The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1911-03-09
(Communicated.)

The so-called Independent contract
ors through their paid advertisements
are trying to fool the people into be-
lieving that the open shop policy
means the destruction OF the union,
when they know full well that such is
not the case and never has been the
case in the cities where the open shop
policy prevails, and by the way, the
persons advertising as Independent
contractors are not independent con-
tractors at all, but are men who be-
long to the unions themselves and for
that reason are trying so hard to per-
petuate the closed shop policy.
The open shop policy in this or any
other city has never contemplated the
destruction of any union.
The open shop policy in Gary is not
directed against union principles. but
against the misuse and abuse of union
principles by dishonest and corrupt
business agents and other officials of
the unions.
No fair-minded man can deny the
right of the laboring man to organize
for his benefit any more than he
would have the right to deny him to
Join lodge any social organization.
but when any organization arrogates
to itself the power to say that you
must belong to our organization or we
will deny you the right to earn your
living by honest labor, they go beyond
all principles of Justice and humanity.
This is one OF the abuses that the open
shop policy serves to overcome.
The open shop policy might be sum
med up In a very few words: The con-
stitution of the United States. and all
written as well as unwritten law,
guarantees the right to every man to
in pursuance of such honest labor
guarantees his immunity from inter-
ference or personal injury.
The closed shop says to the man who
wishes to earn his living by honest
labor that you cannot do so unless
you join our organization. and if you
attempt to do otherwise we will use
all means at our posal-legal or
illegal-to coerce. assault and injure
YOU and IL necessary to deprive you of
your life Such conditions must be
condemned by any fair minded man.
The closed shop policy is nothing
more nor less than despotism. We
concede the right of union labor to
organize for their benefit and their
protection and for the purpose of re-
ceiving more by shorter hours and bet
ter conditions, but we do not concede
mat ldtoi mas tic Is III ~
say that you cannot work unless you
belong to our organization"
We do not concede to them the right
to restrict the amount of work which
any man should do, nor the kind nor
quality of material that the contractor
or owner should use, nor where same
should be purchased.
We do not concede them the right
70 saystos anyone that you must en-
ploy us and us only"
We do not concede the right of the
business agent to graft upon the con-
tractor or owner, or to subject them
to annoyance and financial loss to en-
force an unjust demand.
The closed shop policy means abso-
lutte tyranny and is wholly repugnant
10 the American idea of personal lib
erty.
No one has a quarrel with union
ism or union principles; 1t is the abuse
of union principles by INSCRIPTIONS
men within the union who are drunk
with their power that the quarrel is
with
Under the open shop policy the
unions would still be maintained and
no thought would be given towards
the curtailment of a single privilege or
right which belongs to them.
No quarrel ever arises between union
labor and the employers except when
union labor tries to usurp the privi-
lege which belongs only to Ihe en-
ployer.
Union men should undskstand that
the open shop policy is/not directed
against unionism. and if they Will read
and study the situation for themselves.
instead of being led like sheep to a
slaughter, they will find that this is
absolutely true.
Union labor is in just the same po-
sition as any political party or form
of government which will always be
upheld by the masses only so long as
right and Justice prevails in the ranks
when its power becomes so strong
that 1t assumes the role of dictator.
revolution and overthrow is only a
question of time.
When the unions will understand
that the abuse of unionism as prac-
tfced by unscruplous business agents
and other officials of the union are its
own worst enemies and will get rid of
them and will be governed by fair
minded men who can see two sides to
question. they will have gone a
longer way towards molding public
sentiment In their favor
Many persons seem to think that II
tho employers association would ac-
cede to the demands of the unions and
give up the fight for the open shop.
that 1t would solve the whole situa-
ton and be the means of at once
starting up building activity. The