The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-05-25
Final Choice,

Final Choice.
That is the final choice for those
anti-union corporations in each case.
They can let the unions come in and
organize their plants, with the prospect
of an increasing degree: Of control Of
the industry by the workers, or they
can see the government take charge
Of the industry >oi
Before the Western union case is
settled, it is probable that the Wall
street financiers and lawyers, who
make up it's board of directors will
be called here to tell where they
stand. Among the directors are Vim
cent Astor, William K. Vanderbilt,
Jr., Percy A. Rockefeller and Chaln-
cey Depew.
"Our case has been kept clean as
a whistle" said S. ]. Konenkamp, in.
ternational president of, the CONNER
cial Telegraphers, who represents the
men before the War Labor board.
I'VE ask simply that the first principle
set forth by the employers and en-
ployes' spokesman in the board, and
Endorsed by President Wilson, be en-
forced. We ask for the right to be-
long to union. On that point the
company must either accept trade
unionfsm or public ownership.
"You will notice that ever since the
United States Steel corporation was
formed, 1900, and set out with the
policy of utterly crushing union labor
wherever it could extend it's power,
the biggest aggregations of industrial
capital, in the country have taken the
same stand. The steel companies, the
copper companies, the biggest public
Utility syndicates, such as Stone &
Webster and the Byllesbys, and such
huge industrials as the American To-
bacco company-all of them have
fought labor to a finish. The bigger
the corporation, the less chance for
trade unionism. There was one ex-
ception, and that was the railroad
train service, where the four railroad
brotherhoods had grown too strong to
be shaken loose, before the general
anti-union policy was established.
But the railroads always made war
on trade unions in their shops and in
the rest of their business.
1--WE look upon this National War
Labor board, with its set Of funda-,
mental principles, as the one way by
which the men employed by these big
corporations can become organized,
Once we are able to get unions started
in the steel and other industries. we
will be able to hold our own. If the:
western Union refuses to let us Or
ganize, can see no settlement short
of government ownership and opera
tion of the wires. We have not the
slightest objection to that"
Steel Employees Next.
Workers in the Bethlehem steel.
plant have brought in their grievance
the right to organize-and it will
be taken up just as the telegraphers
case has been taken up. The Birming--
ham steel mems case is in the same
situation. Everything really rests on
the outcome OF the Western Union
Telegraph affair. The employers can.
take their choice between agreeing
that their employees may organize or.
seeing Uncle Sam take charge Of their
property. =.
That last choice does not please the
steel magnates at all. They have OBJ
served, with feelings which they try
desperately to conceal, that Uncle Sam
is showing no signs Of going out Of:
the railroad business after the war.
He is just as likely>to remain in the
steel business, and in any other bust-
ness into which the pigheadedness Of
any group Of obstructive citizens maS:
force him. .sz... z.. 5s=