The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1919-10-24
OPEN SHOP OR
CLOSED SHOP /!

Keep. your eyes on Washington,
Tor ther at this time Is being threshed
out the paramount question Of the
hour. 1t is in fact the most far
reaching problem in America since
he emancipation.
1t Isl not any piece Of legislation
shatsis in the way of enactment. Leg
slation of a kind has been oyerdone
anyhow in state as we'll as in nation
What is needed in that respect is less
aw enactment and more law enforce
nent. There are sufficient laws on
,ur statute books now, If justly and
lnpartially enforced, to secure the
ights, safety and well-being of every
slement composing our government.
Neither is it the covenant ef Til
.eague Of Nations; for the League d
Nations, conceived ill idealism am
,orn Of universal desire for peace
egenerated. IN the making Of th.
oyenant into u scramble on the par
of each nation involved to serve ant
eeure its own selfish interests, thai
u, every nation except the Unite
States.
Al league Of nations, founded OF
Just and equitable principles. woule
undoubtedly help and safeguar
America, and every nation concerned
but the. makeshift now before the sen.
ate Is. so full of unrighteous arrange
.ments and imposes such peace-de-
troying obligations that it makes TO
var instead of against war. To tht
United States the league as propose
siyes nothing then, not even the dc
ired security from war, while on the
other hand it exacts much from her
The United States does not need the
league as now constructed, but the
league does ned th unitd States with
its wealth and resources. For that
reason the fear expressed by some
that w will be isolated If we do not
accept the covenant as drawn is not
we'll founded; and it will be seen that
no matter what changes or reserva-
tions the senate makes, the other
league members will adjust them
selves to them.
But. league or no league, the most
vital question Of all to us and te
American, If not to the world, remains
ito be solved. 1t is the question out oi
which grew the great. II is the ques.
ion that now causes the worldwide
unrest. 1t is the question that musi
be answered and answered right be
ore there can be any hope Of lasting
,eacc.
1t is the question of industry ant
ommerce, or to bring it closer, o1
apital and labor. Therefore, say
hat the National Industrial Confer
,nce now sitting at Washington |!
wrestling with the most momentou
problem before the world today. Tha
fOAIGAGiAGs &OlikyO6lt III NitIlG GlN
nent, capital, defiant and at bay
organized labor, power conscious an,
aggressive, and the public helplessl.
ooking on, not only affords a mos
iramatjc spectacle, but whatever pol
cy II any it adopts to be pursued b.
md between capital and labor will di
rectly affect every industry and ever.
home in America. At this writing TIL
conference stands deadlocked on TIL
conflicting demands or capital an,
|labor
Even before this comes from th
press the conference may have dis
banded in hopeless disagreement. An
what is the seemingly irreconcilibl
issue? The isue is clearly drawn. |
| is the open shop against the close
shop, closed shop under the nice
and more fair sounding name of "col
lective bargaining" Uages could b
written to explain what the open sho
lis and what collective bargainin
neans,but reduced to simplicity, tn
open shop would permit employer an
employee to bargain unhindered wit
each as individuals as to terms Of en-
ployment, while the closed shop D
collective bargaining would comps
employers to deal with their employe
Ia groups such as unions only. Thel
can really be no question Of the rigE
of. the open shop. 1t is the mature
zaethed of human dealings that i naa
\