The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-30
Opening Battle of Labor War To
Be on r. r.. Lines.
Chief of Employers Assn. Tells
Plans For Campaign.
WOMEN TO Be. BIG FACTOR
Female Workers May Again Be
Called Into Industry.
Complete Shutdown of Detroit
Auto Plants.

Michigan City, Ind, Dec. 30.-The
issue of the open or closed shop will
be tested on the transportation sys-
TENS of the country, John NJ. Glenn,
secretary of the Illinois Manufactur-
ers' association, declared here today
in addressing a group of the city's
business men.
Glenn outlined the open shop fight
which manufa cturerS have planned,
declaring it was not a fight against
unionism, but for Americanism."
William Butterworth, president of
the Illinois Manufacturers association.
has called a meeting of leading men
organize for the open shop fight.
Glenn said prior to the war 65 per
cent of the railroad employees, of the
country were union members. but now
pra actically 100 per cent are brother
hood men, He said the increase was
due to government control of railroads.
Organized labor is planning coup
to establish collective bargaining and
the closed shop thru the railroad or
ganizations. Glenn stated.
Women Glenn said, would play an
important part in the open shop fight.
Woman has proven her ability to
take her place in industry" he said.
All Detroit Plants Closed.
Detroit, Mich, Dec. 30.-The unem-
ployment situation in Detroit has just
about reached the peak of its upward
trend-it can't go much further.
The automobile is Detroit's princi-
pal output. The huge factories man
ufacturing give employment in nor
NAL times to about 100000 men.
These factories are practically all idle
today. That is why the unemploy-
ment system stands near it's peak.
Practically all of the twenty-five
automobile plants are closed today
for inventory. the officials say. They
are Scheduled to resume operations on
January but those who are on the
inside" say the inventories may not
be completed" by January 3. and
perhaps for many days thereafter.
George w. Grant, secretary of the
Detroit Employers association, fur
nished the United Press with figures
showing there have been 215, goo laid
off from work in Detroit since last
April, of which number about $50, ,o6o
are remaining in the city.
Ford Plant Closed Indefinitely.
Announcement was made today by
the Ford Motor company that its
Highland Park plant, which closed
December "a. for inventory. will not
reopen January 8. as planned, but will
remain closed Indefinitely. The state
ment said: 1.-The company has now
decided not to reopen the plant nex'
week, but will resume operations as
early as possible. The assembly
plants thruout the United States will
continue their operations as usual"
At the time of the closing of the
plant for inventory approximately
| $4,000 workers were employed.
100000 Affected in Chicago.
Chicago. Dec. 80. = Chicago today
was to take steps to alleviate the un-
employment situation following pas
age of a resolution passed by the body
| of aldermen empowering Mayor
Thompson to appoint a commission OF
| five aldermen and fifteen citizens tc
study the situation looking toward re
| lief.
1t is estimated there are between
| 100000 and 10000 affected by the
unemployment here, half of these be
/ ing entirely out of work and the other:
working part time.
Offer To Cut Own Wages.
/ Chicago, Dec. 30.-Officers of the
Pullman company today were expect
| ed to take action on the svoluntary
proposal OF 5000 employees of the cal
shops that 20 per cent reduction IL
wages be made.
| The step was taken by employe.
after discussion of the readjustmen
| in industry and declining commodit!
i prices. If the company avails itsel
of the offer. it will save over three
J illinn dollars a Uoar officials cd