Evening star., 1922-09-26

er on the subject. Coming back to
the city over which he was mayor ior
| four years, he turned to the practice
| of law. The townsfolk made him
! president of the chamber OF COM
| merce. He is esteemed by republicans
and democrats alike-they al! nave
F: a good word to say for the former
! Secretary of War, but when he wrote
| his so-called open-shop letter he Went
[ up even higher in the opinion or the
! professional and business men ana
one might say even In the view OF
many trade unionists who are out OF
sympathy with the radical fringe IN
: their movement.
Mr.. Baker didn't ally himself really
: with either side, as the term open
/ shop is confusing. He lined up with
the public as against the factions who
prey on the public purse with strikes
and lockouts But the best way to
own words, which antagonized some
labor leaders, but won unanimous
| approval outside that group:
| THE term open shop as used IN
! the labor policy of the Cleveland
| Chamber of Commerce is unhappily
confused with the term closed non
union shop 1t is therefore necessary
! in this discussion to remember what
/ the true meaning of that phrase IS.
! 1t describes labor relation in which
| workers are wholly free to join or
not to join unions. in which the prin-
| ognized as sound and just. and in
, which the workers when unable to
, agree with their employers have a
right to be represented by represent
atives of their own choice in wage and
| other employment negotiations. in
such an open shop no man is to be
| Disseminated against because he
| holds a union card and correspond
| ingly no man Is to be disseminated
! against because he does not hold such
| a card.
| Expresses Own View.
! Trade unionist. as I have always
been and am, cannot bring myself to
! believe that labor relations are the
concern only of employers and en-
ployes as separate and contendine
classes In every labor question there
are really three parties. The public
has an interest too little recognized
and rarely represented l think
your district council (Mr: Bakers let
ter was written to the painters union)
will be obliged to agree with me that
In the last ten years the principle OF
trade unionism has made little or nc
headway. Temporary raises in wages
have, 1t is true, been obtained. but al
lHc pTeSSHl IlOHSHI IIlSl c ID d " luc
! spread public sentiment against labor
unions. and the whole wholesome prin.
cipIe is. in my opinion. endangered by
the growing realization on the part OF
the public that the practices followed
are hurtful limitation upon produc.
tion and a dangerous Limitation OF
economic freedom to American citi-
Zens. -"
IF there ever was . time when we
could be tolerant of the lockout and ths
.strike as a. means OF settling labor con.
it.overses that time has passed. Every
good citizen must now realize that hii
duty to his country requires continuous
labor and the adoption of rationa
solution Of the problem which hereto
fore we have allowed TO be fought out
with reckless disregard of economic
consequences"
Naturally there was howl from
labor quarters at this doctrine. Newtor
Baker has always been known as Z
progressive democrat He Is chairman
Of the democratic county committee. HI
heard more than murmurs from tht
politicians. He said he had expressed
his own view-he wasn't committing
the party to anything but 1t is note
worthy that Mr.. Baker continues in con
troll Of the county organization hert
just the same.
Copyright, 1927