The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-23
:||' OF CLOSED
SHOP TO WORnNCMEN.
II Upholds the Standard Of
Business by Eliminating
Cut-throat Competition.
Open Shop Is the Haven of the
Scab-The Union Card Is
the Badge of Freedom.


Dumb, indeed, is the citizen who does
not know that behind all the palaver
about the heroism, the boosting Of the
so-called Independent workinsmen and
the opposition to the closed shop Is
the desire to coin money out OF the
wage earners. That is the main pur-
pose of the present anti-union agita-
ton. The character Of and the wages
paid their employees by its chief pro-
motors amply prove this. Not only do
their acts betray their main purpose,
but their organ--American Industries
with great glee prints news Of re-
auctions In wages. and gloats over the
lower standard of living which such
facts impose upon the worker and his
family. Such reductions mean that
thousands Of women and children will
be deprived OF the necessaries Of life.
These people desire that men shall
be free from all protective agencies;
SO they may be the more easily de-.
spoiled. In furtherance Of this sordid
idea great hue and cry has been rails
ed concerning the injustice Of unionists
refusing to work with non-unionists.
The position Of our opponents has
been stated times without number, SO
it is not out Of place to reiterate the
unionist side Of the controversy.
All trades unionists do not insist on
the closed shop, for conditions vary.
Closed shops are not only subscribing
the best interests Of humanity, but al
lowing the principles embodied In the
axiom that self preservation Is the first
law Of nature, there is no need to re-
count here how, If given permission to
employ non unionists, employers would
begin an attack on wages, and, In time,
compel the more fair minded and liber-
al of their fellows to follow suit, for
the laws Of competition are imperative
when wages are involved. So the
union shop in any competitive trade
If generally recognized. .upholds the
standard of business by eliminating one
incentive to cutthroat competition. 1t
Simply makes It easier for the good
EMPLOYER to be, fair and more difficult
for the mean employer to be unfair
by enforcing a minimum union wage.
Employers with hearts In the right
place, who have a. knowledge OF the
labor question and regard for their own
interests, are aware Of this and refuse
to Join in the demand for that cloak
for industrial tyranny and unstable
conditions, the so-called open shop.
As to our attitude toward the non
unionist, 1t is the fundamental right OF
anyone, a dozen or a thousand OF us,
to refuse to work with an obnoxious
person, This much is admitted by the
enemy and is an all-suffcient answer
to the demagogic talk about the myth
calsright, to work, which the thousands
of unemployed prove in reality Is mere
" the right to look for work. indian
Rerous callings, such as the building
trades, In states where employers are
net held legally responsible for acci-
dent resulting from the negligence Of
fellow -workmen it is the duty of work.
ingmen to pass upon the eligibility OF
their fellows. If they are not vigilant
in this respect, they or their heirs may,
in case of accident, be deprived or de-
frauded Of rightful damages through
the carelessness or cupidity of fell
low-employe. Where the majority OF
the workers are untonists, some nom
unionists may be relied upon the play
the despicable part OF tools in aiding
the culpable employer to evade his just
responsibility Under the coemployes
liability idea all employees are partners
when an accident occurs, and 1t Is un-
fair for men to be compelled to enter
into the partnership relation with a
man of whom they are distrustful.
,1,1ot ,f0
refusing to join an organization Is the
oft-repeatcd remark Of our enemies and
critics. To this we reply that it is the
essence of justice that a man snoulo
pay for the benefits he receives and CO.
operate with those who are struggling
to improve the trade conditions of him.
self and themselves.
Let us put the situation fairly. A
ron unionist hailing from an morgan
lied district secures a Job under union
regulations. Here he finds the work.
ing day shorter and wages higher than
he has enjoyed heretofore. These con-
ditions didn't just happen; they are the
results Of years of agitation and hard
work, Of untold sacrifice Of time and
pleasure and of the expenditure Of
much money by the tnionists Of his
trade. There can be no debate as to
this being a fair exposition Of the situa-
ton as it exists; the union is respon-
sible for desirable working conditions.
This being so, and an honest man not
being willing to reap where he had not
sown, it is palpable that he will lose no
time in joining the union, the fruit OF
whose planting and outstanding he Is
desirous of enjoying. There is no es-
cape from the conclusion that If hon.
est and a loyal craftsman he should be-
come a union man. If he is dishonest
willing to accept something for moth
ing-he will shirk his duty.
Why should we adopt a policy that
would put a premium on dishonesty
and meanness?
Unions are, generally speaking. lib
eral in their treatment of the nom
unfonist. They do not ask him to bear
any of the burdens Of the battles Of the
past, though they invite him to partake
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