The Washington herald., 1921-05-02
OPINIONS ON OPEN SHOP.

To the Editor. The Washington Herald:
The open shop" campaign. which
is at present being waged through
out the country. is detrimental to
the interests of society, inasmuch
as it will create. IL it succeeds. the
master and slave" relationship.
which is subversive of the ideals
for which this republic stands. The
employer who stands for the open
shop often uses arbitrary methods
in dealing with his employees and
thus is in a good position to exploit
them. The closed shop. for which
organized labor stands, makes for
justice, progress and humanity ana
is a distinct advantage to society.
both from an economic and social
viewpoint
In order that the workingman
may be able to obtain a wage that
will enable him to support his wife
and children in decency and COM
fort. il is essential that he be in
position where he can present his
reasonable and just demands to his
employer. Under the open shop"
system, he has a right to confer as
an individual with his employer in
regard to wages. hours and work
ing conditions. In case the en-
ployer takes advantage of his weak
ness and explains that lie is unable
TO meet his just demands, the en-
ploye is absolutely powerless and
has no means by which he may pre-
sent his just demands. The only
thing he can do Is to resign and
search for a more remunerative po-
sition.
On the other hand, IL this en-
ploye is a member of a labor union,
he knows that representatives, of
that union are in an advantageous
position, when they wish to present
their case to employers. He knows
that organized labor stands for col
lective bargaining and the right of
employees to be represented by rep
resentatives OF their own choosing.
An employer. when dealing with
organized labor. which stands for
fair dealing, justice and humanity.
must present arguments that are
sound and that appear to be plausi-
Bile. If he decides to take advan-
tage Of his employees, through them
representatives. he knows that or
ganized labor because of its strong
organization has the power and the
right. IL need be. to strike and to
bring to the attention of the public
the demands that they are making
upon the employer who is r~l""' -
to treat his employees in . Just and
equitable manner.
The open shop" called the
American plan" il a misnomer. 1t
has absolutely nothing to do with
Americanism in the real sense OF
the word. Americanism is a term
too often distorted by men who
know down deep in their hearts
that by means of it they may be
able to befuddle the brains Of the
American people. The open shop
means reaction, retrogression. In
dustrial decay and possibly revolu-
tion, There is no doubt that, should
organized capital in this country
triumph temporarily over organized
labor and crush it, the day will
surely come when they will sins
cerely regret their ignoble action.
II the average workingman is led
to believe that he can have nothing
to say about the conditions under
which he works, he VIII turn to-
wards radicalism in its various
forms, and when that time comes.
1t will be sad day for the pluto
Gratis and the short-sighted indus
trial magnates Of this country. Or
ganized labor stands for the rights
OF private property, for conserva-
tisn, IL you please, and 1t Is really
beyond ores comprehension when
one stopr to consider, that the ein-
ployers Of this country are very
anxious to crush one Of the great
est Estabilizing influences in the
country today.
II you crush organized labor, you
are flirting with revolution and all
the ills that accompany 1t. II Is
really to the. distinct advantage Of
the employers of this country to
encourage organized labor and not
TO crush II. Cooperation should
supersede Industrial war, and both
capital and labor should try to build
up the present industrial structure
-, such a wrv that both will bepefit
therefrOn1 EcAnomfsfs and sOcfol-