The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-05-29


orally were on the. most friendly terms,
and n, fine confidence. in, each other
obtained until the alliance was organ
lied. -,
Now there is suspicion dstrust and
unrest, The building: industry has
been literally: shot to pieces and the
seasons work. has gone glimmering.
Owners have been frightened lest they
be tied up with an. "open shop strike
and have cancelled building plans. The
alliance is surely doing fine work in
predicting industrial peace and the
city's growth.
,''Tho alliance stands for the open
shop in Industry and>*it is opposed TO-
the restrictions and Limitations that
surround the closed. shop system, - said
Mr.. Harris; Pray what are the limi.
tations and restrictions set p BY union
labor? We know Of none and. 1--we have
never see N any in the unions Of Duluth.
!; There are only 5,ooo,o 900 organized
workers in tho country and there are.
from 35,ooo,ooo to 40,000;00o unorga an.
lied la borers, declared the speaker,
but he failed to state that Of this lat
ter Number Of laborers only 5000, 1000
belong TO branches Of labor. that are
organizable. OF the 3s,ooo,ooo persons
in America: engaged in gainful occu-
pations 1e,65o,ooo are employed:iat ag:
riculture; 's,77o,ooo in domestic ara
general service; 100000 ii profession.
al service; 100000 in clerical service
and :2,s0e, ooo engaged in trade, total
Of c$,soo,ooo.' None Of these may be
classed in the .organizab1e Occupations.
There are left 14,1oo 900 persons: en-
gagged. in mining, transportation, man
ufacturing and mechanical. work Of
Which number 100000 are employers
and 100000 are. youths, leaving bit
5000, 900, that are organizable. Union
labor, therefore, represents 6o'1a per
cent Of the persons. in this country
engaged at .orsanizable occupations.
Thdse figures are taken from United
States census reports and. are abso-
lutely reliable. Mi. Harris, should an
alyze them more carefully Before max
ing such, strong statements
He attempts to:put the lame Of the
American apprentice system on the
unions. Will. Mr.: Harris kindly tell
ii what industry is doing for. the ap-
prentice, other than to exploit him and
Is emplot him when there is work. and
discharge hin, when>there is none: The
Union is the only. real friend Of the
apprentice in: American industry, and
when limitations are placed, on: bis EN-:
ployment in great. numbers. it is: for
tho boys own good as we'll as for. tho
trade. itself. The modern employer
takes no interest il, the boy save to-gct
him to- work cheaplt and. to- have him
produce az much las possible at the
earliest moment without regard to the:
boys welfare az :aSfuiure :journeyman
Mr.. Harris: quoted. , number Of en-:
ployers who claim that their: employees
are less efficient. than. they, were be-
fore the. war ind charges this lack
Of efficiency to- the HcLosed~ shop'' of
union. labor, ana among those quoted
is Vice President; ". W. Atterbury Of
the Pennsylvania railroad system. But
Mr.. Harris should know, and if he docs
not know. We are pleased to apprise
him Of the fact that the Pennsylvania
railroad is run on, the so-called Hopen
shap' system which he lAuds 70
highly. \,
Again, we repeat, union shop employ
ers are not making complaint about
any lack Of efficiency or slowing up
on The part Of their union employees.
Mr.. Harris is merely citing conditions
that obtain in his "open Shops which
he would have the public believe are
chareeable to the union shop system.
The bucket in swhich he carrie. his
nti-union solution is leakv. ~ :
A PEOPLES CONGRESS:
The leading article in . Phe Labor
World this week is the review Of j