Arizona republican., 1909-12-15
AN APPEAL TO EVERYBODY
To Assist in or Sympathize With War on the "0pen Shop" Policy by Which Corporation Would Re- move Its Last Obstacle.

tTlN upon tift EoldAto Steel corporation by the leaders of or ganized labor throughout the United States and Canada, at the close of a two days conference today. The de- cision to battle against the stand taken by the steel corporation in it's policy of the ''open shop" was reached by the labor conferees after an hours debate. At the conference. Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor. presided, and through him the measure was put upon the record books of the executive council of the federation.
 The grievances of organized labor against the Steel corporation is set forth in a resolution that has been for warded to President Taft. in the sen ate. the house. and the governors of the states in which the corporation owns plants
 It says in part: "A crisis in the affairs of labor has arisen. A great trust. the United States Steel corpora ton is using its great wealth and pow CT in an efort to rob toilers of their right to American manhood. and the opportunity to resist further encroach- rnent Grown rich by the consent of the people in our country. the corpora tion. in it's mad greed for still greater riches. sweeps aside, makes and un- makes law, enactors. and executors. is engaged in an effort to destroy the only factor-the organization of it's em- ployes-standing between it and unlim- ited. unchecket, unbridled. industrial.
 
 there exists any yirile power in our time and life to check the absolute au- tocratic domination of the civic, indus trial and political life of our people and our republic, it must be found in the indomitable will and mission of the much misunderstood and misrepresent- ed organizations of labor.
 "The United States Steel corporation has declared war against labor. In its secret councils the corporation has de- creed that the only obstacle to its con- plete sway-organiZed labOr-must be crushed. Labor organizations consist of its employees and workers ttheir wives. little ones) their human flesh and blood. By their labor they live. They have no purpose other than the safeguarding of lives, their character, the future and safety of the republic and humanity. These factors now con- front each other. By their purposes, attitude and actions must they be judged.
 "On June 1. 1909. the United States Steel corporation proclaimed decree of hostility toward labor. The right of workers to associate for common protection was no longer to be reccg nized or tolerated. Accompanying the decree was a notice of a further re- duction of the already scant wages of workers The decree went into effect on July 1. 1909.
 We therefore urge that an earnest effort be made thoroughly to organize all employees of the iron, steel and tin plate industry. and subsidiary CO., related trades. owing to the immediate pressing necessity caused by the pres ent strike. and the indefensible atti- tude of the Steel corporation we earnestly call on the national and international unions of America tc send at least one organizer to the steel works. We urge and recommend that all places where mills are located that the central. labor organizations appoint special committees or instruction tc cooperate in the work For educational purposes purposes we recommend thai this manifesto be made special order of all central labor organizations foI the first meeting in January, 1910.
 We recommend that the executive council of the American Federation issue circular to all unions in Amer ica. and appeal for financial contribu- 1 tions to aid the striking iron. steel and | tip plate workers.
 Further we recommend that ths amount of such contribution shall mol be less than ten cents a member. Tn view of the great wrongs per petrated by the Steel corporation, not | only against the workers. but the pub' | lie generally, we recommend that committee be appointed by this confer ence to wait upon the president of tho | United States. the president of the sen ate and the speaker of the house. ant such members of congress as may bt deemed advisable, for the purpose o laying before them the grievances tha labor suffers at the hands of the cor | poration.
 At the instance of the Steel corpo ration, the officials of local, municipa and state governments have unwar' 1 rantedly tyrannized over oul citizens. invading the consti