The Washington times., 1922-05-16
SHOP
F OR
NEW HOME
IN CAPITAL
Compers' Protest to Defrees
Observation-Disclosures
Decidei Policy.

The United States Chamber Of
Commerce to-day threw down the
gauntlet to organized labor, an
that the new $4,000, 900
home Of the. chamber, now being
at Connecticut ave-
nue. and q street, the corner
stone Of which will be placed this
afternoon, will be built on the
"open shop" plan.
Means Open Defiance.
The action Of the chamber in nm.
that the mammoth Tenn
Pile to Commerce would be erected
on the open shop" plan is tanta-
mount to an open defiance of or
ganized labor and oame without
to union chiefs. who have
sought all along to Get the Cham
Der TO employ only union labor. ard
thus secure an endorsement Of union
labor by the Chamber.
Had union labor, recognised a.
such. been permitted to erect ths
new Commerce building. which viii
Be the finest structure of its kind IN
America, the action Of the Cham
Der IN employing solely union labor.
II was declared. would have been an
official Involvement OF organised
labor by the Chamber, which has
long been considered an arch-enemy
OF the union man.
The announcement Of the open
shop" program carried with Il the
unofficial statement that the action
Of the organization was not aimed
specifically at union labor. Workers
belonging to labor unions will not
be excluded from participation, but
will not be used exclusively. Under
union rules, however, organized and
labor are things apart and
not to be countenanced by either the
workers or union chiefs.
Rule a Defiance.
Labor union officials here state
that, in most cases, employment Of
non-union men on any job will pre-
clude participation by union men,
and that therefore the "open shop"
ruling of the United States Chamber
of Commerce virtually constitutes q
defy to organized labor, and is in
effect a decision to erect a building
entirely with non-union help.
The policy OF the chamber on this
matter follows a referendum of its
members on the subject OF closed"
and open shop" A large number
of the members who represent civic.
trade, and commercial bodies
throughout the country, voted for
open shop"
1t is understood that Samuel Com
pers, president OF the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, has presented q
vigorous protest to President Joseph
II. Defrecs OF the chamber, pointing
out the fact that tho chambers ac-
ton is a virtual exclusion OF union
workers, and directing attention to
the widespread effect OF the decision
by a body Of such national import.
ance.
Officials OF the American Fedora.
ton OF Labor refuse to discuss the
matter and state that no action will
be taken by the federation. Ques-
TONERS are referred to the Washing
ton building Trades Council, whose
officials state that no action Is con.
templated by that body. 1t is known,
however, that labor leaders through
out the country have been informed
OF the chambers action. and that or.
ganized labor in general is inclined
to resent the policy OF open shop" Hs
a direct and intended offense to or.
ganized labor.
Many Obstacles.
Officials OF the United States
Chamber of Commerce will not dis
cuss the building program. 1t is
known, however. that the action
OF President Defrees has strong
aunnort although not the una Mi NOUS