The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-03-24
PROSPERITY
KNOCKERS
individuals Who Would
Crush Unionism ConSti-
tute Greatest Menace To
City's Growth-Well
Paid Workers Ground
Work Of Real Prosperity

Newspapers and citizens who have
been knocking" the dry regime, have
come in for considerable criticism for
their pessimistic utterances. The plea
is made with a good deal of truth that
whatever ones personal ideas about the
wet and dry fight the voters have ef-
fectually disposed of the question for
two years at least and everybody should
get in and boost for the good of the
city. 1t might not be amiss at this
time to call attention to the fact that
there are individuals in Everett who are
making more mischief, conspiring more
against the best interests of the city,
than all the "wet" adherents. Without
mincing matters we refer directly to the
men who would throw the town wide
open industrially and provoke a labor
war We said last week that we did not
believe many of the business men would
fall for the game, but it would be the
height of folly to close our eyes to the
danger and fail to sound note of warn
ing to the people. "Open shop" talk has
been heard for some time. 1t has come
to us from so many sources that it has
ceased to be mere rumor We are reli-
ably informed that various business in
terests have been approached on the
subject and an attempt made to enlist
their cooperation in war on the unions
of the city. Business men should, and
will, think twice before
lending their support to any such scheme.
Two classes of men might prosper from
such conflict; the employers who want
cheap labor, and the men who hold mort
cages or contracts on the homes of work
ing men. All other business interests
would suffer from an industrial conflict.
The fellows who skin labor might fill
the city with laborers? With their Ia
Dor surplus they might beat down the
unions? For the sake of argument we
will admit their ability to do these two
things. What happens?. Each laboring
man is thrown on his own resources in
fisposing of his labor power. He sells
his labor for just what the boss will
give. He must because if he holds his
abor too dearly to suit the boss, other
men stand ready to take the wages and
conditions which he refuses. That is the
hell OF our industrial system-that there
IRE men ready to sell their labor under
.he price of their felloWs-not only ready
10 do that but forced to do it. Give the
employer surplus supply of labor and
le inevitably reduces wages. You know,
Mr.. Business Man, that your prosperity
depends upon the wages of the fellow
who works with his hands. He spends
al he makes with you. If he makes two
lollars a day, he spends that amount; if
ne makes four dollars day he spends
hat. Two dollars a day means the
cheapest cuts of beef, calico garments
Tor his wife, cotton clothes for himself.
Four dollars a day spells cut of por-
a piano in the parlor, piece
1f property with bungalow on it. You
snow the purchasing power of dollar
md that the American workman spends
lis earnings, Your "open shop" fell
ows want the two-dollar-a day man.
They are not interested half so much
n your prosperity as they are in prof
is. The union contends that in this
lay and age every man is entitled to a
wage that win buy for himself and his
family the creature comforts of life
md some Of its luXuries, and says to
he employer, ''if you have no consid-
sration for human rights, we have, and
Ne refuse to sell our labor power below
/ certain minimum"
1t is not so many years ago that car
oenters, for instance, worked ten hours
A day in this city for 1925 and other
.rades in proportion. They organized
md steadily the city has gone ahead.
The working people have become home
owners. The writer remembers hearing
/ bank official make the statement that
he number of savings bank deposits in
Everett equalled, if indeed it did not
that of any other city on
.he coast in proportion to population.
We are proud of our city, of our splen-
lid growth. Would you let few fel.
lows raise industrial hell in this cityf
Are the men who would tear down the
unions foes or friends to EverettH
Don't set us down as chronic pessi-
lnists. We've got faith in the future
Of Everett, and we've backed it with
coin of the realm. Not much, its true,
but its our little all Don't let the
"open shop" advocates tell you that
they are the only real boosters. The
of working people who have
month by month put their little savings
into piece of ground, erected humble
home, are the boys who have made the
city and don't ever forget it. Thief
win be here tomorrow and the day aftf
doing useful work, contributing to
fIontiuuad ON paoe Toa,r