The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-02-25
open SHOP" THREAT
NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY
Timers Union and Duluth
Corrugating Roofing Com
pany at Outs.
Trouble Arises Over Petty
Grievance, But May Have
Grave Results.

HOl d SHUT llue, d. least, OIle IdUOI
organization in the city is going to
have taste of the "open shop" Aft
er a short struggle the. Duluth Corfu
eating & Roofing company threatens to
run it's own business without any
union interference The threat sounds
strong in a newspaper, but it is not
the easiest thing to do in this city.
The Labor World had hoped all along
that there would be no interruption in
business resulting from strikes. Thus
far everything looks rosy for industrial
peace, with the exception Of the un-
called-for breach in the shop of the
ny.
Labor World is Puzzled.
The Labor World is a champion Of
labor. When labor is right we never
hesitate in giving it the very best we
have got, but when labor errs, and
when informed of it's error willfully
makes it worse, we are puzzled as to
what position to take.
The Timers union had a grievance
against the Duluth Corrugating &
Roofing company. The company is I'M
der contract with the union to employ
only union timers at certain scale.
Mr.. McMartin, the president Of the
company, violated the contract in the
employment of a non-union man at
less than the contract scale. d.
The union complained against this,
but no understanding was reached, and
a strike was called. On the morning Of
the second day Mr.. Martin agreed to
pay the man the scale and he was to
make peace with the union.
Union Changes Front.
On the evening previous to this the
union held meeting, to which Mr..
McMartin was invited. He did not ap-
pear, and so the union hastily declared
his shop unfair and placed fine
thereon amounting to $780,
On the next day, when the original
grievance was adjusted, the striking
employees tried to get a special meeting
Of the union to ratify the agreement
made by Mr.. McMartin. According to
reports which we regard as authentic,
not member of the union appeared
except those on strike. So the calling
off of the strike was deferred until a
meeting could be held.
This delay did not help matters any.
Mr.. McMartin was anxious to. begin
work. He had agreed to the unions
demands, and could see no reason why
arrangements could not be made so
that his men would return to work.
Finally the union held a meeting, and
after learning that it was unlawful to
place fine on Mr.. McMartin it reced-
ed from that position, and in turn
placed the fine on the foreman Of the
strike.
Criticism Of Union.
There the matter rests. McMartin
has declared for the "open shop" and
a merry war is on.
AS a matter of comment it is our
honest opinion that the union was right
in its original contention. Mr.. McMar-
tin violated his agreement with the
union, and this violation is responsible
for the trouble.
The union, although right in it's de-
sire, needs some lessons in how to be
right in its methods. All Of us ought
to know by this time that the days for
rushing "pell melp' into strikes are
past; that present union methods call
for considerate action, and the use of
every other weapon; before strike is
resorted to.
This may not be any Of our busi-
ness, but we think it is our business.
Every union in Duluth is called upon
to suffer for the shortcomings Of other
unions. If we are to defend unions
when in trouble, we want the unions to
be absolutely right in their conten-
tons and methods. Then we can plead
their case with a strength that will
surely command the respect of even
our bitterest opponents.
Strike Can 10 Settled.
We will wager the price Of this pa
per that if the matter is put in the
hands of fair men, even at this late
day, the strike will be settled satisfac-
torily. Every righteous contention of
the union will be agreed to, and Mr..
McMartin will not have his open shop.
As to Mr.. McMartin let it be said
that he cannot have the ''open shop
without struggle. The building trade
unions of this city will not give up the
union shop In day. They do not
want trouble. They want peace. But
at the same, time they recognize, as
does the Labor World, that it requires
two sides to make q quarrel. The em-