davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19

"The employers explain their idea
Of the open shop as meaning the
great American idea Of freedom In
industry" Walsh continued. "Actually
it means business is concentrated to
the very highest point, debating the
concessions Of labor. - -.
:".An open shop in its true sense. is
that unions shall have the right of
collective bargaini=-<;; and that right
shall be recognized by the employer as
regards wages and conditions Of labor:
employers idea Of an open shop is not
to discharge union men but to have
no dealings with union leaders"
-. Asked what the result would be If
the, unions were smashed, Walsh re-
piled:
''There would be poverty IN this
country such al we have never
known" -
The fight for the open shop in the
east, he said, was being centered
against the garment workers, who
have been striking for eight weeks.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19
TO MAKE PROBE
OF PORTO rico
Union Labor Asks Congress to
Investigate Industrial and
Government Conditions.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17.-National
into industrial and governmental co1l-
ditions of Porto Rico, by Santiago
Iglesias, president Of the Free Fedora
tion of Workingmen of Porto Rico,
affiliated with the A. F. of l..
The hope is expressed that an in
vestigating commission may be COM
posed of men who will not, as several
commissions in the past have DONE,
accept mere courtesies and superficial
official declarations as sufficient evil
dence upon which 20 base their atti-
tude, but that the commission be COM
posed Of senators who will go to the
heart of things to get the real point
and views of men of labor. of busi-
ness, who know, who feel, who un-
derstand.
II want to call your attention to the
fact that at this time, owing to ex-
traordinary Industrial and economic
conditions that prevail in Porto Rico,
there are some interests in the island
that have started venomous propa-
ganda of independence and secession
from the United States, which has no
other purpose than to mislead the ex-
plotted workers and to keep that is
land free from the influence Of the
American people and it's democratic
institutions, and for the purpose of
continuing to use Porto Rico and her
people as an organized factory
worked out by cheap poems.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19
BRITISH BUSINESS NO!
UNITED STATES CHEAP Hb5,> !
Every Time an American Concern Cuts Wages the Fact Bu|e
tined In London By Big Business Interests Unemployment Is
Big Problem; Government Asked to Appropriate Money

LONDON Feb 1Engish employers declare they must cut
wages in order compete with Amercan cheap labor.'
development Englans tangled problem and
interesting light the international character the work.
ers' struggle.
Every American wages the fact buletned
newspapers controlled by Bg Busn Especial
phass efforts of the Wooen Trust the cotton mills
to force down the compensation of their employees.
who have been taught believe that they must have
will probably be amazed to find that English business
declaring of the efficiency of American workers
and the wages they hereafter there
danger that the great republic will capture the markets Of
the world.
Majority English Labor Leaders Not Revolutionsts.
With the army of the unemployed steadily number
revolutionary action becoming boder On the
Daily Herald appears announcing
Communist 2pence weekly will begin publication under
the editorshp of Francis Meynel.
Meyne boldly declares that his will be "a living INK
with the Russian and that he will endeavor to
the ideas of 1.-THE Socialist in hurry
The that of the MeyneI stripe will achieve to
large extent the attitude OF the
submitted by authorized leaders of organized labor
looking to solution Of the unemployment problem
The great majority these leaders evoutonlst not revou
tions They reaz however, that the British workers in no
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19

United States where a skilled worker,
even in a union shop. ts earning suf-
ficient today: to maintain the same
standards they had maintained
through pre-war wages.
There is a move afoot today to
force common labor to return to a
standard Of, bare existence. Surely
even common labor is entitled to more
than that During the war common
labor was enabled in some cases to
send it's children to high school. to
take part in public affairs and to
share in some of the comforts Of life.
Should it be asked to give up these
things and go back Ito a lower plane
EVERY recession now in wages or
conditions will enable the workers to
exclaim: "The World war, instead of
advancing our condition, gave US a
setback" Il. ,... t,fs.
Asked if he believed application Of
more and better machinery and more
brain power would enable industry to
carry on" without making wage cuts.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19
HUGE COAL Mine
PROFITS IN 1920
One Company with Investment
d$178,000 Made Profit Of
%78,000 In Nine Months.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17.-Esti-
mated profits of 21 mining companies
operating in Pocahontas coal fields of
West Virginia, some Of which were
as high as 200 per cent, has been
placed before the senate committee.
One corporation with an investment
Of $178,000 made a. profit of $478,000
in the first nine months of 1920.
Another corporation, with an in
vestmest Of $163,000 made $133,000
in nine months Of 1920 or profit Of
100 per cent on capital. A third, with
$1,438,000 invested, made $716,000
during the same p~riod, a rate of 81
per cent, while it's profits in 1919 were
ertimated at 80 per cent. It's produc-
tionwas 100000 tons.
A statistician of the senate investi-
eating committee cited cases where
coal owners took $7.91 profit on coal
that cost $4.12 to mine. The powest
profit, per ton, he estimated was $1.72
a ton, but only June, July and August
earnings were considered.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19
union RES|STS
PRE-WAR TERMS
Jewe|Iy Workers Expose Pur'
pose Of Employers to Cut
Wages and Keep Prices Up.

NEW YORK, Feb. 17.-The Inter-
national Jewelry Workers union is
resisting the effort OF employers to re-
placethe 44-hour week with the 49,
hour week and re-establish other pre-
war conditions. General Secretary
:!rn, Treasurer Greenstein Of this tnterna-
1.-THE excuse that there II a demand
on the part Of the consumer for lower
prices is fairly we'll cohtradicted by
the declaration from lea&lng manutac-
turers In principal linedof our indus
try (Jewelers' Circular Oct, 1920,
stating positively that there Is no
tendency to reduce prices and that
the retail jeweler and his customers
must expect to pay as much or more
in the future for watches, silverware,
jewelry, etc.. than has been charged
in the past
Consequently. by this time no one
can be deceived as to the matter in
what language they may cloak their
intentions. Through the thick cloak
Of camouflage, such as individual
freedom, corporation we see organ
lied bossdom using the present as an
opportune moment to set the wheels
Of reaction in motion.
"Our organization is not the only
one marked for this vicious assault,
though we were given first and excep-
tional attention by united autocracy."
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19
UNIONS AGAINST
TAMPER|NG WITH
LAE0LLET7EACT
Seafarers' Council Takes Steps
to Oppose Any Attempt to
Weaken Seanlen'S Law.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17.-Three
marine organizations have created
the seafarers' council to protect tho
ations are the International Seamen's
union, the National Association Of
Masters, Mates and Pilots and the Ma
tional Engineers Benevolent associa-
ton. A committee has developed a
program which includes the setting
up of local seafarers' council. or
triple alliance, in each Of the principal
ports Of the country.
If we do not misjudge existing
tendencies" says the committee, I'VE
shall shortly have to meet the most
serious efforts on the part of the
shipping interests to so change the
laws governing the personnel, the ves-
sells and inspection service as to place
us in a very difficult and disagreeable
position.
I'VE believe that laws Injurious to
the merchant marine will be proposed.
We believe that by working together
and making the best use Of our tech
n1cal and other knowledge, We may
be able to either prevent such legisla-
tion or to so modify it as to cause It
to do the least harm.
I'VE believe that the merchant
marine service needs further laws for
it's protection and development: that
the United States inspection service
needs greater freedom from ship own
ers' influence in order to properly per-
form it's very difficult and, to the pub
lie, most important duties. We believe
that by cooperation we may be able
to assist in these matters.
1--WE know that certain very import
ant provisions Of the ~seamen's act
have failed to effectuate. We believe
that BY such cooperation we can i'm
prove upon the situation and theteby
assist in bringing the operating wage
cost Of foreign competitors up to the
American standard.'
The Seafarers' council will maintain
a legislative committee at Washington
to watch the law.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19

Walsh replied:
"Assuredly. Employers who are cut
ting wages are looking solely towards
profits. It il the easiest way to get
them.
Mr.. Walsh asserted the great for
tines in the packing industry, had
been built upon low wages paid COM
mon labor, millions Of dollars Of the
great fortunes coming from a few
cents on hour chopped off unskilled
workers. pay, dating from 1903.
During the war, common labor in
the Chicago packing plant was in
creased from % to 43 cents on hour.
E zen then common labor didn't get a
living wage. If all, demands had been
met the added cost in beefsteak
would have been but a fraction of q
cent. There was shameless profiteer-
ing by the packers during the war
"The harvester trust st Chicago
bases its labor rates on the packing
house scale. recognized as stand
ard.'' - sss. ss.zE ss n a 5#s.ss 81
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19
employees C Ant
STAND WAGE CUT
Pennsylvania Mediator Makes
Strong Statement In Behalf
Of Workers Living Wage.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb: 17.In urging
statewide conference Of employers
and employed, to consider the wage
question, William J. Tracy, chief Of
the state bureau Of mediation, said:
''The result Of our Investigation
shows that while the employer has
good arguments to reduce wages, the
employe cannot take the reduction at
thi slime. The investigation shows
that the staple articles have not been
reduced. Bread, butter. coal, milk,
etc., are just as high as ever. While
clothing has come down, it is not an
important item to the workers. Now,
while these staples are up the en-
ployer asks for wage reductions. The
worker is frequently compelled to pay
more rent than ever. know Of sevy
eral cases where rents were jumped
SIS in one month when the wages Of
the men were cut"
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19
WAGES IN wake
OF HIGH PRICES
Former British Food Controller
Sounds Warning Against
Reduction In Wages. "

LONDON, Feb. 12.-'Labor is the
human side of industry and must be
considered in tho terms Of men and
women and children" said J. r.
Clynes, trade unionist and member of
parliament. in discussing wages and
prices in a local newspaper. Clynes
was British food controller during a
portion Of the World war.
Sacrifice cannot be carried far by
the families Of wage earners." he
said. Life standards must be MAIN
tanned.
"Prices were raised. very soon after
the war began, and long prior to any
demand for increased wages. In
deed, that demand arose only because
the pressure Of ascending prices was
too great for the workers to bear.
but many factors have increased
prices in addition to such higher
wages as the workers may have OBJ
tanned. In many industries and busi-
nesses profits have been increased in
a greater degree than wages, and ad-
vantage has been taken Of the art1-
ficial trade had to be conducted dur
ing the war to increase enormously
the value Of a number Of business and
interests.
'As prices went up without the in
fluence Of higher wages, what guar
anteee is there that prices would be
reduced If wages were reduced? It
would be difficult to convince the
workers that wage reductions, If
a brood to- wi1l ins11re a suhStantial re-
duction in the cost Of living"
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19

cuts now being made could not be JUS
titled on q lower living cost basis and
predicted that 'before the Harding
administration is year old" it would
be necessary for the country to re-es-
tablish an organization similar to the
war labor board If there was to be in
dustrial peace.
''The move to destroy the labor
unions and depress wages" Walsh
said, comes from the heads of the
basic industries of America. These
include the steel companies, corn pro-
ducts companies. oil and manufac-
tured oil products companies, the
electrical industry and the building
industry.
DO you believe organized labor
should oppose such a mover"
II do" Walsh replied. "There is no
industry during the war which in
creased the wages to common labor in
a proper portion to meet the cost of
labor as added on to the price of
products. There is no instance in the
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19
union Halter IS
FORCED ToQU|7'
Interraeia| Council Forces vii.
liam H. Baer to Resign as
President Of Society.

NEW YORK, Feb. 17.-William H.
Barr, president Of the anti-union Ma
tional Founders association, has re-
signed the presidency OF the inter-
racial council. The interracial council
is composed largely Of large employ
err who are attempting to take charge
Of the entire immigration question.
Barr injected the anti-union issue
in the council and the other employers
realized this weakened the council,
which claimed to be non-partisan on
the union question. Recently John
Golden and John P. Frey resigned
from the council. The former is presi-
dent Of the United Textile Workers of
America and the latter is editor Of the
International Molders' journal.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19

Great business interests Hooking
solely toward profits and the amass-
ing of immense fortunes for them
selves are waging a national and in
tensive battle to"beat down wages be-
low a. decent standard Of living'' and
to ''smash the labor unions" Frank
P. Walsh, former associate chairman
Of the national war labor board, told
the International News Service re-
Gently.
"This drive is being pressed de-
spite the fact that three-fourths of
all industrial skilled and
unskilled-in the United States today
receive wages insufficient to maintain
a family Of five in decency and COM
fort"
Mr.. Walsh stated prominent en-
ployers, in appearing before the labor
board, had indicated that "they would
stand for increased wages during the
war, but afterward; we'll get back to
q pre-War basis" He asserted wage
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19
BUILDERS DISCARD COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
Firm MADE $5,ooo,Ooo
LAST YEAR and YET IT
WOULD REDUCE WAGES

NEW YORK, Feb. II. - Last
years profits of the Anglican Steel
Foundries that are a3ltcable to
dividends approximate rs, ,oo0, 200,
or about $3.50 share Ia common
stock. E4
A few years ago thl corpora
tion reduced wages at 3 plant In
Granite City, Ill.,, and refused to
meet q committee of employees.
"A strike resulted and an injunc.
ton was issued against the strik-
ers by Federal Judge Humphreys,
who declared that all picketing is
illegal and that the central body is
a conspiracy. This decision was set
aside by the court Of appeals and
the corporation took the case to
the United States supreme court,
where it 1s now being considered.
The case is looked upon as one of
the most important ever before the
high court.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19
BIG BIZ NOT ALARMED
. OVER RAIL SITUATION

NEW YORK, Feb. 17.-A Wall
street publication voices the views OF
hie business when it calls on brokers
not TO: become excited over differences
between railroad managers and rail-
road shop employees, even though
those differences void lead to strike.
cAttention is diverted" says this
bubHeation. from the most salient
l9etoe Of the situation, which is that
tatntory laws guarantee a. stipulated
otarn on property values" =..'. .
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19

CAO4A0Oos AOJ AOO3
humor to starVe amid plenty.
They demand that the government
shall cease dilly-dallying and adopt a
policy which will insure work or ade-
quate maintenance. They insist that
worldwide peace shall be secured at
the earliest possible date, and that
trade relations with Russia, Germany.
and other nations shall be established
at once.
Pending the complete rehabilitation
Of industry they ask the government
to appropriate money for pubic
works-roads, housing, etc.-1n su1fl-
cient sums to take care Of the 5obless.
If work is not provided they then de-
mand maintenance on the basis of 40
shillines a. week for married men.
International Conspiracy.
The Herald the organ of the labor
party, in first-page editorials, declares
there is evidence Of an international
conspiracy to reduce wages. In that
connection 1t points out that the sit
uation in the United States is just as
menacing from labor point of view
as in any other country.
"ndL 6OIt VI IcopO1loO IAS 5o'SAAA
ment will make to the labor demands
is still problematical. The reaction
aries are in complete control in parlia-
ment and back of parliament is the
army.
The more optimistic Of observers
take the position that if the country
can "muddle through" until the first
of March the crisis will be over. They
20 on the theory that by that time the
problems of trade with Russia and
the settlement of the German repara-
ton issue will have been disposed Of
a.. the world will be moving along
normal lines.
Coal Miners. Tircked.
The coal miners are In an ugly
mood. The government has announced
that It will relinquish control of prices
in the near future and the miners
fear that this means return to prl-
vate ownership and reduced wages. Al
the moment the miners representa-
tives and the mine owners are dis
cussing a. permanent wage basis, with
the understanding that a report will
be submitted to the government py
March 81 The workers are afraid
that at the last moment the employers
will prove unreasonable and become
parties to the international attack on
wages.
When the miners returned to work
after the recent stritc it was with the
understanding they would increase
tn, output. They have kept their bar
gain to the letter. In fact, they have
done better than they promised.
Now they find that increased pro-
duction means increased profits for
the mine owners but provides sur
plus which will probably be used to
decrease the compensation Of the
miners.
Any attempt to trifle with the
workers will inevitably lead to serious
trouble.
AIilitarists Plotting.
English labor is very much dis
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19
HEAR1lESS COAL OWNERS
hSSAlL STRIKING miners

WILLIAMSON, w. Va, Feb. IT.
The heartlessness .; coal owners ir
this section Is shown in q Statement,
issued by them in which they assaii
striking miners who have been evicteo
from company houses and are forced
to live IN tents with their wives and
children against snow covered noun
tains .5 s.s Es szszzg z IS
The coal owners declare that the
miners would rather live in this condi.
ton than work. ss
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19

)174 per cent higher than in 1913 and
$50 per cent higher than in 1915.
Since then, however. some building
materials, such a. lumber, have taken
heavy drop, due largely to a lack
Of demand and the congested condi-
ton Of lumber yards.
Even If the cost Of living has not
been reduced sufficiently 30 warrAnt
reductions in wages that does not say
that labor would sit arbitrarily on the
lid and play no part In aiding to en-.
courage building by accepting nomi
nal reductions. The point 10 that la.
Dor refuses to permit the contractors
to fix wages without giving the work
ers anything to say about it.
Iowa Situation Exemplary.
Down in Iowa the building con
tractors did little thinking for them
selves. They didn't permit the non
employing "open shoppers to dictate
their labor policy. Fortunately for the
Iowa building industry the state con-
tractors association was presided over
by man who had long experience
with labor situations. He induced his
associates to appoint a labor commit.
tee to meet a like committee Of the
building trades, and through collect
i've bargaining they will work out
scales Of wages and rules Of employ
ment satisfactory to both sides.
The action Of the Minnesota build
ers In making arbitrary wage scales
for the workers is q step backwards.
They are repudiating collective bar
gaining, the one thing that gives sta
bi1ity to any industry. Without it the
building industry may find itself
strangled by series Of strikes that
would considerably hamper, if not de-
stroy, building operations for the sea-
son.
"Open Shop" Deceit.
Union labor has all along contended
that the campaign for the So 2alled
''open shop" was but ruse to weaken
the unions and destroy collective bar
gaining. The Minnesota builders have
proved the case for union labor
Should a building trades strike be
called in Minnesota as C. result Of the
action by the state building employ
ers' association the issue will be
fought out, not so much against re-
ductions in wages as it will be to
maintain collective bargaining. We
do not believe the building trades
union men will lay down like smelts
and accept the edict Of the builders.
The surrender Of collective bargaining
will mean the opening wedge for stil'
further reductions in wages, and none
know this 80 well as do the expert
enced workmen Of the building trades.
Contracts Violated? When?
According to the action taken at
the st. Paul meeting Of builders the
new wage scales will 90 into effect
February 81. except where. contracts
with unions terminate at later date.
Mr.. F. W. Armstrong of, the Duluth
Builders Exchange interprets such to
mean that where unions have violated
their contracts the employing build:
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19
BOILER MAKERS STRIKE.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. Feb. 17.-Or-
ganized boiler makers suspended
work rather than agree to the en-
ployers' violation of contract which
does not expire until May II The bos-
ses want to cut wages ~ cents an
hour for shop work and 20 cents an
hour for outside wor.:.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19
PRINTERS RAISE WAGES.

DETROIT, Mich, Feb. 17.-Com-
mercial shop members Of Typograph-
ical union No. 1S have secured wage
increases through arbitration. The
old rate of $44.50 for day work and
$47.50 for night work is increased to
$46.50 for day work and $3.50 for
night work and will date back to Nov.
/, last.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19
BANKERS FAVOR, STRIKE.

RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 17.-Bank-
ers fro mtobacco sections in Virginia,
North Carolina and Kentucky have
joined with the Tobacco Association
Of the United States to urge linn
itation Of next years crop.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19
LEASE RAISING ILLEGAL.

SAN FRANCISCO. Cal, Feb. IL
Superior Court Judge Van Nostrand
has ruled that landlard cannot evict
a tenant who refuses to pay more rent
than his lease calls for.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19
MR.. MERCHANT

LAS it occurred to you that this paper goes
/ into the homes Of the best paid working.
men in Duluth and surrounding territory2
Il is carefully perused by every adult mem
Der of the household. There is no better ad
vertising medium anywhere.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-19
4R. WORKING MAN

:. TBS ,1ouf paper. Il publishes matter
% your life and welfare. It
tty$ - needs your support. Il cannot
extsttwitllut it. Your cause would be weak
indeed without labor paper to champion it.
Become . reader and subscriber.