The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-09-18
The CLOSED SHOP
Stands For Fairness and Indus
trial Peace
AN EQUITABLE ARRAN CEMENT.

favor by its adherents, but against 1t
by its adversaries. and consequently in
a discussion of this most important
question we are led to a consideration
of the reason for union organizations.
Let us see. Broadly speaking. we can
divide the reasons for unions into three
classes:
First.-To secure better wages
Second.-To secure shorter hours of
labor.
Third.--To make employment a GER
tainty for members.
The balance of reasons, such as sani-
tary working conditions. the union
label. more light In the factory. appren
dceShip rules. etc, can all be classed
under and as auxiliary to the three
classes set out above.
The third reason assigned namely
ito make employment a certainty for
members" is the one with which we
are concerned in this article. The ques
ton Of wages. shorter hours. etc. is al
ways open to Cancellation and arbitra-
ton. and the representatives of the
these controverted questions, but there
can be no arbitration of the closed shop
proposition. for the reason that on this
feature of unionism the men, as body
must stand or fall
The trade unions in the first instance
were developed among the workers
who in desperation were forced into
nj r,t Of hn tsrA1t 14l-
me" stores, the sweatshop conditions.
the low wages and long hours I'M
der which they were compelled to la
Dor. After organization they first said,
I'VE want the pluck me- stores abol-
ished:" this was accomplished. Then
they said. We want more sanitary sur
roundings during working hours" they
secured that. They then demanded
shorter hours of daily labor and Sc
cured them. And then from time TO
time they asked for and. usually after
an industrial battle, they secured more
pay.
But even these advantages did not
eliminate the ills to which they were
heirs. for the reason that the employ
whom they were pleased to call "agita
tors and employing nonunion pace
makers" to disrupt the conditions the
trade unionists had gained through
their collective efforts. Realizing this
the leaders very wisely came TO the
conclusion that to remedy that evil il
would be necessary to evolve some
plan only roarD hars of or
ganized crafts would be employed by
any certain firm or contractor. and this
thought led to the birth Of the greatest
industrial weapon ever placed in the
hands of organized labor. 1t is, gener-
ally speaking. the dove Of peace,
good will and fair treatment" on the
part of both the employer and EN-
ployee. and if rightly used by the par
ties to the contract it means more in
dustrial peace than can be secured by
any other means or methods.
In innumerable decisions handed
down by the courts it has been held
that the men have a right TO organize.
ask for better conditions, ask for high
err wages. ask for more sanitary sur
roundings, or ask for anything within
reason to improve their moral. intel
lectual, physical and social welfare
The courts have further said that the
employers have a right to organize and
combat these demands and seek to get
the men for the lowest wage possible.
to work the man under conditions
named by them. Now then. this being
the case and both parties being legally
organized. is there any man or set of
men who are so devoid or deficient of
gray matter" that it will say an agree
ment entered into by these two con-
tracing parties for the closed shop,
wherein the employer obligates himself
| TO hire none but members OF the union,
and the men obligate themselves to
work for him for given compensa-
ton and to furnish the employer with
all the men he needs from their ranks
Is "criminalT
Scores and scores of decisions have
been handed down by the courts touch
ing these points, and II the men have
| the undisputed right to do this then 1t
cannot be contradicted that the en-
pioyers have right to organize to
combat this, and If this condition arises
land let me add that IT does frequently,
then what Is to prevent these two
parties from getting together and max
ing an agreement which will insure
industrial peace. whereby the employ
er agrees TO hire none but membeH
Of the organization, pay certain wages.
work certain hours and the men agree
to work for the employer and under
those conditions and to furnish him all
the help he needs from their ranks and
according to those terms! Any ICON
spiracy" OF "criminality" about that?
We most earnestly contend not, and
| all the specious and verbose criticism
| INDUCED In by our adversaries will not
and cannot change the equitability OF
such n contract-Joseph Owen In Car.
Denter
| Dada. EI.et nfG.ar~