The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-01-13
Big Battle Waged For
Control of Legislature
Open vs.. Closed Shop
Issue In Contest for
Place In the Cabinet
by DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright by Tho AntelliSencerI

Washington. Jan. - - News OF the
tight behind the scenes between capital
and labor over the type Of man who
SHALL be the next secretary OF labor is
beginning to trickle out, and explains
20 some extent the upset in the cabinet
slate which had been tentatively made
up By President-eIect Harding.
Both sides are demanding the I'M
possible. Some representatives OF man
ufacturing interests want nan who
tavors the open shop or rather one who
will recognize the right TO close u shop
10 union workers. Labor on the other
hand wants man who is not funda-
mentally prejudiced against unlonism
and who will not be harmful to the
unioniZation Of plants and factories that
are not organized by the unions.
Briefly it's the whole struggle be-
tween capital and labor over again with
this change: AS prices are coming down
there are certain manufacturers who
believe the time ripe to strike body
blow at unions by refusing 10 employ
union men or workmen who insist that
their fellow employees shall be union
tzed. This extremist attitude is de-
tended in some cases because when
prices were high and the demand for
labor was urgent, the unions are al
legged to have insisted upon union rights
and the transformation of non-union
plants into union membership.
Significant Editorial
Rather significantly the other day the
New York Herald. owned by Frank \.
MunSey, and an influential organ Of the
Republican party, limited at the fight
over the secretaryship OF labor by tell
mg both sides that the appointment Of
IN extremist could not be expected. II
IS said that the editorial in question
was inspired by a desire OH the part OF
Mr.. HardIng's friends 10 make his taS:i
.asier BY telling employers In the cita-
lei OF manufacturing interests that
they could not hope Tor editorial sup
port in their campaign for u partisan
N the labor question.
The fortunes OF Herbert Hoover are
- some extent bound up in the contro-
SerSy. Mr.. Hoover was practically sell
ected by Mr. Harding for the secretary
ship OF labor because liberal employers
who wanted a fair man rather than a
partisan thought the former food ad-
ministrator'S attitude toward tho labor
question was sound and that he enjoyed
the confidence OF both sides. Phe Am
srican Federation of Labor Itself rec
entity invited Mr.. Hoover 10 appear be-
fore It and give advice and II is sus-
pected that labor would accept the ap-
pointmeRt OF Mr.. Hoover with sighs Of
relief, not because he represents their
viewpoint but because they have been in
fears that n neutral would not be ap-
pointed and that the next four years
st least would be a constant battle with
an arch foe Of UniOn.sm in the depart
ment OF labor.
Bitter Fight wagsd
The trouble is that both sides are
emphasizing their rights when each side
should be announcing their concessions
so as Z compromise may DC worked out.
That's why NJ. Harding himself Is
eager 10 appoint u man who shall have
the imaC CinaiiOn. initiative and force TO
work OUT real solution OF the differ
suCes between employer and employc,
The Importance OF the appointment too
lies in the fact that the department
oS labor investigators must be impair
cial and just whenever 4 big strike
arises and that their conctliators must
be skillful enough 10 retain the conf
jence OF the parties 70 strike. The
lear OF the conservative labor leaders
s that II a foe OF unioniSm is APP
pointed there never will be any re-
course to government boards Of media
ton and conciliation and that the prog
ress which has been made toward the
friendly settlement OF labor disputes
will be lost.
The presidents first industrial con.
ference failed because both sides re-
fused 10 compromise. The second con-
ference. differently constituted got
,'A h,,R NJ
.empted to deal with fundamentals. II
set about TO devise means Of settling
Industrial disputes only after they had
arisen. The open and closed shop queS-
ton !s still unsolYed. The real light
that is coming is not over reductions in
wages but the open shop issue. En-
ploycys' organizations here admit that
the struggle is on in earnest and that
The first step IS the appointment OF a
secretary OF labor. There are two kinds
OF open shop, one that is open TO union
and non-union workers with the two
classes on an equal footing and in
which the management deals with the
workers through local committees with
out reference 10 their national organ
Izations. The other kind is the shot
closed TO union workers altogether. Tn
fortunately some employers leaders
mean the latter kind when they talI
about an open" shop. What they NEAR
is one that IS closed TO union men ant
open only to non-uniop men.
Labor's Contention
However, the interesting undercurrent
Of the fight is that labor IS not making
at this time a concerted fight aga!ns
wage reductions but 4 fight 20 reta!f
rights already won. Now that price:
are falling and the cost OF living /:
being slowly but gradually reduced. the
worker whose wages are not reduced
- in actually getting a progressive
wage Increase.
Skilled labor. as evidenced IN the de
partment OF labor statistics, for tht
mostpart received wage increases dur
ing the war which were IN excess oi
the increased living costs. Open war
fare will result. however. II IN addition
70 reducing wages. advantage IS taHer
by employers 10 reopen old sores am
start the trade union battle anew. Dis
interested folks In such institutions ~
the depa rtment OF labor and the United
States chamber OF commerce predict th'
failure on the part OF union labor t
force 4 closed shop on the country art
tffe defeat OF the manufacturers L
bring about their kind OF Z closed shop
When the armIst!cc is declared. b"tt
sides will be more reasonable but II
the meantime the struggle has managed
10 affect the chances OF Herbert HooTe
Sor the Sscrstarysh.p OF labor. The ad
vantage that Mr.. Hoover has, however
Is that Mr.. Harding wants him eitheI
tor secretary Of labor or secretary oI
interior. II he side-tracked for the ont
port folio because OF tho open shop issu,
Hr. Hoover being a Californian and al