Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1922-02-10


meeting at Labor Hall proved mis-.
homer, inasmuch as IL was intended
that IL be gathering of business
men and workers, and the business
men, with but Few exceptions, fall
ed to show up.
Labor Was particularly interested IL
this meeting, because the speakers
at the Associated Employers meet
ing at Masonic Temple the previous
Monday night were 10 have been an
swered, and II was presumed those
who attended that meeting woule
have been Interested In hearing ths
other side Of the case.
Chairman Jim Brown opened the
meeting. After several solos by MIR
Lucas, accompanied on the plano by
Mr.. Cohen. Thomas inman, a mean
ber of Carpenters Union No. "A oi
the Twin Cities, took the floor MIR
lnman ably defended organized labor
and brought forth arguments to show
that the closed shop IL not only jus
tihable. but an absolute necessity 70
the advancement Of the workers. he
| lferfinR N tho hslldinR trades strik
| In GiiicaRu No said the bankers of tha
city had subscribed $4,000, 900 70 pu
organized labor out of business, an'
this was the organization referre'
to by Mr.. Rosenthal when that gen
tleman talked Of citizens commit
tee TO enforce the Lands award. Al
to the unions being n strike agency
the strike In a necessity, IA the last
resort, To bring about conditions
asked by labor. The strike In mol
only used by organized labor, but l;
employed effectively at times by the
unorgnnized, and by business, espe.
eially Big business. Mr.. Inman said
that while laws have been made de
elaring strike Of workers unconsti-
utes TO prevent business from strik.
ing at any time II pleased.
Wages are up because cost OF liv-
ing Is up, said MIR. inman. Az long
as one class Of people have the priv
ilege of setting prices both ways, the
working class will suffer. That Ia
what Ii the matter with the farmers
today, said Mr.. lnman. They pay
what they are told to pay, and re-
ceiye what the buyer wishes TO give.
Concerning broken contracts, MIR. In
man said that In his six years in the
local labor movement, he could not
recall single instance where organ
ized labor had broken its contract,
while fragrant violations Of contracts
by employers were In evidence
throughout the country.
|. II. Garman OF the Building In
borers' union, speaking on the "opcn
shop" proposition, said the open
shop" means lower wages, lower
wages means less buying power, and
less buying power means reduced
standard Of living for the worker,
and decreased sales for the merchant.
The "open shop" means taking child
rem out of school TO work In the fac"
tory, return to sweatshop conditions.
Low wages prevail In Mexico and
China, and those who are In favor Of
low wages should consider conditions
in those countries.
Mr. Garman does not believe the
majority Of business men desire the
"open shop" which would create tur-
moil and confusion, for 1t would be
impossible for union and non-union
men 10 work tremendously under such
conditions. Outside influences are
responsible to a great degree for the
agitation locally for the "open shop
Referring TO the expense Of oper-
ating under "open shop" conditions,
Mr.. Garman said the Sixth street
pavement had cost 80 per cent more
under "open shop" conditions than
Green street In Urbana had cost built
by union labor.
Much of the blame for a dearth Of
building operations In the Twin Cities
was due TO the fact, Mr.. Garman said,
that local banks would not lend mon
ey for local building and public inn
provements, while at the same time
their money was lent freely 10 the
packers and others in Chicago and
used for the purpose Of putting over
the "open shop"
If we are going TO have the open
shop" Mr.. Garman said, let's have II
all open-bar association, medical as
sociation,, Rotary Club, kiwanls,
Chamber of Commerce, Associated
Employers, and all other organiza-
ton of like nature-then we can all
start over again on an equal fOoung
Reading newspaper head lines one
sees Soup Kitchens in Bloomington,
BREAD Lines In Springfield" etc.
as the result Of lowered wages anc
aopen shop" methods. So far, ther'
4 Is nothing Of the sort IN ChampmgI
and Urbana, and won't be, unless th'
"open shop" changes local condition.
TO the extent that makes those condi
tions necessary.
The working man wants more 'hSl