The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-02-02
MILLION DOLLAR Loss
CREDITED To OPEN SHOP
National Cash Register Go.
Admits It is a Heavy Loser
On Account of It.
Two Years Experiment
Proves That on-Union
Shop is a Failure.

Two years ago the plant of the Ma
tional Cash Register Co., of Dayton, O.,
was known as a union shop and a.
"model' establishment. Two years ago
the National Cash Register Co. declar-
ca to itself that it intended to run it's
own business and thereafter would
not be dictated to by any union. About
the same time the Cash Register Co.
joined the Citizens Industrial Alliance
movement and entered on a policy an
tagonist1c to unions. From that time
on the harmonious relations which had
previously existed between the COM
pany and It's employees became strained.
One after another of the different I'M
ions were forced to order strikes in the
Cash Register Co.'s plant, until today
there is hardly union man left in it's
employ. says Justice, Of Cleveland.
Now, after two years struggle to
lnaugurate the open shop and run
their own business" President Patter-
son is forced to admit that the COM
pany has lost over million dollars
through dissa tisfaction among the en-
ployes in the factory.
When the present policy of the COM
pany became effective, it's officers were
undoubtedly Of the opinion that. mas
much as they had a practical mono-
poly or the cash register business, they
were In position to treat their en-
ployes in any manner they saw fit,
The contrary has proven true, as wit
ness the confession of the president.
Inc heavy losses of the company can
be traced directly to the "open shop"
policy of the company and the conse-
quent lack of harmony among the en-
ployes.
At recent meeting of officers and
employees, Manager Chalmers made q
pltlful appeal for the restoration Of
previous conditions. He "sincerelv" re-
GREETED the change that had taken
place IN the last two years, and ex-
pressed the hope that the clashing and
dissatisfaction would cease and that
the N. c. r. c. would again become the
model plant of the world. He said that
II the employees would come to the
company with their grievances thew
would be adjusted and they would be
given square DEAL" thus leaving no
room for the gossip" which has been
so injurious.
AS striking example Of the "souare
GEAR which has been accorded en-
ployes IN the past two years we cite
lhe case OF the union printers. Over
year ago the union printers emploved
at the cash Register Co. went to the
management and asked that thew he
sranted the eight-hour day. a general
demand for which had been mada
throughout the country. After ao,,,a
oelay the printers were CURLY inform
ed that their request would not be
granted and they could strike when
ever they pleased. and the oicers would
ne disappointed If they did not strike
commenting on the square dean
extended to the Cash Register o.,
employees, the Dayton Eight-Honr A.
vocate says:
is this the kind of square dear
you propose giving in return for ,ov-
atty ana skilled workmanship. Com
pare the bunch of incompetent SOCIAL
ed printers now in your comnosinp
room with the skilled workmen that
left that department last January h.
cause you refused TENN that which
you claim is due every man. Compare
the work of that department TODAY
with the work Of one year ago To
your present force Of printers giv;no;
you a square deal? Are you tust,f,eS
In paying these incompetents SIS q
week when their services were o,,,,
worth SO or SO before the strike? Is
1t giving the American citizen a. square
deal to import a bunch Of strike-break-
ers into this city and demand that
they eat, sleep and work in the same
building. guarded at night for fear that
they will escape and fail to return?
us it square deal to ask your en-
~ployes TO -pass q -raadtcal examination
. :.,s