The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-04-11

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union card. The labor union Is a force
which tends toward conservatism and II
stands between the social order and that
class that would tear 1t down. The labor
union is made up Of industrious people,
the newspaper insinuations against the
walking delegate 10 the contrary not
withstanding.
We can hardly believe that the en-
ployers and employees interests are iden-
ticaL IL he was n real partner now IL
would be identical. but l think Carroll
ID. Wright has put 1t about right. their
| interests are reciprocal"
heard a man say that a laborer should
be willing and glad TO do a dollar and
! a half worths OF labor for a dollar in
| the interest OF their future advancement.
| Now that / am free TO say, is not the
standpoint OF the labor union. II a man
| buys n dollar and a halfs worth Of labor
| for a dollar the laboring man is not
going 10 be able 10 buy back because there
will be somebody who will accumulate
wealth. The fact that some persons have
| accumulated Is the object lesson that
labor is pointing out today.
! This aloofness that has been spoken OF
| has been the cause of great deal OF the
trouble with the laboring men. 1 am
glad to hear that optimism that has been
! expressed.
Speaking Of the men at the coke ovens
| he said: "A foreign born man. in his
wooden shoes with iron clamps. one suit
Of clothes n year cone wife among forty
mem working for 90 cents and a dollar
! n day could not be expected 10 realize
| the meaning OF the declaration OF in
dependence.
MIR. HENRY WHITE.
Mr.. Foster was heartily applauded and
| then the president introduced Mr.. Henry
/ White OF New York. who severed his CON
nection with the United Garment Workers
| Of America on the evening OF the enter
! ing Of that organization upon its series
! OF disastrous strikes. He said he be
| lieved conditions did not demand such
drastic action.
Mr. White in part said:
The question Of the open and closed
shop may he compared 10 the tariff ques-
! ton. The side you are on chiefly depends
| ulon the side your interests are on. But
| II Is not necessary 10 take sides on this
! Issue. There IL a middle ground and the
true position as usual appears to lie be
tween the extremes.
| am for the closed shop where IL Is
| naintained by tho voluntary action oi
worlungmen, where through the natural
| strength OF the union they are able tc
| make II advisable for the employer tc
observe the condition OF the close shop.
| am for the open shop where the en-
ployes are free 10 organize and the en-
lioyer is ready 10 treat with them col
| loctiyely.
II the employees rcfraln from organizing
| you can hardly expect the employer tc
| force them To organize against himself
| Should they. however, organize he is un.
der no obligation 10 close his door to non
members. BY not interfering with his
:
bargain as body. he has done all that
| can be expected.
NO INFRINGEMENT.
on the other hand II the union by vir
| the OF the thoroughness Of its organiza'
ton is able 10 cause the closed shop tc
be observed in effect no valid objection
| can be urged to the close shop so consti
! tuted In either case the rights on both
| sdes have not been infringed.
The manner I'm which the open or closed
shop Is enforced IL tho real question.
Owing to the manifest disadvantage ot
the individual worlSmen public sentiment
| frOwns upon any attempt TO suppress
| their attempt to organize. That much the
union has gained The same public, how.
| ever, Just as strongly resents the threat
cned domination OF the union. fearing the
abuse OF power likely 20 result.
Tho closed shop as conceived by the
a.
! bound by contrast to exclude non-mem.
| bcrs, is regarded by the neutral observer
as an arbitrary arrangement. This kind
| Of n closed shop the public can he count
| cd upon to oppose and strikes which have
| that for their object invariably forfeit
! public sympathy. W orkingmen err griev.
| ously when making an issue OF the close
shop 10 expect that the employer can bc
| used to maintain the union instead Of re-
lying upon their own vigilance and
| strength.
The easiest and quickea way for the
union 20 attain It's end is to get the boss
! 20 drive the non-unionist into line. That
method was effective enough in dealing
! with petty and separate employers. but
| with the employing class lined up against
the close shop it was quite another mat
| ter,
CANNOT BE TRUSTED.
! The strongest argument for the closed
! shop. I'm the unqualified sense. is that
the employer can't be trusted with the
! open shop; that he would speedily Inn
prove upon the chance 10 get rid OF union
| men Undoubtedly there 10 much truth
| in this contention. No matter how well
\ meaning an employer may be he would
/ assurcdly. everything being equal. favor
\ the more yielding workman. To con-
i tend otherwise would be idle But "a
say that he "can be trusted with the
/ open shop implies that some time the
closed shop was the rule; that there was
| n golden age OF unonism. when the union
| had but to issue its mandates.
| whereas. the union always had the
/ same opposition TO meet and moreover
! u was common FOR the employer 10 openly
! declare against the union and refuse 20
/ employ union men. That attitude few
| employers would now care 10 take The
! employer at no time favored the closed
/ shop. hut simply Yielded under pressure.
/ Being better able TO nght the closed shop
he had simply declared his policy In re-
| gard 20 ~.
II the employer can't he trusted with