The state herald., 1921-01-25
BY EDWARD W. PlckARD.


American industries and American
business generally are beginning to
speed up" and the more optimistic.
like Elbert II. Gary. chairman Of the
board Of the United States Steel cor
poration, declares there Is nothing un-
favorable to prosperity on the horizon.
Prices Of many commodities. including
some lines Of building materials, are
coming down steadily. and In many
plants wages are being reduced. In
some Instances the reduction being
made by the employers and accepted
gested by the workers themselves In
order that the plants may be enabled
to continue In operation.
All this Is quite satisfactory 70 the
ordinary citizen. but there Ia one dark
cloud, despite the assertions Of the op-
timists. This Is the coming fight be-
tween organized labor and capital over
the open shop. There are many signs
that the issue will be Joined soon. Lust
Wednesday the representatives Of
twenty-five state manufacturer assO-
ciations. In conference In Chicago.
adopted resolutions pledging support
for the open shop movement. In the
discussion many speakers declared
they would not employ union labor In
their factories and mills. but when the
vote was taken II was made clear that
the resolution did not propose any dis.
elimination against the holder Of a
union card. In substance the resolu-
ton was:
"It In recognized a. fundamental In
this country that oil law-abiiins citi.
xens or residents have the right to
work when they please. for whom they
please. and on whatever terms are mu.
tunlly agreed upon between employee
and employer and without interference
or discrimination upon the part Of
others.
1--WE hereby express our purpose to
support these fundamental principles
Of American plan Of employment by
the maintenance Of the open shop.
1--WE urge upon our members to Sc
cure by discussion and education the
active support Of workers. merchants.
bankers and professional men and all
other elements Of their prospective
communities In favor Of American
ideals end the opcn shop"
Only a few days previously nm at.
torney for the International Associn.
tion Of MnchinisS presented to the In.
tersiatc commerce commission u peti.
ton charging that the larger railrond
companies have united In an open
shop movement designed TO disrupt
unionisrn. and that they are this yenr
"miiking, the United States treasury to
The tune Of s7500o0.00o through their
car repair manipulation" The compa.
MES, Il In asserted. are closing their
repair shops and giving the work to
outside concerns which charge exorbi.
tnnt rates. and In this way more than
5000 workers have been thrown out
Of employment. According TO the ma.
chinists. this drive on railroad shop
workers Ia only ono phase Of q capt.
taiiutic "op~n shop" movement devsi.
Optnk tHfouRhout bc e"u"uy' ""e"
has for ats real object" disruption Of
.aii legitimate labor organizations and
trade union agreements"
Closely connected with the question
Of labor II that Of immigration and its
restriction. The forces Of organised
labor have been In favor of the John.
son bill, which would stop mll immlKra.
ton for one year. and ~ have many
ether elements Of the population. but
tate dispatches from washington indl.
cate hat the bill II 70 bs sidetracked