The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-11
$2O,O0O,O0O TO
FIGHT OPEN SHOP
A. f. of l.. to Raise Vast Fund
to War on Alleged Con-
spiracy.
SEE EMPLOYERS THREAT
Plan Charged to Force Down
Wages by Fear Of Tn
employment.
SEE EMPLOYERS THREAT

With approximately 100000 men
and women out of work throughout
the country and unemployment in
creasing daily labor leaders announced
last night a plan to raise a 20,000,000
war chest to fight a conspiracy" to
put the country on an open shop basis.
Labor they said. is going TO fight the
movement to the last ditch. The ex-
ecutive council of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor will meet to-day in
Washington. with Samuel Gompers in
the chair, to plan details of the great
defence fund, it was stated.
Unemployment at the present time,
the greatest it has been since the
winter OF 1913, is part of the con
spiracy." the labor leaders state. There
Is no justification for the slackening
up OF production at this time and
there can be no other reason for IL,
they charge, than a desire to increase
unemployment and force labor to ac-
cept a reduced wage. Capital, they
say. wishes to saddle the losses that
have been incurred by the decline Of
prices on the working men and women
OF the country.
Ernest Bohm, corresponding secretary
OF the Central Federated Union, is au-
thority for the statement that labor sees
in the stand OF the clothing manufac-
turers for n restoration OF piecework an
organized plot OF capital to sweep away
one OF the bulWarks OF the unions, which
ftafi ton mud
propaganda work. Mr.. Rohm says the
clothing manufacturers are merely a
dummy for big business. and that be-
hind their pieceworl5 demand is the open
shop the arch enemy Of organized labor.
Plot Alleged.
There is no doubt but there IS
plot 70 restore the open shop" Mr. Bohm
said Capital wants the organized work.
ers of the country 20 give up what they
have gained through years OF fighting.
While we are not affiliated with the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers Of
America, who are affected by the stand
of the clothing manufacturers. we see
that their fight is, In fact. our fight. and
that the demands made upon them are
merely the forerunner OF demands big
business will make on US.
"Mr. Gompcrs warned against the
plans cf big business TO reduce wages
and introduce tho open shop when lac
chartered the Central Trades and Labor
Council. which will start It's activities
next month since that time we have
been Issuing similar warnings 20 tho
unions, and even before Mr.. Gompers
issued the warning we had been telling
the unions to be on their guard We tolo
them TO raise the largest treasures pos
sible and to recruit as many new men,
bers as possible
The Executive Council at It's meeting
tomorrow will take up the question of
resisting tho aggressions OF big business
Interests in their efforts TO reduce wages
and declare the open shop. i under
stand the council will instruct tho va
rious unions not 20 accept wage reduc-
tions. " IS The policy Of the American
Federation ~ Labor 20 resist reduction
and 20 prevent the open shop system,
and this policy will be carried out TO
The letter hy the local unions here and
throughout the country"
A-e.sment 20 ne Levied.
Mr. Bohm declared labor will need a
great defence fund for the fight against
the open shop. lie said an assessment
will be levied on the 100000 members
of the American Federation Of Labor.
a vast amount OF money! can be raised
in this way. Mr. Bohm said. IL was his
opinion that the council for starter
probably would ask fund Of $50. .o0o.-
600.
I'VE have received so many warnings
and so much information about the
plans Of big business interests relative 10
the American or open shop plan which
is 20 be introduced on national scale.
he continued. that We arc now thor
oughly alive to the situation and will bo
on our guard. our defence like the
plans OF capital will be conducted on
national scale"
ne said that there are between 10000
and i75.000 union men and women out
Of employment at the presen time In
u Is city. The clothing Industry alone
has $4,000 out OF work The textile In
1ustry Is virtually AT q standstili. Mr.
Bohm said and 1900 Of tho $1,000
cloth hat and cap makers have been
aid of. The building trades are also
badly crippled. AZ best Mr. Bohm could
estimate there arc 600. 900 persons. or
Coatblasd oH S0Uoxh Fese.