The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-06-13
UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE
OPEN SHOP AMONG THINGS
BEFORE FEDERATION LABOR
Continued from page u

schools OF the country in furtherance
Of the so-calle1 open shop the fed.
Grafton have prepared pamphlets and
literature bearing upon the questions
involved for distribution to the col.
leges, universities and schools"
That the federation continue to lend
its aid to the United Nine Workers
Of America in the federal prosecution
growing out Of the coal strike of 1919.
That the federation oppose legislation
that has for its purpose the further
weakening Of the Department Of La
bor."
The report gives the present
strength Of the Federation Of Labor at
3, 3,906,52S as against 4,07S,740 in 1929
and says that the slight decrease in
members is naturally due TO the
large number of workers unemployed"
1t points to the membership enroll
ment as proof that the campaign
against organized labor has failed.
The American Trade Union move,
ment," the report declares, has just
gone through a year Of unexampled
struggle and difficulty. The enemies
Of labor and human progress have
assailed from every side. The move
ment for reduction Of wages. the
movement to crush our organization,
masquerading under the fictitious
open shop slogan, the wave Of un>
employment and perhaps the most sin
lister Of all, the revival as q part Of
the general anti-labor campaign OF
the vicious, enslaving individual con
tract by which workers are bound to
their employers in unwilling servitude,
have been massed and concentrated
against the most potential voluntary
movement Of the wage-earners Of the
country. Added to these have been
! legislative assaults ana court decisions
most destructive in character
I'VE have checked the progress or
those who have sought TO destroy free
dom through the annihilation OF the
organizations of labor.
I'VE call for great rallyng, a great
movement forward for humanity. The
message or Trade Cnionisrn must De
carried TO every corner"
, Under the heading Of "Construc-
tive Demands" the councils report rel
terates and reaffirms that those con-
| tributing to production, should have
part in its control" and to this
end it urges the setting up of con-
! ference boards Of organized workers
and employers, thoroughly voluntary in
character and thorough accord with
our trade union organizations as means
of promoting the democracy Of indus
try through cooperative effort"
/ Cooperation should be encouraged
/ as an effective means of curbng pro-
| fiteering' the report continues. ITO
stimulate rapid development of coop
era!ives the Federal Farm Loan Act
| should be extended so as to give credit
to all properly organized oooperatives,
| just as credit now is given to indivi-
dual farmers. Cooperation Is no less
vital and worthy Of support than are
the railroads which were given hund.
reds Of millions Of dollars and an
area OF land equal to New England
TO facilitate their establishment There
should be legal enactment to protect
cooperatives against discrimination by
manufacturers sI.d wholesalers.
Control of credit capital by those
whose chief interest Is the accumula-
tion Of profits results inevitably in
the open door for profiteering. We re-
peat and emphasize the demands Of
organized labor that control OF capi-
tai be taken from the hands Of pri-
vate financiers and placed in the hands
Of public agency to be administered
by voluntary and cooperative me-
thois."
Turning TO tho railroad situation, the
council says The operation OF the
Esch-Cummins measure the Trans
portation Act) has created situation
by virtue Of which even its promoters
are advocates now freely Acknowledged
that absolute failure and collapse pre-
dicted by labor in the very beginning
The report says that the decisions OF
the Railroad Labor Board in wage
cases have betokened no progressive
thought and it characterizes az "a
deliberate backward step" the abroga-
ticn by the board OF the national wage
agreements.
The Railroad Labor Beard" the re.
port continues, has made voluntary
agreement a relic Of history. The
maximum demands are presented in
preliminary meetings, with the board
as court Of appeal always in the
background Thus, questions Of wages
working conditions and hours, became
matters for litigation instead Of nego-
tiation. Neither party is satisfied as
is abundantly evident. Only a minor
fraction OF the cases presented has
been decided. The breakdown is com
plete."
The report goes on 10 say that II
IS necessary 70 look to the future for
the development Of sound construc
tive program under which the nation
may be assured Of competent, fair anc
economical operation ana control Of
the railroads with labor's right tc
exercise its normal activities ana tree
dom safeguarded."
Regarding wages and the COS: OF
living, the Council says the pracucS
.! fixing wages solely on the basis Of
cost Of living is a violation Of the
whole philosophy in progress and civil
cation and, Furthermore, Is 4 violation
ot sound economic theory ana utterly
without logic or scientific support.
The practice, il is added result:
in tendency 70 classify human be.
ings and to standardige classes, each
class having a presumptye right tC
@ given quantity OF various commodi.
ties
The council declares that profitser
ing In food continues.
While wholesale prices decreased
retailers continued 70 charge unreas
enable prices" IL asserts. "Of all tbs
remedies proposed none Is more to b,
recommended than those submitted tC