The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-03-05
THE OPEN SHOP FIGHT.

ers and corporations the country over,
and which plan. according to Andrew
j. Allen, secretary of the Associated
Employers Of indianapolis, in an ad.
dress in Chicago before the Illinois
Manufacturers Association in conven
ton assembled recently, asserted that
this Americana plan provided for
the "open shop
Taking up the cudgel for organized
labor, Brother Warfcld, of the Order
of Sleeping Car Conductors, pays his
respects to these prophets Of destruc-
lion, As n class, in words something
like these:
"All the battles are and were not
fought in Europe. While the thunder
OF cannon revcrberated throughout the
unhappy lands Of Europe, the econom-
ic forces in America were battling for
new Standards The workingman had
been led to believe that America S par
1icipation in the fighting abroad was
to make the world safe for democracy.
He construed this in the literal sense
He knew that true democracy, so far
as he was concerned, had been for
many years sham. Only through
the bitterest struggles had he been
able to wrest from the great financial
powers a measure Of comfort in his
working conditions. In the first stages
OF the organized labor movement he
tond]y hoped for recognition in the
principle Of collective bargaining from
his employer. Fancy his rude awak-
enlns to the realization that his efforts
would be truitlcSs unless the power
Of his organization was sufficient to
constitute thread Of industrial paral-
vsls. When the employer was brought
face to face with the knowledge that
the wheels Of his industry would stop
unless he heard the cry of his employees
for relief, he took heed. Thus was
the beginning Of a new industrial order.
Which in reality was nothing more nor
less than an armed truce. II the EN-
pIoycr found his strength superior to
his employees, he Immediately struck
decisive blow at their organization.
When the employees found their power
superior to the employer, it was their
turn to strike for the bettermcnt of
their conditions. The employer struck
for the destruction of the economic
power of his employees; but the en-
ployes had no desire, on the other
hand, to destroy the economic power
OF the employer. They merely asked
a far share of the returns of their
labor, secured through contracts or
working schedules. 1t is natural, under
such system, to expect the develop.
ment OF selfishness, greed aud crime.
in both camps we heard that the end
0ustities the means.
1.-THE so-called closed shop was en-
ally fastened upon many EMPLOYERS.
Ind through this means the emnloye
secured to themselves the right of col
aect1ve bargaining, with signed sched-
ples and contracts. This sort of closed
shop has been much maligned and mis-
understood. In reality it is not closed
Shop at all. With few exceptions the
employers were free to hire whom thew
pleased, but the right to fix wages
and working conditions remained un-
altered, being handled through com.
mlttees Of employers and employees.
Nhe closed shop that went to the ex-
IRENE Of requiring that only union
lied labor be employed was the result
BIT the continued Vaccinations of the
employer to get out from under con.
tracts with his employees. Through
clever scheming and the connivance
pr dlsloyal unionists, the employer fire.
Auently would squirm out from under
The principle Of collective bargaining
when the right to employ whom he
chose remained with him: and TINS in
huch instances, the employees found
themselves in the position of choosing
between an absolutely closed shop or
the complete destruction of their or.
CARNATIONS. Hence, the employer, him.
Self, through his dishonest methods
brought about these conditions, The
closed shop gradually spread through
out the country until it embraced prac.
ideally every industry, eliminating in
b general acceptance Of collective bar.
gaining during the world war under
the sanction Of the federal govern.
inent. An equitable wage and the
eight-hour day was universally recop-
hized and the employers found them
selves committed to the program re.
gardless of their own personal desires
and ambitions. The exigencies of the
war crisis gave them no alternative.
!. i .* 1.-THE man who assumed that the