The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-06-03
ANTI-UNIONISTS
COMPELLED TO
ALTER TACTICS
(By Samuel Gompcrs)

/ Confession that the open ShOp
campaign has proved a failure was
made public May 10 at the annual
! conventional of the National AS
ISOLATION of Manufacturers, held in
New York.
The committee on industrial bet
terment of that organization pro-
| tested against the defensive posi-
ion into which the members had
been forced by labor, and plain
lively declared:
A defensive battle is losing
battle"
The committee urged that an Of
and that the "open shop" movement
be stimulated by plans for indus
trial representation which would
bring about the following result:
"If plans for its adoption are
wisely introduced industrial repre-
sentation should become the most
approved method of dealing with
labor. Such plans could be inaugu-
rated where members Of labor or
CARNATIONS as well as Independent
workers are employed"
Having failed by cOercive tactics
to force autocracy in industry upon
the workers, the National Assocl-
alton of Manufacturers now pro-
pose to silence them by promising
a few of their representatives seats
on boards of directors Of the cor
porations. This would be empty
honor, indeed. The hopes and as
pirations of labor cannot be sat
isfied by the patronizing act of
| patting the workers on the back.
Sincerity of purpose of employers,
their whole-hearted interest in their
employees, can be best shown in the
contents of pay envelopes. When
that is lacking there can be no
encouragement for the workers in
having representatives on boards
of directors.
Furthermore, such a proposal is
to encourage the disorganization of
the organized and prevent organi-
cation of the yet unorganized.
The humiliating confession of
defeat of the "open shop" campaign
| officially corroborates the state
ments heretofore made by labor
that as the "open shop" campaign
| campaign conducted to serve greed
and special interests it was i'm
possible for it to succeed. This po-
sition has been maintained by labor
since the profiteering interests first
launched their agitation to enslave
labor.
The hue and cry for the "open
shop" also was intended as propa-
canada to influence legislation in
the states similar to that adopted
in Kansas to tie men to their jobs
But the propaganda proved un-
availing. Not a single state fol-
lowed the lead of disgraced Kan
sas. No more abiect admission of
defeat for an unworthy cause could
be made than that contained in the
report of the committee on indus
trial betterment to the Naonal as
ISOLATION of Manufacturers. 1t is
a cry for help. But the answer
will be the same as that which has
been made by the people to the I'M
fair employers since the campaign
began.
The failure of the campaign to
destroy trade unions proves two
| JhlngS, winch are:
First, that the working people
want trade union organization and
will not be driven from its pro-
lection, and
Second, that trade unionism is
fundamentally right, that it is
vital part of American democracy
in action and that the logic and
strength of its position are proof
against successful attack.
The opportunity seems fitting to
say to the workers of America and
to the employers that the American
Federation of Labor is about to be-
gin a great organizing campaign.
Organization work continues at all
times, but this work is to be inten-
sified. The message of trade I'M
ionism will be carried to every
corner of the land, to the limit of
our power. It's encouragement and
protection will be offered to the
workers everywhere.
American labor wants the value
of organization to be at the serv-
ice of the country, for the sake of
the protection Of the works and
for the sake of the value of or
ganization in the stimulation, en-
enlargement and facilitation of
production
The confession of the National
Association of Manufacturers
should be good news to all thinking
persons. Of no less value will be
the redoubled efforts to broaden
and strengthen the great demo-
cratic, constructive, liberty-loving
organizations of American working
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