New-York tribune., 1919-10-25
Stand
Is Upheld by
Steel Institute
Consinucd from, rag. j

included several othsrs, some of whom
Mt least should hove been with the
iabor group. In selecting the public
group there were overlooked thousands
OF vocations, professions. artisans and
other lines Of industry, all Of whom
are more or loss affected by the cost
Of production, tho expense Of living,
And, therefore, the control and con.
d lions of both labor and capital"
After reviewing the early history Of
the steel strike. Mr.. Gary said it Ind
not come about as the result Of any
claim by any workman fer higher
wages or better treatment, nor for any
-eason except The desire and effort OF
union leaders to unionize the iron and
steel industry.
""ithout discussing for 4he present
the merit CT dcmert of labor unions"
said Mr.. Gary, AT may be observed that
union leaders openly state that they
seek to unionize, or "a they say, or
gnnizc. the whole industry of TIE
country. Those who do not contract
or deal With unions. although they do
not combat them. insist nron atsolute
freedom to both employer and employed
in regard 20 employment and the man
agoTrent OF the shops.
"The non-union employers and ern-
noyees both stsnd for the oper shop.
The unions argue Cor the closed shop,
or. as the leaders now insist, the right
Of collective bargaining through labor
union leaders,. Every proposition con
tonded FOR by the labor unions st the
..ational Industrial Conference at
~ ashington led to the domination of
,he shoDs and Of the men by the union
labot leaders. Every position taken by
the other side centered or the open
shop.
For Public 70 Decide
"This is the great question confront
ing the American people, and, in fact,
so per cent os labor in thia country Is
no>1-union. It is for them and the en-
rloyers generally and tho large clagg
Of men and women who are not. strictly
speaking. employers or woge earners.
to determine whether or not it is best
for the whole commurity to have in
dustry totally organized
"Judging by exne ricrce. We believe it
is for The best. rteres. of the employer
and employee ond The general public to
have q business conducted on the basis
Of what we term the open shop thus
permit t'irg any man TO engaEe in any
line OF employment. or any employ At
to secure the services OF my work ran
on terms agreed DetWcan the two,
! whether the workman is or is not con-
nected with q labor union. The verde.
i Of the people at large will finally de-
, tiGe this question. anh the verdict " j
! be riGnt.
II link .ho fundamental question
| Submitted TO the confr renee ut Wash
ington for recommendation TO II Z ls-
tries was the open shop. The union
labor advocates stand FOR collective
hsrssiNine through the unions. The
ctho.s favor collective bargaining
through Representatives selected 81
the empiovcos themselves from theil
own number.
Unions Had Single View
"All through the contere,,cn. when
ever the question os collective bargain
ing was discussed, it was apparent that
The union labor leaders would not sup
port any resolution in favor Of col.
lcctive bargaining except on the basis
thnt collective bargaining meant bar
gaining through labor un.ons
"As further evidence OF the attitude
Of the union labor leaders it NAV bc
mentioned that in the twelve ponj
published by the leaders, who wore
conducting The strike, they included
and insisted upon the following:
"'Abolition Of company urions.'"
nv uilCNS ti6lH tHAl tOtltV VI ~
b. mining through different forms o.
shop organization mnds up Of the en-
pioyees tends to limit the extension
Of unions by increasing thcir numbsrs
The non-nnioN employees and thci,
employers Insist that collective har
gaining through labor unions mcars
that employees sre forced 20 join ths
unions IA otherwise they could not be
represented So II Ia perfectly clcAl
that the whole argument returns Il
she main proposition Of open or cioscC
shop"
Sees Fright Future
In closing, Mr.. Gary complimente,
his associates upon copdit ons prevail
ing III their Industry and cxpresset
confidence in the Industrial outlool
for This country.
Il conceive IL TO be proper" he SAID
"n this family OF industrial workers
consisting ci 300 members Of Tho
most important basic industry, TO clan
/ hat we have demonstrated in practic,
that we arc on plane which Is hrhe
and better than ever before occupied
! by this industry In this country; that