The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-09-04
union SHOP IS
HELD NECESSITY
DARRow SAYS iT is THE ONLY
WAY WoRNNcMEN CAN MAIN
TAIN HIS STAND AND PROTECT
HIS LlFE-lNDIvIDUAL HAS NO
CHANCE TO HELP. HIMSELF.

Clarence S. barrow mas the follow
ing to say in discussing the labor
problem:
II Is impossible for the union man
and the non-union man to work
amicably in one shop, because they
differ on the fundamental proposition
Of whether there shall be asainfon or
| not This question marks the line Of
cleavage in churches, in families and
all society with which labor is allied.
Men holding different views on this
question cannot labor in the same
factory and be friendly.
I know of an instance which came
out during the coal miners strike.
| There was a religious meeting in a
church attended by many union men.
There is an unfair man in the house., =
some one said, and every union man
left the room.
In every open shop the non-union
man is favored by the employer, be-
cause the employer likes the nom
union man. If there are reductions
to be made the employer likes the
| non-union man. If wages are to be
| cut, the union man suffers, and the
non union man very likely is secretly
paid the old rate. If there is an easy
job to be given out, the non union
man gets it.
| So the union man supports his or
ganization, which costs money and
he pays for the benefits which the
non-union man derives in the i'm
shorter hours secured by the union.
The union man resents the idea that
his fellow employee who contributes
nothing should share in the advant-
ages. So there Is strife between these
/ two.
So believe in the closed SHOP be-
cause 1t Is only by the closed shop
that the workingmen can maintain his
rights and secure the protection of
his life.
One Of the chief arguments used
In support of the policy of an open
snop is that every man has an in
i alienabie and constitutional right to
work. / never found that In the con-
stitution. II a man has a constitution
81 right to work he ought TO have a
constitutional right to Job, would
! give q few thousand dollars to any one
] who would show me now to enforce
a constitutional right to a Job. A
man has only right to work If he
can get job, and he has also a right
not to work.
i Many capitalists declare they believe
In labor unions. but their political
economy leads them to pronounce as
wrong everything the unions do. II il
the OF those who receive their poli
tical economy from 26 Broadway and
Harvard college that labor unions are
proper organizations. but every one Of
their methods Is to be condemned
4 We have listened often to the old
reasoning that workingman is able
| 70 make as good a cntract individ
ually as labor union can. don't
believe the individual switchmau an
2 railroad VINO was earning SIS i
month would get much satisfaction
i Il ne protested against cut In hia
1 wages.
i What chance has he to see tine
superintendent and insist that he can.
not support his family on smaale,
wage? But Ii ne is 4 member i,
an association which includes trn,,.
sandsd Of men in every branch OF rail.
roading MS grievance Is sure to reach
the ear of the president.
Trade unions endeavor to secure
monopoly Of labor. they saw walI
i suppose they do. II they could craat
monopoly, they could starve Yos
world. But It seems to me tfa trad.
union IL not the only body thar trie,
70 establish 2 monopoly Capital doe.
81 III