Evening journal., 1916-05-04
LABOR replies TO
GARRETSON letter
John H. Hickey Says Cen
tral Body is Always for
the "Open Door"
NOT BARRING WORKERS.
FROM WILMINGTON

JOhn RI. hickey plealuthA VI AhN
Central Labor Union, today addressed
TO the EVENING JOURNAL the fol-
lowing reply to c. ID. Garretson, presi-
dent Of the Wilmington Employers
Association. relative to the closed
shop question:
To the Editor OF THE EVENING
JOURNAL:
Sire. ID. Garretson, president OF
the Wilmington Employers Associa-
ton in his public letter, shows very
plainly that while Ne may be in the
right church. he is in the wrong pew
He charges that the Central Labor
Union announced its intention of oX-
cluding non-uniOn men from employ
ment in Wilmington This 'is a de-
liberate false statement as the Cen
tral Labor Union did nothing Of the
kind. Mr.. GarretsOn probably refers
to the Building Trades Council and
had he said so in his letter even then
his statement would have been re-
ceved as a wild throw by the trades
unionists Of Wilmington and vicinity.
Neither the Central Labor Union nor
the Building Trades Council want to
make it hard for the mechanics OF VIII
men jom the only movement that can
and does benefit all workers that Join.
Neither docs the labor movement eN-
cludc some workmen from joining the
union, as does the Wilmington Employ
ers' Association, which not only eX-
cludes some employers of labor from be-
coming members but refused admittance
to many Of such at It's preliminary
meetings.
Mr.. Garretson says the Employers
Association intends 10 maintain an open
shop Tor its members and an "open
door, for the city OF Wilmington. Just
what Mr.. Garetson means by his "open
door" is not exactly understood. but
nevertheless the fact remains that his
association docs conduct It's meetings ON
the 80. r.
The Wilmington Employers Asso-
citation as yet has failed 10 announce
that on Friday afternoon last. at 4
o'clock. II held a meeting (secret. by
the way. as usual. In the DUPONT
/ Building, at which the association
managed to get fourteen merchants OF
1.-THE city as attendants. through tele-
phOning in a rather mysterious style
Some Of the merchants did not know
what sort Of a meeting they we're
coming to. as the telephone invitation
they had received was vague. The
hired agent of the association made
an address on the open shop at this
meeting and told about conditions in
San Francisco. Cal. and Gary, Ind.
and endeaverod 10 show that the mer-
chants Of those two cities had passed
resolutions favoring the open shop
OF course. the public learned moth
ing about this closed door meeting
The Employers Association must have
a lot to hide when il telephones its in
vitations. instead Of writing them Per
haps II fears getting itself down II
writing.
Let Mr. Garretson and his associ-
ates understand that the labor or
CARNATIONS of Wilmington are con
Quoted on a strict business basis
There are no secrets about the meet.
ings, either. When the Central Labor
Union or the Building Trades Coun.
Gil or any local union. desires 10 say
something it does it over the sigma
ture OF a properly designated Officer
and the seal OF the organization Is
attached. There is nothing secret
about the meetings of labor organi
zatiOns, as the press can at any tim'
secure a full report OF the proceed
ings. There is no 'clOsed-dOOr' pol
icy in the constitution of the laboi
union. II is an open and above.
board proposition. It's deeds stand ol
their inertia.
The Central Labor Union is no
hard-pressed for grievances. Its worl
. lis Of recognized benefit to the worker
(organized and unorganized. Of vii
mington. as we'll as to the genera
community. Can the deeds Of the Em
ployers' Association be looked upOl
in the same light by the public?
Il may be President Garretson II
, endeavoring to insert the same policies
into the conduct OF the affairs Of IN
Wilmington Employers Association
as he has done in regard to the Publ
"Futilty' Commission. of which he /
b member commission that has re
manned inactive ever since Mr.. Gar
b retson's association with il in mem
bership.
In closing, let il be remembers
that the labor movement has a plac
e in il for all wOrkers-none are eN
e cluded. It's the open door with US
we will not stand for closed-doOr pol
icies. No telephone Invitations
: statements in writing, backed up b
the organizations.
Thanking you for giving space
this letter and your courteous trea
| ment in giving IL the same urOnliuonC
as you did the letter OF Mr.. Garretsol
! am Sincerely yours.
JOHN n. HICKEY.
President Central Labor Union.
Wilmington. Del. May 4. 1916.