The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-09
OPEN SHOP WAR
CRISIS IMPENDS
Whole Midwest Soon To Be
Labor Battle Ground.
First Gun Fired by Illinois En-.
ployers' Association.
BIG COMBINE OF EMPLOYERS
All Conditions of Labor Surplus
Against the Unions. l
Workers Leaders Say Price
Cuts Not Big Enough.

Washington. Nov. 9.-Labor's fight
against any attempts to reduce wages
faster than the cost of living goes
down, will be planned when the exec
utive council of the American Fedora
ton of Labor meets here Thursday.
Frank Morrison, secretary of the fed
GRAFTON. said today.
Labor will fight any attempts to
reduce living Standards" Morrison
said.
Labor leaders here believe big em-
ployers are combining to cut wages
and esta the open shop.
The contention of laboring men is
That prices have not been cut far
enough to warrant wage reductions.
Jett Lauck. economic expert, TODAY
declared living cost reductions too
slight to justify any reduction in
wages"
Lauck quoted representatives to the
national industrial board, organized bv
manufacturers, which show. he said,
that in October retail prices declined
an average of per cent as compared
with September.
Industrial War Impends.
Chicago, Nov. s.-Rumblines of inn
pending Industrial war were heard In
Chicago and the midwest TODAY as em-
ployers and union men prepared for a
clash over the closed shop PROPOSE
ton.
Employers of Illinois went on record
recently as favoring the open shop.
which gives non-union men the right
TO work alongside of organized labor.
when the Illinois Manufacturers' asso-
citation. in a formal resolution. en-
oorseo the open shop and promised aid
10 any of its members who sta rted a
tight against the closed shop.
Whole Midwest Stirred.
Reports reaching labor federation
headquarters here from other indus
trial centers in the midwest indicate
tnat employers are contemplating taxi
ing similar action as that taken by the
Illinois Manufacturers' association
Those in touch with the labor situa-
ton hold that the fight between en-
ployers and labor will come to a head
TINS winter, pointing to the fact that
the supply of labor is now greater than
the demand and that these conditions
make a clash advantageous for the
employers.
Fitzpatrick Is Aroused.
John Fitzpatrick, president of the
Chicago Federation of Labor, and
recognized leader of liberal labor
forces in the midwest. today Joined
other trade unionists in expressing
himself as expecting an open shop
fight this winter. Fitzpatrick said la
Dor was prepared TO go the limit In
fighting an attempt to install the open
shop.
Ever since American labor won the
IL -I,<x
attempts have been made to nulIify its
effectiveness. Fitzpatrick said today
in an interview. 1T is evident, how
ever. that great attempt to kill the
closed shop will be made this winter.
Labor Is prepared to fight to a knock
out"
Chicago Labor Prepares.
Chicago labor is prepared for what
is called the impending crisis by the
New Majority" labor's official organ
here The paper, in its current issue
today said:
Men prominent and active in or
ganized labor have expressed them
selves as believing that labor faces
bitter fight for its life this winter. This
belief is based mainly upon the or
ganized open shop propaganda now
being spread by employers. In many
cities this open shop fight has been
waeing for months
Battle On in st. Louis.
st. Louis, Mo-. Nov. 9.-The fight
between organized labor and the open
shop Is in full progress in st. Louis.
More than a month ago the Hotel
and Restaurant Owners association
adopted the open shop" policy. Local
organizations of walters, mattresses,
cooks and soda dispensers walked out.
claiming the employers action had
locked them out"
For several "a
walkout. leading hotels and restaurants
were forced to close down or continue
with greatly curtailed service. Today.
however. most of the establishments
affected declared that service was
again normal
Union leaders declared that the en-
tire structure of organized labor was
threatened by the local employers' sc-
tion and 1t is understood are getting
support from national unions in their
fight.
Starfed In Southwest
Dallas. Tex. Nov. 9.-Members OF
the Southwestern Open Shop associa-
ton and union leaders today declared
Continued on Page Four