The Washington herald., 1918-06-06
Unfair, Unjust and Unwise.

This is not the way win the war:
That employees shall ask for recognition OF
a union which has not been recognized before the
war"
laboring men OF Minnesota by the Public Safety
Commission OF that State. The commission was
amounted by Gov J. A. A. Burnquist, and is re-
movable by him at any time.
Gov Burnquist has been asked by the
National War Labor Board to explain why the
commission took itself authority to make laws
iorbidding workingmen who now belong to labor
organizations who may become members from
asking recognition OF their unions. In other words
why the commission insists that the open shop
shall continue to exist in Minnesota in all places
where it existed before the began
Iont Chairmen TAFT (Yes the former President
OF the United StatesD and Frank P. Walsh OF the
National War Labor Board. have announced the
boards decision investigate the Minnesota COM
missions arbitrary anti-labor action.
The Minnesota Public Safety Commission has
gone farther in setting up laws OF its own than any
other State council Of defense. Indeed, it has
practically made itself the States legislative body
and the governor has acquiesced
The ostensble for this unfair attempt to
infringe upon the constitutional rights OF working
men, the commission announces, is to speed up
work
This in face OF the fact that war work done by
union labor has been done faster and better than
in open shops.
The commissions ruling extends to all work
ingmen and all places OF employment, and includes
individuals and shops engaged in production OF
nonwar products, to the making OF tin whistles
II is nothing more or less than desperate
deavor of big business interests opposed to the
principle OF labor organization to halt the rising
tide OF union labor No legislature. duly elected by
and responsible 10 the people could have been
coaxcd, bribed or threatened into passing such
law, and we do not believe that Gov. Burnquist
would have the courage to Sign such legislative
act If it had been passed by the Legislature of his
State
From such step this same commission might
take unto itself the authority to forbid all meetings
of labor unions and the admission of members
But even though the commission ventures no
further in its anti-labor warfare. it will long be
remembered for this autocratc, anti-American rul-
ing, both unfair and lawless.
1t it necessary the commission pre-
tends believe, to increase United States war pro-
duction that would be excuse enough, for Ameri-
cans will do anything and sacrifice everything to
bring final victory in the world war raging "ovcr
there" But it will not do this Such commits
sion-made law" will slow up production. 1t will
SOW widely seeds of discomfort among the hum
dreds of thousands of Minnesota citizens who toll
with their hands.
ANY action which tends to stir up trouble and
foment discord in the ranks of that willing and
superbly able body OF American union labor is pro-
German and disloyal. 1t weakens the morale of the
nation How can we ask labor to work and fight
and give to wiring justice and liberty from the auto
Gratis of Potsdam while we allow appointed COM
mission OF homegrown autocrats to deny justice
and liberty workers heres
1t is evident that in the commissions over