Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-02-14

that matter any other mode of invest
men;
AN ORGANIZER ON "CLOSED SHOPS"
Discussing the open shop" question
from the higher view point of union-
ism, Mr.. Henry White, the founder of
the United Garment Workers of AM
erica and for many years its secretary
says in the North American Review
that in his opinion the closed shop
would prove injurious to unionism as
it would to society in general and urg-
es the unions to forego an issue which
he considers has been proven unten-
able. AS unions are at present consti-
tuted he declares they have not the
power to prevent themselves from go
ing to excess and points to the more
recent strikes as an evidence of the
present impossibility of forcing the
closed shop or Of properly continuing
it where it might be forced.
"Organized workmen," he says, be
cause of their position, are unable to
grasp as readily as others what the
closed shop fully implies. They see
the opportunity it offers them to inn
prove their position. The employers
and a considerable number of the pub
lie see the possibilities for evil. The
unionist. like others, believes that he
can be trusted with unlimited power,
and he cannot understand why there
should be this unwillingness to grant
him more. 1t is not probable that pub
as defined usually by the union, be-
cause of the coercion it implies, or that
the employing class will concede 1t
without struggle"
In Mr.. Whites helpful article there
is only approval of the underlying
principles of unionism.
In the broader sense he argues the
workman's right to organiZe-which
none denies-and that the refusal to
conflict with the right of the employer
to hire non-union men. He declares that
conflict comes from the encroachment
of the one, while pursuing it's own
rights upon the rights Of the other.
Continuing his argument he says:
Many an employer will readily ac-
commodate himself to situation and
employ only union men, but he will
strongly protest against being bound
by contract to do so. Even should he
employ union men exclusively, he may
reserve the right to employ others it
he so desires And SO with the union
workmen. When unable to help them
selves, they will work with non-mem-
bers; but they will resist an attempt
to make them agree to do so at all
times. The method by which the open
or closed shop is upheld is the real
question. There is no difficulty as to
principle, if the acknowledged rights
of either side are respected. The one
condition that the union can justly
insist upon is, that there shall be no
discrimination against it's members,
and that the employees shall be treated
with thru their representatives The
natural disadvantage of the laborer
entities him to that consideration, and
public opinion sustains him to that
extent. Because, however, the closed
shop would strengthen the union and
enable the members to secure fair
terms, it does not follow that it rests
with the employer to uphold it. 1t
is manifestly absurd to expect the en-
ployer TO force the organization of his
employees against himself Even if he
were to do so, it would prove destruc-
tive to the spirit of unionism. The
ability of workmen to organize indie
pendently Is what gives unionism sig
nificance, and 1t is the resistance offer
ed to the union that checks arbitrary
tendencies. Unions, like individuals,
seek to gain the benefits of struggle
without the effort; hence the denun-
Citations of employees for not granting
what can come only thru sustained
effort.
The strongest argument urged
against the open shop is that If the
employer were permitted to hire nom
union workmen the union workmen
would soon be displaced and the union
SlaQQdTQS DFOkeIl/ QOWu. OuuOuUleOly, |
the employer would be inclined to dis
eliminate, but that is a situation the |
union must meet by better organi- |
cation. The employer could allege
also, on the same grounds, that by en-
ploying union men he would lose con-
troll Of his shop and workmanship |
would deteriorate. The task of each |
side Is to prevent the other from maxi |
ing unfair use of its power, not to seek
to protect itself from oppression by
curtailing the liberty Of the other. The
existence of such extensive and eff
cient unions as this railroad brother
hoods which deal with most power |
full set Of employers and never raise
the question of the closed shop, shows |
conclusively that the recognition of the |
closed shop is not vital to the unions |
existence.
Aaonizing Burns.
80. ;pe.t, rn1{ovaH parfacflv |