The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-10-11
AN oRJKoT IEsso N
IN THE OPEN SHOP
BY MILAN ~. RUSSELL


! I ! / = - ~.
A non-union contractor. who was .,
flery agttator against union shops, one
day, while excavating for q building.
walked into . quicksand deposit.
OF course he screamed for help
when he discovered himself to be
sinking. and extrication Impossible by
his own efforts. Then he commenced
giving directions for his own rescue.
TO the first arrival he cried, Quick
read the riot act!''' i: II
But" said the man, 'tthere is no.
body to read 1t TOT"
Never mind" said the victim, ut
might scare somebody"
Better not scare anyone of the
Job; get them together, united, to-
help you" was the returned warning.
"Oh. stuff" yelled he in the pit,
with an oath or two. run for the
sher1ff. Tell i'm to swear In some de-
puties at once!' s% III .ss:.&f. 81 b
Sir, the sherifr is out, serving an
injunction on washerwoman who re-
fused to use a trust brand OF starch
last week." 3; -. r. .% )
Then telegraph the governor to
call On the state militia! This thing
must be settled. cr something will
go to the devil!'' !: .s ..-..
His nearer agreed with him some
what. still he demonstrated persua-.
sively, saying: ~
The state militia are all at sum-.
mer target practice. The governor
expects to need them this fall to-
open the mines for winter work."
"Oh," groaned the despairing con-
tractor, after all my speeches and
articles on civil government and ut
terances declaring the acute menace
Of labor unions to freedom. am to
go down, to perish thus? Well, tell
them at Battle Creek I died a mar
tyr. for the principle of the open
shop!" a%r. J.. -s.
YES" said the newer arrival,
you are in an open shop right now,
and it will take organization to get
You out alive! II you had been en-
ploying union men this death-hole
would have had q warning up, read
lux DOn QatrOnlze. --, .s-.. -...-
BY that time the man in the sand
was too near swallowed to further
Interfere. But some practical men
had arrived on the scene. men used
to cooperation and direction, union
men in fact. and men of action.
Soon some ttmbers were across the
treacherous spot, on either side of
the disappearing man, the end resting
on sure foundations.
Then the regcuers walked out on
them and quickly dashed the sinking
body to the crosspieces, so that It
could sink no more. -. 49, -
That is always the first step of
united" efforts Of that kind, to stop
the dragging down and out of life.
The rest was done with some deltber-
ation., !E! .:5ss 81
Jaek-screwa were brought next, and
set under each end OF the supporting
pieces, when willing muscle was lent
together to lit t hShelpless man, who
had by that time tainted. and who
remained unconscious to tho organ
ICED process Of saving him,
The turning Of the screws gradu-
ally pulled him up and finally out,
He wac rescued and administered to
by waiting physicians and experienced
hands that had been called.
Restored at last to full conscious
ness and to logical reasoning, he
asked: .." s..~>
= What power got me out Of that
hole?" = -
Union labor" said an attendant
who knew. e ~
And didn't any idea come from
Battle Creek. after printing all my
riot about closed shops?" he in
quired. T.. :l'5:s&-.-.r
NO." was the answer.
Then, by old Harry" said he. I'll
Join a labor -union!'' "