The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-05-21
THE UNION SHOP.

1t is refreshing during these hate
engendered days to get a refreshing
breath Of pure air from source that,
has long been neutral on issues grow
ing out of the labor problem. In the
last issue Of "Our Sunday, Visitor'
there appeared strong and convincing
editorial from the pen of Rev. Ber-
nard X. O'Reilly Of St. Louis, in de-
Tense of the union shop. 1t is as fol-
lows:
"The campaign for what is termed
the "open shop' has assumed tremen-
dous and threatening Importance. Many
of the leading metropolitan dailies
have been subsidized to the cause and
the country is being covered by speak
ers and flooded with literature. The
open shop is heralded by capital as the
American way, the way of justice and
fair play, and an emphatic refusal to
close the door of opportunity to man
simply because he does not see fit to-
Join the ranks of organized labor.
''lt may be quite true that organized
labor may not in every circumstance
demand that none but union labor shall
be employed, but there are conditions
under which a union workman has the
right to demand that none but a men,
Der Of the union work with him. There
is no doubt that the present fair con.
ditions under which labor is working
are due to the resistance and agrees
siveness of organizatio
"The man who does not belong to
the union receives benefit from the
union. 1t is only fair that he should
help to bear the expense. It is also
to be noted that the presence Of non
union workmen prevents peace and dis
cipline in the workshop. It provokes
constant friction between the two
classes of Workmen. It is a we'll known
TACT that under the principle of the
open shop the average employer will
gradually eliminate union labor or re-
duce their wages to a lower level. It
may be truthfully said that the open
shop makes for the destruction Of or
ganized labor.
elf organization is necessary that
labor may receive its just dues it has
the right to defend its existence by
demanding the union or closed shop.
If it can be shown that the closed shop
10 necessary as means to secure or
continue fair conditions of labor there
is no injustice in organized labor de.
manding the necessary means to pre-
serve its own existence
lit is urged that the closed shop
violates the principle of individual lib
erty. 1t not infrequently happens that
the liberty of the individual must be-
sacrificed for the common good. The
individual laborer should not find it
an unreasonable Interference with his
liberty when he is asked 10 comply with
conditions which are necessary that
justice be done the mass of the work
ers. The individual should be willing
to sacrifice his personal freedom when
lnsistence upon it would mean injux-
tice to his fellow workman.
"Advocates Of the open shop argue
that the closed shop policy deprives
the non-unionist of his natural right
to work. We do not deny to any man
the fundamental right to earn his
living.
"The right to work is sacred, but
the question involved at present is the
conditions under which he may exer-
else his right to work. The right CT
the non-union man to work is not IN
unconditional right. He has 10 right to
work under unreasonable conditions, or
If in the exercise Of the right ne in
jures the mass Of the workers.
eff the closed shop is necessary that
workers obtain just wages and proper
working conditions it does not violate
the right Of the man who does not
belong to union even though it would
prevent him from obtaining employ
ment. Every right must be exercised
within reasonable limits. If the open
shop may be invoked as fundamental
right under any conditions it would
mean that the laborer may be forced
to work under conditions that are un-
reasonable.
1.-The whole argument rests on the
question whether or not the closed shop
is necessary that workmen may work
under fair conditions. In the light Of
the history Of labor's fight for JUS
tice it would not be So difficult to give