Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-05
OPEN SHOP PERIL
AND WAGE DECLINE
ALARM LEADERS
Fear New Administration Will
Not be Sympathetic With
Union Workers.
GOMPERS DENOUNCES
HIGH COURT DECISION

Washington, Jan. 5.--Organised labor
!. IN a state of alarm over declining wage
scales, over the deflation that is taking
place in the labor market and over con-
crete reverses which IL was sustained re
Gently at the hands of capital and the
courts.
LEADERS NOT IN PANIC.
There is no panic on the part OF Ia
Dor leaders, it must be added, or lncilna-
ton on their part To surrender tameiy 10
unfavorable conditions, but there is genu-
me uneasiness over the future and mis-
= giving IN many quarters as 70 the ability
OF the unions to protect fully the inter-
ests of the tens of thousands oi men IN
their ranks.
In the first place, labor is deeply con-
cerned over the general movement
throughout the country tor gradual,
and In some cases, radical reduction
in wages. In the next place, there IS
cven deener concern over the steady
growth of the open shop movement. And
finally. there is the feeling that labor
can no longer look to the Federal gov
eminent for the sympathy which 1t re-
ceived at the hands of the Wilson ad-
ministratlon.
Tbese are the general causes for la
bor,s worry. rs reflected IN the corre-
spondence of members of the House and
Senate and as indicated by the appeals
which have gone out or which soon VIII
po ont to workingmen and to the country
for support in resisting the tendencies OF
the present readiustment period.
WAGE REDUCTION SEEN
From all that could be gathered to-
dsv, enlightened labor leaders graveiy
doubt their ability TO maintain high
wage scales in the face OF declining
markets generally. Most oi them nave
about made up their minds that iab9i'
as well As business, must expect q small
er return than in the past, although every
rsossiblc effort Is being made 70 postpone
the reductions n
Iinion spok smen have claimed IN all
their wage controversies that their loi-
lowers could not accept less pay, so long
as the cost of living remained at a high
level EMPLOYERS as often insisted that
The cost of living could not be material
N reduced. so long as labor was paid
wartime wages. The two clements
never have failed 20 deadlock on that prop
OSition =,
But. by degrees, it seems from all
renorts received here, the two scales
are going down simultaneously. he
Department of Labor statIstlclans show
concllIsively that there was decrease
IN the last few months IN food. clothing
and shelter. although fuel IS StIll high
II is understood that cures soon 70 be
made public will show corresponding
decline in wages. perhaps a proporlonate
decline
OPEN SHOP CHIEF WORRY.
Labor leaders, il is declared, might
he reeonciled TO reduced wage scales If
the could be assured Of q truce IN the
gbt for the open shop and if they had
an guarantee Of sympathetic consider
,tion from the government. But ap-
0arently they have no reason 10 expect
.ither. hence, much of the depression IN
organized labor circles.
In i felt bv union leaders generally
hat a decided reaction against unionlSm
rnanifestln1 itself N many parts OF
he country: that now that the war IS
over q great many folk hav become
convinced that labor prohteered st the
expense Of the owe. nment and lthe
country IN the same sense Il not tof the
same extent 5 munitions manufacturers
and other capitalists, and that there Is
popular approval Of any. measure IN
friendly or unfsvorable 10 labor
These leaders argue that such an
indictment OF labor Is uniustified and
uufa1T, but tDSS 0O MT al SNc tA@t tA4N
Indictment has not been drawn or that
il should be ignored In that conneo-
ton. it is noted here, that for the first
time in many years labor leaders are
no longer defiant II their attitude To-
ward those who oppose them or WHIT
are indifferent TO their claims. They
are reasonable and are appea ing 10 th'
reason of the public instead OF indulg
ing in warnings oT.threats OF vengeance
I. TOILETTE THEIR CHAMPION
Only an occasional radical in the rank:
of labor or q radical champion outside Is
belligerent- Senator La Fo4iette Is IN the
latter class. He has just issued state
nent under the caption Of The War OF
Organized Capital Against the People, "
in which he gives notice that the labor
orgarizations Of the country are TO be
smashed. ''I'he decree has been enter
ed" ne adds, ''the orders have been issued
and the drive Is on"
Senator La Toilette goes on 10 say
that the railroad corporations, the street
car companies and other public utility
corporations, the coal, the copper and
the oil combinations are affiliated with
the commercial and financial groups IN
a Gigantic conspiracy 70 hanstring or