The Republican journal., 1904-12-01
THE OPEN AND CLOSED SHOP.

The Editor of McClure's Magazine, in
presenting Ray Stannard Bakers arti-
Gle on 1.-THE Rise of the Tailors", in the
December number, makes this explana-
tory statement: 'The extraordinary
story here given of labor warfare in
New York City interprets, perhaps bet
ter than any amount OF purely academ-
ic discussion the real Significance to the
American people OF the closed shop,
with its antithesis, the open shop'-the
most vital industrial problem OF the
day."
This we'll prefaces Mr.. Bakers re-
markable discussion of the strike of the
garment-workers, the tremendously
meaning story of democracy on its way
up" He describes the condition of
these workers before the union came to
their salvation, in the sweatshop-the
most degrading of American employ
ment, far worse than slavery. The
Yiddish struggler seeking the land of
freedom, merely changed expressions
from the political tyranny Of Russia to
the industrial tyranny of America.
The former deprived him of his rights
the latter took his life. To-day the
sweat-silop and task system, as they
were known q few years ago, have ut
terly disappeared, and the chief influ.
ence in effecting this reform has been
trade-union organization. The Garment
Workers Union grew in usefulness and
power, but succumbing to the weakness
of human nature, it sometimes abused
that power There appeared the usual
tendencies to monopolize labor, to raise
wages Unfortunately, and to practice many
sorts of restrictions. The protest, then
the action, of the employers followed,
the principle of the ''open shop" was de.
clared and enforced, and the union
struck Under unfavorable conditions,
in spite of the heroic sacrifice and devo-
ton of the garment workers, the strike
failed. There were many to fill every
vacant places. Somehow the worlds
work gets itself done, irresistibly, re-
morselessly, regardless of unions or as
sociations, of human aspirations, or hui
man life.
Yet, Mr.. Baker points out, the union,
though defeated, has accomplished
much: "the industrial policeman he
calls it, To the garment workers it is
the only barrier that stands in the way
of a swift return to sweat-shop CON
ditions. The public certainly pays for
unionism. Wage advances come,
finally, from the pocket of the conSum-
er. But the Amercanizing of the East
Side throuh unioniSm would be cheap
at almost any price.
Some important deductions are drawn
by Mr.. Baker concerning the question
of unionism which will bear much study.
'U nionism," he Declares lis neces-
sary, vital force in our life; but just as
surely as it is a great power for good,
it may also, unlimited and unrestricted,
become dangerous influence for evil -
The union" he says again, sis not
only a benefit to both workers and en-
ployers, but it has become, in our COM
pick democratic civilization, an alb
solute necessity, and it should be as
jealousy guarded by society as any
! other great institution and this we'll
summarizes his argument; cit can be
conclusively shown that, exactly as an
extreme open shop condition (the re-
suit of which is finally wholly non
union shop is detriment to employers
as we'll as to the workers, so an ex-
IRENE closed shop is detriment to the
workers as we'll as to the employers.
Neither extreme is wise. It is essential
to recognize the limitations OF the
principle of trade-unionism. The best
condition is one in which there are
strong organizations on both sides,
each holding the other in check"
The labor problem is not abstract,
but intensely practical. Each side
must refrain from exercising all of its
rights in common with all men in
civilized society, and must submit to
the eternal law of compromise, that
industry may progress in peace.