Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1906-08-30
Labor Must Fight
Open Shop Policy
JAMES O'CONNELL,
Secretary Pacific Coast Seamen's League.

Clearly and distinctly, once and for
all, l desire to reaffirm my unalter-
able opposition to the open shop. It's
tendency, as all who have studied the
problem can plainly see, is to lower
wages and lengthen hours. For his
own protection the workingman must
join hands with his fellow worker and
jail stand together firm and steadfast
in a common cause.
The open shop means disunion, dis
organization and defeat. Too much
attention cannot be paid to it, as it is
factor In our economical system
which must be brought out plainly to
the attention of the workingmen.
Their homes and their means of earn
ing livelihood are at stake.
Anything which will interfere with
the good work now being carried on by
the labor unions is deleterious to the
best interests of the community. In
the past two or three years wages of
workingmen were much higher than
before. Their condition has been i'm
proved and when you improve the con-
dition of the wage carriers of a COM
munity you begin at the foundation
for improving the conditions of that
entire community. 1t can safely be
stated that labor is the basis of a
country's greatness and the wage
Garner is the bulwark of her advance
ment and her prosperity The only
logical conclusion is that anything
which tends to benefit the wage Garner
tends to benefit all the people. Re-
member, the wage earning class is
also the distributing class. The more
money a man on small salary has to
spend the more he will spend. On the
other hand, those with large fortunes
spend about the same each year. In
this way the union promotes a great
err distribution of coin which results
to the satisfaction of all.
The open shop would spoil this.
Giyen an open shop, what will become
of your union, and to whom will the
toiler when wantonly wronged go for
assistance or redress? Show me
place where high wages are paid and
I will show you place where the peo-
pie are peaceful prosperous, contented
and happy.
The working man is medium of
circulation. With him the luxuries of
yesterday have become the necessities
of to-day. His union aids him in OBJ
tanning these luxuries. Standing alone
or on the open shop basis he must
~ TOW nef ,ly l. ;, l..
muscle to the highest bidder. With
his union there is a minimum set and
he will not work below it. This mini
mum is living wage, regulated to
provide man with the common neces-
stiles of life and some of its Injuries.
The open shop is it's direct anti
thesis. They are as widely separated
as the poles. There is one remedy
to break down the open shop-the CO.
operative store will do it. These CO.
operative stores have been established
extensively throughout the eaast, and
they are gradually growing in strength
and favor.
Let the workingmen, instead of idly
talking, open a rival shop, no matter
what the business of the concern may
be, make it more attractive, each take
little stock in the concern, and see
what will happen to the establishment
which locked them out.
Strikes are always to be deplored
and are always expensive. The money
spent in strike benefits will frequent
ly pay for the opening of a rival estab-
lishment, which will put the other man
out of business quicker than anything
else and will also provide employment
for many men.
l have repeatedly said, and l have
always consistently endeavored to
live up to the declaration, that capital
and labor, employer and employe
should have equal consideration and
equal protection; that capital must
have safe and steady investment in
order that labor may have constant
and remunerative employment; that
the interests of both are for a con
servative and friendly recognition by
each of the rights of the other, and
under all circumstances and condi
lions / propose to abide and to eff
fectuate these ideas.