The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-28
The Story of Duluth and the Open
ShOp-And Few Words More


Duluth Exhibits--ResOlutiO Of Archf-
tects
In conclusion and as exhibits In tbs
case of the Open Shop vs. the Closed
Shop in the city of Duluth, the follow
ing are submitted:
% Resolution passed by the Architects
association of Duluth, December T. 1907
Whereas, the question of closed or open
shop policy has been forced upon the
community and the Builders exchange
backed by other representative organiza
tions of this city, has declared for tn.
open shop; and
Whereas. citizens and architects we
are closely Interested in the building up
of our city and in the promotion of the
best interests of the same, and believ.
ing that this can best be accomplished
by adopting the open shop policy, be II
Resolved, that we heartily endorse the
stand taken by the Duluth Builders ex-
change, and pledge ourselves to support
their efforts In behalf of this movement
to the full extent of our ability.
Resolution Passed by Mass Meeting
(9 Resolution passed by the open shor
mass meeting of the citizens of Duluth
December 4, 1907.
Whereas, the question of open or closet
shop in Duluth has been squarely raised
and a struggle for the supremacy of one
or the other is now on; and
Whereas. it Is universally recognized
that the closed shop tends to build up a
tyrannical arbitrary rule by the unrea
sonable elements in labor restricting, re-
straining and injuring all lines of indus
try and other business enterprises; and
Whereas, the community under the
closed shop Is seriously handicapped in
its growth and development in competi-
tion with other cities, and its prosperity
materially lessened and
Whereas, the community maintaing the
open shop has an immense advantage In
competing with closed shop cities for new
manufacturing Industries and in attract
ing outside capital, the best class Of
skilled labor and business enterprises of
all kinds. and enables its manufacturers.
merchants and business men In their
competition in similar lines in other cities
to compete under the most favorable
conditions; and
Whereas, we recognize that present
financial conditions make 1t wise and i'm
perative upon us as practical business
men to remove all handicap and estab-
lish and maintain In Duluth the most
favorable conditions obtainable, in order
to take advantage OF the future oppor-
tunities for the growth and development
of our city to the greatest extent; there-
fore, be II
Resolved, at this meeting of citizens
of Duluth. that a positive and absolute
StdHQ IOT LHt open SnOD De maze Ill every
line of business, industry and enterprise
in this city, for all time, and that we,
as citizens, assist in establishing and
maintaining that policy In every way
possible and lend our active. moral and
financial support to said movement; and
be 1t further ..
Resolved. that we urge the Duluth
Commercial club to appoint permanent
open shop committee to take an active
part in the present fight and to have
charge of and maintain that policy in the
future. to keep in close touch with labor
conditions from time to time in this city
to see that free labor get fair compensa-
tion and just treatment, and do all
things necessary and expedient for the
In this city.
Conditions After n Year and a Half OF
Open Shop
(3) Report of labor committee of the
Builders exchange. May /, 1909. after q
year and a half under the open shop
in the city of Duluth.
Duluth Builders exchange
Gentlemen: Your labor committee held
meeting at noon, April 20, with the
following attendance:
The principles and wage scale adopted
by the exchange in the spring of 1908,
having been referred to this committee
were duly considered, and tie following
statement and recommendation is sub
mitted for your approval:
The Duluth Builders exchange has on.
Grated under the open shop policy In the
building trades for about year and d
half. That period has generally through
out the country been marked by busi-
ness depression bordering upon panic
which has resulted in falling prices for
materials and tendency to considerably
reduce wages in lnany industries. The
building industry In other cities in that
time has been substantially OF stand
still. with a large percentage of me-
chanics unemployed. During this same
period, however, the building industry
OF Duluth shows a gratifying increase.
both In volume of work and number of
men employed Although hundreds of
| mechanics were brought in at the begin
ming of the open shop movement, who
remained after the local union men re-
| turned to work on the open shop basis,
| there has been plenty of work for all
! In fact, without the new men. the in
crease of work could not have been cared
| for.
| The wages of first class mechanics un-
] der the open shop policy have not been