The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-06-04
ALLIANCE STILL
TRYING TO SWAY
PUbL.>*2op!!N|0N
Publishes Alleged Acts S&&*s
justices by Labor Unions Co..
ored to Suit Their Purposes.

The Citizens Alliance continues
in its paid newspaper campaign
against union labor, in which its
writer's "build men Of straw and
tear them down in their own way
as it suits their purpose. They
still put up to the public state
ments against labor unions writ
ten in their own terms and they
answer them in like manner.
Here is a dandy they put out Sun
day morning: Sisler, an electrical
worker, was discharged by his New
York employer on the demand Of the
business agent of the local union, Of
which Sisler was a member.
Cause His Discharge.
According to the Alliance version
of it, Clark, the business agent, ad-
mitted under oath that he had caused
his discharge and gave as his only
reason the fact that the executive
committee of the local union did not
like Sisler.
The court, according to the Alli-
ance, gave Sisler judgment against Of
flcials of the local union in the sum
of $500 damages.
1t is admitted that if Clark, the
business agent had no better reason
for insisting upon the discharge for
the reason that the executive COM
mittee did not like Sister," he was
dead wrong. That was not any rea-
son at all, but what seems strange to
us is that Sisler would go into court
when he stood better chance by
appealing to the international union.
If-he-was right he would have been
awarded back pay and his union men,
bership would have been restored to
him, and no lawyer would have got
ten all of his money.
Never Heard of Case.
We never heard of the case before.
but we will get the facts soon, ami
we will wager they will be different
from the Citizens Alliance statement
of the case A member of labor
union has every right within the
union that a business agent enjoys.
laws and they must be obeyed. The
International unions require it.
To have removed Sisler from his
job it would be first necessary to file
charges against him in the union, give
him opportunity to reply, then to try
him and if found guilty to vote the
penalty. If Sisler believed that he
did not get square deal he has the
right to appeal to the international
union, which would review his case
and see that he got justice.
Men Got Justice.
We had a similar instance in Du-
luth recently. Union carpenters were
ordered off job by vote of the local
union. The men refused to leave the
job, holding that the union was in
error and it was calling an illegal
strike. The union stood pat. Charges
were filed against the men who re-
fused to strike. They were found
guilty and fined. The men appealed
to the international officers. A sworn
statement of the case was filed. Tl,*.
action of the union was reversed aud
the fines Of the men were ordered re-
mitted. They got justice and Sis!er
sort.
Would sisler be any more free in a
non-union shop than he was in the
= union shop? Let us see. Supposi1g
the situation was reversed and the
non-union boss had taken a dislike
Cor Sisler and discharged him, what
redress would he then have? None at
all. The courts have held that d
boss can discharge an employe for
any reason and for no reason. The
Citizens Alliance never attacks thct
form Of sovietism in which the com:
missar boss has all to say about whom
he shall employ or discharge.
Age-Old Privilege.
Anti-unionists jealousy guard the
privilege they have long enjoyed o
discriminating against employees whon
they dislike, but how they do shou
for individual rights every time
labor union protests against the EN-
ployment Of an Objectionable person
In the last analysis the individua
stands much better chance to hav,
all his rights protected when there i
a strong labor union behind him tn l,
he would have if the boss had hi
own sweet way about it, as he ha
in the "open shop"
The "open shop is not contendin;
for the protection Of personal right
at all. His cry for freedom is mer
camouflage. He is fighting to con
tinue in his mastery over man. wher
there is mastery there is precious lit
tie regard for the personal liberty O
the workers.
Y The union shop protects the work
ers in their rights. The non-unio,
shop denies the workers every sem
blance of liberty. That is the dif
ference