist vote said: 1T may be consid-
cred unfortunate by some that the re-
suit of compelling the unions to abide
by the laws is to drive a portion of
their membership into the Socialist
party, but certainly it is no argument
to say that the unions should be per-
mitted to follow their own sweet will
in order that their members may not
become socialists. The growth of the
Socialist party simply adds additional
force to the necessity that confronts
the employers to take an active hand
in shaping public sentiment to the end
that our great individualistic form of
government may be maintained"
In closing Mr.. Parry laid special
stress on the educational feature of the
work of the Citizens Industrial associa-
ton. He said the association has made
marvellous progress in the first year of
its organization and that it was certain
to become one of the most powerful
and influential forces for good to be
found in the world. The work, he said
that it has undertaken must and shall
go forward.