The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-11-18
Labor Unions and Open Shop.

Following what the New York Sun
designated as a discovery" that the
bomb explosion on Wall street be-
tween ]. P. Morgan's bank and the
subtreasury, resulting IN many
! deaths. was the elimination Of a
controversy between labor unions. the
New York Herald has undertaken
! to ascertain the trend of public SEN
timent in favor Of the open shop.
Reports received by the Herald
from more than twenty OF the larger
cities indicate that. regardless Of
whether the movement was sponta-
neous or by concerted action, there is
well-defined and thoroughly or
ganized movement on foot to extend
the open shop policy throughout the
, country.
Labor leaders are not ignorant of
what is transpiring. They are en-
tirely familiar with movements in
this direction in their own localities,
as well as the national movement,
which apparently has been launched
/ on a tremendous scale.
1t is not to be disputed that there
is good deal of revulsion on both
sides of the question. A part of the
trouble is due to radical leaders
among the labor groups, and to the
inordinate greed of some of the lead
ers in business enterprise.
1t is not to be denied that labor
took advantage Of extraordinary de-
mand that prevailed during the past
few years in some cases to uncere-
moniously boost, its wages out of all
sense Of proportion to the amount re-
ceived by persons engaged in equally
responsible and harder work, but who
were not organized.
At the same time the chief adj
versarles of organized labor were
reapihg a harvest of wealth because
Of the demand for their commodi-
ties. We can not see that there was
any difference in the degree of culpa-
bility on either side, and it is not be-
cause Of sympathy for either of these
sxtrepes that the public deplores the.
advent Of an agitation that threatens
to be the forerunner of an industrial
war that would contribute nothing
to the public welfare.
1t remains to be seen which side
will gain popular approval. II it is
the purpose of organized labor to
take advantage Of whatever. oppor-
tunity that can be grasped for the
|furtherance Of the welfare of its own
particular group. without reference to
Its effect upon the country as a
whole, or upon other working classes,
lit can not expect to receive popular
approval in the pursuance of such a
lcourse.
II 1t Is the purpose of the or
ganized employers throughout the
country TO take advantage Of the
apparent lull in business activity,
(which warrants them in taking the
risk Of closing down temporarily,
!. without reference to the hardship
and disastrous consequences that
Twill be visited upon thousands of en-
Iployes and their families. they can
not expect either sympathy or public
support in such a crusade.
Obviously, If the working man has
Ia right to organize for the promo
ton of his welfare and for the pro-
lection Of his trade, the employer,
Etoo, has a right to organize for the
purpose of promoting efficiency and
ECONOMY, and increasing the quality
:of his output.
On the face of it there is no logical
excuse for conflict between the
two interests. If there is one it will
receive its impetus from selfish men
on both sides. and all the others
will be made to suffer the penalty
iof their indiscretion.
Unfortunately. the pendulum has
a habit of swinging from one ex-
IRENE to the other. and. as a rule,
the side that has the advantage Is
too prone to use it relentlessly.
+, There is no doubt that the railroad
.brotherhoods taken as an example,
have contributed more to the eff
cheney, economy and intelligent op-
seration than all the wisdom Of the
railroad presidents combined.
+, Not so MANY years ago the length
.of service, industry and faithful APP
plication to duty counted for moth
ing in the experience of a locomotive
engineer. With each change in Of
.ficials there we're promotions based
upon favoritism and prejudice, En-
gineers went from one road to an
other following the superintendent,
who would discharge employees in
order to make places for those who
had served with him on other roads.
There was no way in which an en-
gineer could guarantee the per
manency of his position.
: Strong organizations grew out of
this system of injustice. and while
the organizations were primarily in
tended for the protection Of their
members. they have made a splen-
did contribution to the railway SER
vice. The same is true with many
other organizations that might be
named.
The danger that confronts the
public is that in the event Of the
nation wide movement for the open
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