The sun., 1907-08-21
OPEN SHOP IN BOYCOTT FIGHT
Mr.. VAN CLEAVE sAHS THAT'S
WHY RE'SON LABORS BLACKLIST.

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ne Would Like 20 nun lIis Own Business a.
n Seems hest 20 Him without Having
Hts Company Robbed OF IT'S Reputation
An His w0rkmeu Are with Him.
James W. Van Clesve. president Of the
Buckle Stove and Range Company Of st.
Louis. had something to say yesterday
In regard To the suit which his company
has begun In the Supreme Court Of the
District Of Columbia to restrain the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor from boycotting
it's goods. This Is the first time that the
federation itself has been attacked in the
courts on account OF the boycott system. T"
previous suits having been directed against
local unions.
MY object in bringing this suit" said
Mr.. Van Cleave. lis to be allowed to mana &c
the affairs Of my factory In the way in which
my experience and my inclination tell me
they ought to be managed. so long al l
violate no contract with my workmen and
assail no law Of the land The principle
involved 10 the open shop as distinguished
from the closed shop."
Mr.. Van Cleave added that in this contest
he Is fighting the battle Of every self-respect-
ing employer In the United States; that he
is fighting for the right of every law abiding
citizen to be protacted from attack from
without by an organization Of individuals
or by q federation of organizations.
What do you believe TO have been the
real melting cause OF the strike in your
factory and the boycott which the American
Federation Of Labor has set up against
your
The open shop. think from what
have heard and seen that I was singled
out for attack because had always been a
pronounced advocate of the open shop
and equal rights for all workers. non-union
and union. and particularly because l am
president OF the National Association of
Manufacturers and of the Citizens In
dustrial Association OF st. Louis. both Of
which organizations stand out for the open
shop
Mr.. Van Cleave was asked IL it wasn't
true that he had insisted on ten hour in
stead OF a nine hour day in his factory.
which was the complaint on which the
union polishers in his employ quit work
a year ago.
1T is," said he. because it was necessary
for US to run those hours. but since. our
employees were paid by the piece and not
by the day il enabled them to earn just
so much more money. But the unions
insisted not only that the men should not
earn this extra money. but also that each
mans output should be limited, his earning
power contracted and our output restricted.
We don't want men who will limit their
capacity in this way
did the men present any other griev-
ances?"
None whatever My workers have had
very few grievances at any time. and these.
when submitted, have been settled amicably.
in accordance with the contract existing
bet ween the Stove Founders National De-
whose members we employ"
You say you belong to an organization
that has an agreement with unions. How
then does it happen that you are boycotted
by the Moulders Unonf'
Il have no trouble with the Iron Moulders
Union. The boycott has been set up not
at the instance Of the Iron Mollders Union
but OF the Brotherhood OF Foundry en-
ployees, an organization that has. 10 far
as am aware, never had member working
in my foundry. Moreover. the boycott
has been established contrary to the rules
which the American Federation OF Labor
has set up for itself in proclaiming formal
boycotts. II is the federation's rule that
matters Of this kind must be thoroughly
investigated by officers OF the federation.
No such investigation has ever been made.
Nor have l ever been asked by anybody
representing. the federation as to any facts
in this case"
RYAN Cleave said that he had been able
TO think OF no efi ective way Of combating
the boycott except through Federal
courts Injunction.
Mr.. Van Cleave thinks that an injunction
against the federation would go a long
way toward preventing aggressions on
the part Of labor union leaders by show
ing that they are amenable To law Just the
same az other individuals and organiza-
tions
why Twas the action taken directly 10
the Supreme Court OF the District OF
Columbian"
.For two reasons. I wanted to get a
Anal settlement at the earliest possible
moment. suit against the federation
and it's officers had TO be brought in the
locality in which it's headquarters are
situated and in which they reside
Of his petition being denied he would ap-
peal at once 10 the United States Supreme
Court.
ITO what extent" he was asked, -has
the Bucks Stove and Range Company
actually suffered from the boycott1'
put in terms OF dollars and cents. The
labor unions are conspiring 10 commit
greater crime than IL they broke into the
office Of the company and robbed it's safe
They are attempting TO rob the company
Of q reputation which IL has built up by
sixty years Of service"
What percentage OF your workmen
have you found in favor OF the boycott
and similar aggression2"
Every workman in every department
OF my factory, union and non -union, il
against this boycott upon the products
OF his own labor"
Mr.. Van Cleave declared that the unions
had relied upon misrepresentation ever
since his fight with them began. The
complaint in his suit which was made
public yesterday, recites these instances
in detail.
FEDERATION WILL FIGHT.
Leaders, served nj Annual Meeting, De-