The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-09-09
Chamber q Commerce's Proposals
Come Within Hairline Of Slavery

Come Within Hairline Of Slavery
Fargo, N. d. Big Business is wag-
ing a bitter campaign to drive union
labor out Of North Dakota Organized
farmers are also marked men. Re
Gently the Employers Association in
this city commanded Nagil & Co. to
reject q bid Of the Baker Heating &
Plumbing Company, because the lat
ter firm had adhered to its policy of
employing union workmen.
Several weeks ago it became known
that the special interests were quiet
ly at work, aligning the Fargo En-
ployers' Association with similar or
CARNATIONS Of business men through
out the country. Their motive is a
finished fight with organized labor
and such militant political parties as
the Nonpartisan League.
" Kept Plans Secret
The Fargo Employers Association
kept its plans secret until a4few days
ago and ostensibly was taking no part
in the fight of Big Business against
labor and the farmers. The action Of
Magill & Company, however, brings
the association out in the open, and is
proof that the same business interests
that are fighting the organized farm
ers are to fight organized labor as
we'll.
Magil & Company at first accepted
the bid of Baker & Company. But,
when C.. E. Baker, Of the Baker Com
pany, appeared at the office Of Magil
&. Company to close the deal finally,
he was told, according to Mr.. Bakers
| claim, and the admission Of Will II.
Magill that as Magill & Company be-
longed to the Employers association
the bid would have to be rejected.
Both Mr.. Baker and Mr.. Magi1l en-
phasized the fact that no personal
animus entered into the affair. Mr.
Baker had frequently. done work for
Magill & Company and was assured
that, if he running an open shop,
Magill & Company would prefer to
give him the business. ~ q,
Fight. an Outgrowth of: Strike
1t is generally understood that en-
ploying plumbers who are members
Of the Employers association are re-
sponsible for bringing the open shop
fight to a crisis. AS a result OF the
plumbers strike most Of the employ
ing plumbers refuse to employ union
plumbers. The Baker Plumbing &
Heating Company is one Of the few
firms that still employ union plumb
ers. The concern was bought a month
ago, and the firm members are mr..
Baker and his son.
1t has been one Of the grievances
Of the working plumbers, inestimat-
ing the labor cost of any work, double
the actual amount that goes to labor.
The master. plumbers, however, &C
cording again to the working plumb
o-s, blame the high cost If clurntlng
entirely to high wages. It has been
the contention of the working plumb
ers that the public should be charged
only TIE actual cost Of the labor en-
ter;ag i~r any lob, plus a small prot
it, and that master plumbers coaio
still make a good profit under such
conditions.
Conn; rcial Cab in Fish' ,
The Commercial Club and Retail
Merchants Association of North ,Da,
kota have both gone on record FOL
the open shop, says an announcement,
received in this city from the United
States Chamber of Commerce.
The announcement further explain:
that the vote was taken on the re
port of a committee of the Chambe7
of Commerce Of the United States
submitted to a countrywide referen
dunn Of Business associations" Ever!
state in the American union voted ant
the open shop was given overwhlem
ing approval.
Some of the propositions cover
whelming approved" come within
|hairline of slavery. Chief among thes'
are the following:
/. The right of open shop operation
2. A denial Of the right of govern
ment employees to organize for tn
betterment of their economic condi
lions. Z .
8. Power Of the state to force EN-
ployes to work insofar as necessary ,
insure unimpaired operation of publ
utility service.
The last proposition implies the en-
actment of legislation that woul
make strikes illegal.
~ 8 .
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
State of North Dakota, County Q
1nTrAYTV rNTIRs