The New York herald., 1921-01-23
SENTIMENT is DIVIDED
Conditions in Different
Parts of U. s. Govern the
Workers Attitude.
SIDES LINE UP FOR FIGHT
Labor Is Laying Plans for
Hard Struggle Forced by
Employers.

Special Despatch to THE NEW York HERALD.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 22.-The Public
Ledger will publish tomorrow a sym
postum on the open shop question. No
attempt has been made to discourse on
the merits or shortcomings of the
movement either from the standpoint
of the employer or the unionist, for
the survey was made with the view
Of presenting that problem before the
public from both angles.
Sentiment on the question is divided,
according to reports gathered, and in
some sections there is much an
tagonism to It, In other quarters the
open shop Is hailed both by the en-
ployer and the worker. But each sec
ton has its own labor problems. Con-
ditions detrimental to the open shop
do not flourish in some sections. Thus
the question, according to reports, be-
comes one of conditions rather than
of men.
For instance, in New England the
feeling is one Of apatheuc tolerance
where the open shop long has flour
ished, but where the unions hold sway.
little or no attention has been made to
push the movement or even organize for
future action by Industrial and COM
mercial bodies. The sentiment among
the latter class tends toward allowing
the movement to grow in other parts
of the country, II grow it does, and
then to meet the issue when action is
necessary to protect their own inter-
ests.
Unions Line Up FOR Battle.
Union labor leaders. the dispatches
show. are lining up their forces for a
battle, and the employers can be pre-
pared for stiff opposition before what
the latter call the American plan be-
comes an established fact But even in
organized labor's ranks there appears
TO be a division of opinion regarding the
,nerits of the open shop question, and
one labor leader is outspoken in his sup
port so long as it does not interfere
with the unionists' rights of collective
bargaining and the right of organizing.
The leader halls from the metropolis of
the West, and he is outspoken in his
criticism of the manner in which the
American Federation of Labor arbitrar-
lily has acted during the last few years.
1t is IN the middle West that the open
shop movement appears " have made
the greatest progress. In Illinois cities
and towns have flocked to the standard
OF the Chicago Manufacturers Assocla-
ton until more than one hundred ciJies
have Joined the movement, and virtually
every other city and town in illinois
has signed a pledge to aid the open
shop.
There is no apparent counter move by
unions to combat that sweeping senu-
ment for the open shop. AS a conse
quence in the last year the number of
workers in the open shops has doubled
until more than a million are employed
In them and the total is steadily grow
ing.
The same conditions prevail in Ohio,
Kentucky and adjoining States. al
though in Cleveland a campaign is be-
ing waged by both sides and every eff
fort is being made to line up the senti-
ment of the people In the respective
camps. THE Blue Grass State, the
open shop partisans assert, is for the
American plan, heart and soul, but no
such glowing reports come from other
sections. However, the reports show
the open shop has gained n stronghold
In the middle West and the Mssssippi
Valley, and II viii take an upheaval
10 dislodge II from Its present position.
New York for Closed Ship.
In the Middle Atlantic States there
also is a division. with New York dis
trict strongly for the closed shop.
There the employers have taken no
steps to further the open shop. and the
unions are powerful but the Lockwood
Investigation may loosen the grip OF the
unionists In at least a part of the or
ganized field of workers. The garment
workers strike also may be factor in
the open shop campaign. reports show.
In Pennsylvania there is a division
of sentiment, with the western end Of
the State strongly open shop, while in
the anthracite region and other points
IL. the east OF the State the unions hold
sway.
The South presents contrast. In the
Alabama field the closed shop has domi-
mated the situation since 1907, but In
other points the business associations
are fostering open shops.
On the Pacific coast an even greater
expression for the open shop Is shown
by the survey In Los Angeles the open
shop has prevailed for twenty-seven
sears, while In most sections OF the
Pacific Northwest States fully 81 per
cent. OF the business organizations are
open shop.