The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-09-20
WILSON DEFINES
LAB0R'S POLICY
Continued From Page l.,

uiS>uSo 1Cp1lcN Tie ScOI cId1y.
Asked his opinion Of the l. w. w.
he said:
lit would not be proper for me to
express an opinion of that organiza-
ton for it is part of the duty of my
+ department to act as mediator in labor
disputes. I may be called upon some
time to act in a case in which the I.
". W. is involved and should not
therefore express any opinion as to
the merits of a possible party in pos
sible dispute"
Opposes Sabotage.
What do you think of sabotage ~
was asked.
Il am opposed to sabotage in any
form and also to syndicalism So
called" was the flat answer.
Asked his opinion of the demand Of
the unions for a closed shop, he said:
There is seldom such a thing as
a closed shop OF an open shop. There
is the union shop and the non union
shop. When an employer insists on
what he calls an open shop he almost
invariably makes it a non-union shop.
I do not consider the union shops
closed shop in the sense that any COM
petent workman is barred from work.
ing there. Most Of the improvements
in labor conditions have been brought
about by the efforts of organized la
Dor. Therefore the union is justified
in saying to man who wishes to
work in union shop and enjoy the
improved conditions brought about by
union efforts; pay your dues, give us
your financial assistance in return for
the advantages we have obtained for
You. If you are willing to do this
then you are entitled to share those
advantages.
Il hold that it is no more than just.
Publicity Great Cure.
publicity is the greatest cure and
the greatest deterrent of labor ills in
the world" continued the secretary,
discussing the recent West Virginia
mine troubles. LAS the result of the
senatorial investigation of the West
Virginia trouble the dispute has been
settled, the miners have obtained
nearly every thing they asked and I
am sure 'the mine owners will be
very careful in the future. The tactics
they pursued were detrimental to
It was suggested that the Socialists
claim credit for bringing about the
senatorial investigation of the West
Virginia trouble.
That is not so,'' said the secre-
tary. The original resolution for an
investigation was introduced aby my
self, on Aug. 10, 1912. 1 discussed
| the troubles before the public meet
ings in Washington and in company
with President Gompers of the A. Il.
of L. visited Senator Borah and laid
our documents before him. He in
troduceG a resolution for an investi-
cation in January. It was not acted
on and when the Sixty third congress
came in representatives of the United
Mine Workers succeeded in getting
the resolution through. .,
:: Investigations Are Good.
Investigations are a good thing.
f. The best@regulator of private action is
publicity. The labor movement is a
movement of large numbers. The
meetings of the A. F. of l.. are. pub
|; lie. There is no secrecy 1t is i'm
possible where large numbers are in
volved. With the employers it is diff
leicnt IHey can WORK Ill secret.
Therefore the need for public in.
vestigations.
&<''At present We have two men from
the department at Calumet, Walter
B. Palmer: and john A. Moffitt. I do
not know whether l will make a per-
sonal tvisit to that district. 1t depends
on developments.
With the exception of the Calumet
trouble and pending dispute in the
gold fields of Colorado labor condi-
tons are generally good. Organized
Ia Dor sis pursuing what l call a prog
ressive policy" 49,
, Asked what he thought Of the Null
hall investigation in view of the fact
that Col. Mulhall testified that Secre-
tary> Wilson when member of con.
gress was opposed by. the Manufac-
turers' association as chairman Of the
house committee on labor, the secre-
tary said he die not care At this time
Ito express an opinion.