The labor world., 1921-12-24

employer and the union commit
tee had been one of endurance
Each side fought for every inch
Of ground The employer con
ceded rule after rule. The eight.
hour day was agreed to, mini
mum wage. the abolition of piece
work and d dozen and one other
things demanded by the union
The last clause in the proposed
trade agreement provided for the
Union shop.
The Union Shop.
The employer made his final stand
on the issue that he should be per-
mitted to employ and discharge
whom he pleased. "None but men,
bers Of the uuion," insisted the COM
mttee. I'VE can't maintain the
conditions We have here secured
without the Union shop" they said
The employer asked time to con-
slider. He left his private office and
islked thouGhtfully up and down
'sAAO " "dlI1iS iooIIl otllJOlIllIlS. LAC *
to him came recOllections Of his
early life when as worker he had
taken the same position. He had
been an all around union man, from
"stem to cOrr.' He refraiNeu from
supporting unfair firms. lie pat
rOniZed the Union label He sub
scribed for the local labor paper. and
he contributed literally to struggling
unions.
Labels We're Missing.
II wonder how sincere these mcn
arc?" he asked in silence. EUtic-
ing their hats and ovcrcuuts upou
the table. he examined each care
fully and found the label Of the
Hatters union in but one hat and
the label of the Garment Workers
union in but one ovcrcoat -Four
hats and four coats We're non-uniOn,
made. Inconsistency, thou art Il
minus factor in this day." said
to himself.
"Gentlemcn.' began the employer
as he returned to the committee
l can not repudiate my early cunvic-
tions You are right in your stand
You have no Secu. u.ity for the wages,
hours and conditions we have agreed
to without the Union shop. | un-
derstand it. III sign up and settle
our differences right now. but in do
ing so l want to be assured that I
>am dealing with honest, consistent
and sincere men who will live up to
ln~ir agreement with ne.
"Oh. we're all riglI ;" said the
chairman. "Our word is good. We
are loyal union men who have given
our pledge to live up to the tcnets of
trade unionism, among which is the
obligation Of contract "And
another is" cut in the cmplOycr.'
to purchase only such goods as bear
the Union label, the emblem OF
honest and we'll treated labor.
Rebukcs Sclfishncss.
The trouble with you men is that
You are selfishly looking out for the
Interests Of your small group of as
sociates without regard for the well
fare Of other Union workers. Your
Union could not stand alone over
night. The fact that there are more
than four million Union workers in
the country adds to the strength of
your organization, and it sustains
yOu."
I'VE don't get you," said the
spokesman Of the committee. "You
are not warranted in questioning our
integrity. We have always been
square with you. We are affiliated
with our international union to
which we pay per capita tax. We
asss also affiliated with the A. F. of
H., and pay our share towards it's
support. We never turn a deaf ear
to plea for help from a union in
trouble. Why do you say that we
are but selfishly looking after our
own interests without regard for
the welfare of others? You have
nothing upon which to base your
accusations"
"Ah. but I have" replied the en-
ployer. You have ,ked me to en-
ploy union men in this shop to the
exclusion of all others, and I have
agreed to do so, but you men are
greater employers than I am and
you employ non-union men to do
your work."
Could Not Get Him.
The members Of the committee
looked inquiringly at one another
The chairman broke the silence.
Again we don't get you," he said.