The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-06-18
BIG MONEY TO FINANCE OPEN
SHOP DRIVE

SlTlhe insurance as an adJunct TO the
open shop drive is now being written
by a number of mutual companies faith
cred by large concerns employing labor.
Employers who have hitherto dealt
fairly with the unions are being guar
antecd against loss if they will break
with labor organizations. Printing
firms were urged to repudiate their
agreement to put the 44-hour week into
effect on May l and they We're prom
ised sum equal to their usual profits
and overhead expenses in event strike
Of employees took place.
Who is putting up all this moneys
That is the question being asked by
members Of organized labor. Of course,
the most Of it is being put up by the
commercial, financial and industrial
combines which inaugurated the OPEN
81 op movement. Recently several strike
insurance companies have been formed
TO handle this feature Of the campaign.
One of these is the Employers Mutual
Insurance and Service Company Of Bal
timore, with Edward C. Myers, presi-
dent; Emlcn T. Littell, vice president
and secretary; Louis s. Zimmerman
treasurer, and Morris Griffith, assistant
secretary.
There could be no criticism Of strike
insurance if conducted along legitimate
lines, like accident, life, hail, flood and
tornado insurance, but WHEN it is used
as an lnducement to employers to wage
war on labor unions, that is quite an
other story. Recently the Baltimore
concern sent to employers printed
folder, with charts and tables, calling
attention to the rapid growth Of the
American labor movement, in which it
says: "Labor is powerfully organized,
not only by trades but in one great
positive and financial federation. The
most complete answer to organized Ia
Dor S methods is insurance.
Members Of the mutual' are reim-
bursed flor actual loss not exceeding
the per diem indemnity caused by
strike beginning at any time while the
policy is in force, for period not ex.
ceeding 500 working days.
The American Federation Of Labor
has been investigating the strike insur-
ance business and finds that Its deyel-
opment is co.existent with the campaign
Tor the open shop inaugurated by the
United States Chamber of Commerce
and related associations Of employers
soon after the armistice was signed. In
discussing the Baltimore "mutual. -
Frank Morrison, secretary Of the Fed
Grafton, said:
1t would be interesting to know the
influences that are back of this partic.
''lar company. The fact that it was
brought into existence during the time
mat the money powers were endeavor.
ing to impede the activities Of the
unions and endeavoring to destroy
them raises u suspicion in my mind that
it may be used as a means Of encour.
aging employers to enter into indus.
trial warfare with their EMPLOYEES for
the purpose of reducing wages and in.
creasing hours. It is certain that the
development Of strike insurance COM
panies will be potent factor in in
cr~asing industrial strife, providing
there is unlimited financial supnort
available.
1t is not conceivable that any single
company could induce employers to pay
premiums large enough to guarantee
them against loss through strikes. Even
it it did, it could not guarantee en-
ployers against loss of trade and Gus
TONERS to other employers who were
wise enough to enter into agreements
with their employees so they might be
in a position to supply the public with
their products