Evening journal., 1909-07-12

than was paid for the lower grade shoes
made IN the same factory. but not as
much as was paid for it in the factory
from which the transfer was made. This.
on the ground that the company did not
ask as high a grade Of workmanship for
the same product In tho second factory.
as was paid for Il in the first
Both parties accepted the decision. and
the contract was kept by both. until the
time OF its expiration, November l. 1908.
But the union. prior TO this time. ncti-
fed the company that II would not re-
new It's contract. or enter into any con-
tractual relations with tho company. '-
less the difference In the former making
Price Of the shoe. aud the amount award
cd by the state board OF arbitration. was
forthcoming.
The Douglas CO. claimed that 70 sub.
nit TO such a demand would be vir-
tual reputation Of the andings OF the
state board OF Cancellation and arbitra-
ton. which It had agreed 20 accept,
whether favorable nr unfavorabie. and
whose decisions both parties had solemn.
ly covenantcd TO acquiesce in. and abid,
by.
Then came the parting Of the ways. the
company declaring that It could not. IL
honor. repudiate the decision OF the stat'
board. after solemnly agreeing 10 abid'
by IL, and the union declaring that unless
1t paid the difference alluded to. notwith
standing the decision OF the state board
It could not have new contract.
That was tho end OF the contractual re
lations. This great company. that ha,
been the strongest friend OF unionism II
I 81. - 4 .NT Tn
and that. by its example, had influence,
other manufacturers to apply for th'
union stamp. began TO move its business
from the city to other sections wher
tho question OF uniorism would not II
any way be a barrier to tho production
Of shoes
And what IN a sentence, was the caus
Of the whole trouble?
II was simply this and nothing more
A difference Of opinion IN the interpre
tatlon Of a mutual contract The sam
as might and does happen, thousands O
times Surely the friends Of years, an
especially such friends as these were
should not be aiienated by a mere diff
ference Of interpretation
In view Of the happy relations exist
ing between the company and IN
unions. in view Of the reciprocal bene
hts which each has received from IN
other for a long term Of years, in vie'
Of their mutual friendship, their com
mon pride IN unionism. the high wage
paid. and the superior conditions main
tained. Il seems 10 US wrong that thes
relations should cease. and only rigt
that they should continue.
Therefore the decision of the STATE
board OF concillaton and arbitratio
. should in all honor. be accepted as ina
inasmuch as both had solemnly agree
10 abide by such decision. and such d.
cision. n it means anything. means N
settlement Of all past questions and III
resumption OF contractual relations.
2 We recommend that the r. and s. Y
} II. accept as the final settlement Of II
5 past relations the decision OF the Ma
, sachusetts state board OF conciliauo
and arbitration. with reference 20 n
NV. u. Douglas Co. and htat an carr
3 est effort be Immediately made TO r
, sume contractual relations. We advil
this on the ground that both accept,
4 the state board as the final arbiter. ar
b both should abide by tho result. ana SEE
I for nothing more. AND Tor the adof
! reason that such great company shou
2 not be lost to unionism and To the cit
D If il can be won back, and further III
, to win Il back by a new contract wou
2 strongly than n has been for son
e months whereas, 20 allow the oppo
[ tunity 10 pass now might mean the e
! tablishment OF the open shop by Il
company. to such an extent that
@ would be unwilling to return 20 Co
e tract relations with the union. The 2
ample and competition Of such fir
would. 20 say the least, be no pleasii
8 prospect either for the interests OF q
s union or the competing union manufa
e turers.