The labor world., 1921-09-10

but 1t Is taken from real life, from
the experience of real American
employer with the agent for an
open shop anti-union organiza-
tion in city very close to Duluth,
and it happened only recently.
The agent had all the polish and
suavity of a Harris and the boldness
of Whalen. He was Harris and a
Whalen in one parsonage, and no
doubt cost the cheap labor aggrega-
tion less money than their two paid
agents in Duluth. The dialogue be-
tween the manufacturer and the agent
took place as follows:
Agent: Mr.. -, have called
to ask you and your firm to join our
association. +
Manufacturer: Yes, I rather sus-
pected it. I have been repeatedly
asked by letter and by agents like
yourself to join the association. But
I have declined to do that, and must
be-, to be excused now. have not
changed my mind.
A.: But why do you refuse?
M: Well, the truth is, I do not
much sympathize with the aims and
methods of your association. I do not
like it's tactics and its propaganda:
A.: For what reason?
M: Because the association is
openly antagonistic to organized labor
cause in way to produce i'll will and
friction, while in my judgment indus
try needs peace and a good under
standing between employer and en-
ployed.
A.: But we have no quarrel with
labor or even with some organizations
of labor. We are not fighting the rea-
sonable and moderate labor leaders.
We are fighting only the tyrannical
and arbitrary rules of the labor
unions, their sabotage in limiting pro-
duction, their encouragement of loaf
! ing and "soldiering" and their inter-
ference with the fundamental rights
of the employer.
NJ: Yes, I know that this is what
your people say, but also know what
they do and l read their stuff. T have
been in business for twenty five years,
and have never had any serious trou-
BILE with union labor or with union Of
| In our factory; there has been no loaf
| ing; there has been no interference
with my rights; have no grievances.
Even during the war and since pro-
duction has not fallen off in our place.
L have made careful comparisons and
am satisfied that the outcry against
labor on the score of its alleged inef-
| flciency and laziness is largely inspired
propaganda.
A.: DO you mean to say that you
| nave no objection to any of the rules
and regulations imposed by the strong
and we'll organized unions? Do you
mean to say that you have found
| them all fair and sensible?
M: Well, will own that some-
times I have been irritated a little by
certain union rules that seemed to me
TOO rigid. / have in the past tried
TO get some of our employees to ignore
! certain rules. But the older and more
| experienced I get the less I am in
chned to do that. The rules are not
| as arbitrary as they may seem at
1lrst. The men must protect them
selves against accidents, against abuse.
| against greed, against short-sighted-
ness of employers. Rules are made
| not for single cases, but for trade roll
tine and for hosts of men and women
OF all sorts, ages, and conditions. I
can not say that I am prepared to
make an issue of any rule of the
unions l am at all familiar with. -
A.: Perhaps some of our leading
spirits and aggressive fighters. occa-
sionally indulge in little exaggera-
tion. You can not always prevent an
excess or zeal or an indiscreet utter
ance. But please remember that the
association is carrying on just now =
special campaign against the closed
snop, which is un-American and So
clanstlc' and that we are protecting
and defending the interest of eyerv
employer in the country in this fight.
won't you join for this paramount
reason even If you can not approve
of all we do and say?
NJ: Why. my dear sir, I have had
a union or closed shop as long as 7
have been in business. do not care
to change the situation. I have M
interest in the "open" shop propa-
sanoa' l know 1t is largely an anti
union propaganda and that many Of
tne men who claim to favor an open
snop really want shop barred to.all
union men or women. But even If
tne open shop movement were genu-
Inc and honest, I should not lend it
my support in any way
A.: (flushed, angry and hardly
able to restrain himself). What? Do
you mean to tell me. you have no. OBJ
Jectlon to thing SO un-American, so
abhorrent, so oppressive as the closed
snop? How can any self-respecting
man submit to the tyranny of unions
ana give up control of his own shop?
NJ: You are begging the question
my friend. I am submitting to no
| tyranny and giving up no rights. I
| am acting as free man and perfectly
goo6 American. I find the union shop
IN every way congenial. I have the
rlght to make contracts, and I choose
omake an agreement to maintain a,
closed union shop. The policy has
never worked injury to my interests.
| have earned profits in good times.
but the closed shop has never made
times bad for me. The union shon
policy has never interfered with ef
ficiency and order in the establish.
ment. Why should I help those who
are fighting n0licv that r. ooo,o,.