The New York herald., 1921-06-06

tndI tne code was not issued as an ult1-
natum. He adds. however. that II rep
resents the sentiment OF IS per cent. of
the employers of the town and that this
rs per cent. represents about 80 per cent.
Of the capital invested in local indus
trials.
Stand for Freedom Of Contract.
Entire freedom of contract should
exist between the employer and the en-
ployed without interference by any out
side interest not primary party to the
contract" says the New Haven code.
I'VE believe that the prescribed hours
of work should be governed by the ma
.ure ,s the work" st continues. I'VE
believe that overtime work should be
discouraged so far as possible. The pub
lio's right to uninterrupted service Is a
consideration of more Importance than
the average question in dispute between
those ensa Sed i'm giving that service"
And then the typical stand of the open
shop advocate:
1--WE believe that negotiations should
be limited to negotiations between the
employer and the proper representatives
of members of his own organization"
Several employers OF labor in New
Haven. declaring that they forbade the
use OF their name because of the
present critical and badly balanced
situation" declared that they are not
hopeful of destroying the labor union.
Rather" said one of them, 1--WE long
to reach stage where we can hire men
who are men we need and to whom we
can pay wages commensurate with their
individual capacities to earn. Do not be
deluded into thinking that there are not
thousands of men within unions, here
and elsewhere, who are members of their
unions simply because they cannot get
work unless they have their cards. The
majority of such men could earn much
more than the maximum set by the labor
union. They want to earn what they
can and we want to pay them what they
earn
Up in Danbury there is no general
movement on for the open shop. The hat
industry (where the open shop applies)
is signing up again. generally speaking,
with the unions. The majority Of their
employees arc union men. but there Is
no discrimination against the outsider.
An exception to this Is noted in the Hill
and Loper factory. These hatters an
nounced a change from the closed to
the open shop. The union men quit.
Non-uni men took their places. The
hat factories of Frank II. Lee C Co.,
John W. Green & Sons and Fl. Nc
a.
1917 and are continuing on that basis.
Situation in Fall River.
In Fall River the building trades are
involved in strikes that will have i'm
portant bearing upon the outcome of the
open shop crusade there. In Spring
field the open shop has gained more than
q mere foothold. Five years ago the
employers united and to-day the prin-
ciple obtains in such large concerns as
the National Equipment Company. Gill
bert & Barker. the Moore Drop Forging
Company, the Bosch Machine and Tool
Company and the Package Machinery
Company.
The situation in the Moore Drop Forg-
ing Company is worthy of special men
ton. year ago this concern announced
the open shop. A strike resulted There
was considerable litigation regarding
contracts and alleged lawlessness. The
company now is applying to the courts
for a certificate of normalcy" stating
that no strike exists at the plant.
The unions have not made much OF an
impression upon New Britain. The open
shop obtains there generally. A few
years ago the machinists made a test
of it by striking. They returned to
work after a few weeks with no change
in conditions. The open shop is not
problem in New Britain.
And all the talk OF the labor leaders
may be summed up in the few words of
Mr.. OMeara.
"All the Industrial creeds and all the
anti-union alliances will fail to have
the slightest impression upon the labor
union" he said. 1.-The conditions will
remain the same. Until some one comes
forth with a plan so comprehensive
and just that It will take care Of and
satisfy both capital and labor In all
phases of every opposed contention we
shall have combinations of workers and
combinations Of employers each con-
tending that its cause Is just"