The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-09-18

have returned to work under open
shop conditions, although the strikes
have not been officially called off.
Union Activities.
The organized movement that has
been going on for the past year,
throughout the country, for the estab-
lishn1ent of open shop conditions in
industry, and the great success that
this movement has met with has
alarmed organized labor and impelled
it to take action to counteract the
open shop movement.
The annual convention of the Min
nesota Federation of Labor, recently
held at Roche ster, adopted a resolu-
ton appointing a special committee
to devise ways and means to counter
act the open shop movement and to
build up the union organizations.
In pursuance of this plan, Machin-
lists union No. TIA hel da meeting in
this city Aug. 4 for the purpose of in
augurating Il drive for new members,
which was addressed by Organizer
Harley F. Nickerson. and all other
unions throughout the state, it is un-
derstood, will take similar action.
1t is apparent. therefore, that it is
no time for business men to let up on
the fight for the open shop, but their
efforts should be redoubed.
How to Make Duluth an Open
Shop Town.
There is only one way in which Du-
luth can be made an open shop town
and that is in the same way that made
Detroit and Minneapolis open shop
toWns,-through a strong, active,
amply financed business mems organ
lzation, along the lines Of our Citi-
zens Alliance.
There is only one way in which the
Citizens Alliance organization can be
made a complete success and that is
by Inducing every substantial business
man, or concern, to join and support
1t, financially and morally
The strongest argument that can be
made to induce business men to join
the alliance is to convince them that
the members of the alliance not only
believe in open-shop principles, but
practice them. and that they will
trade with and support the friends of
the open shop, rather than with it's
enemies, or with tha- large class of
and gather toll from all classes.
Some are Afraid.
The chief difficulties which the
writer has encountered in inducing
business men to join the organization
Is the claim that. if they do so, they
will incur the enmity and lose the
trade of organized labor and its
friends, while. on the other hand, the
individual members of the alliance
would continue TO do business without
any regard as to whether they dealt
with the friends or the enemies of the
open shop.
I have found this particularly true
!, In the building trades lines. Many OF
the members of the Builders Elk.
change, when requested to join the al
lance, have justified their refusal
upon the ground that many membeHs
We're dealing with closed-shop con-
Germs. and have cited many instances
where members of the alliance had
let contracts for building construction
or repairs, to closed-shop concerns
If the business men of this city
really desire to bring about open shop
conditions here, they will have to dis.
closed-shop contractors and concerns
If openshop conditions are desira BILE
and of that there can be no doubt, the
only logical and consistent course to
pursue is to refuse to have any deal
ings with those who are supporting
either actively or passively, he closed
shop policy, even though, at times
this may result in temporary loss The
permanent gain. in establishing open
shop conditions, generally will much
more than offset any temporary ad.
vantage that may be obtained in en-.
terlng into a closed-shop deal.
Yes, and Anarchy, Too.
Minneapolis, which has been more
successful than any other city in the
northwest in bringing about open
shop conditions, has perisistently pur-
sued the policy Of urging its members
3 s<.5. TIA