Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1922-03-03

The DEBATE DIT lilt Rldilo
tneatre last Sunday was at
tended by the largest audi
erce ever present at a mass
meeting held by the Twin
Citv Federation of Labor,
every seat in the theatre be-
ing occupied, and many
we're turned away.
Chairman James Brown
of the Mass Meeting Com
mittee. in opening the meet
ing. asked If there was any
one present from the Illinois
Manufacturers Association,
National Manufacturers
Association or the AsSoci-
ated Employers of Cham
paign and Urbana who
wished to debate the ques-
ton with Mr.. Frey. There
being no answer, the chair
man then announced the
subject for debate, "Resolv-
ed, That the Open Shop as
applied by American Indus
tries, is Unsound, Un-Eco-
nomic and Un-American, T"
and stated that the affirma-
tive would be taken by John
?. Frey, editor of the Mold
ers' Journal, Cincinnati, o.,
and the negative by Otis j.
Baer of st. Joseph, Ill.
Each speaker, in his turn, entered
into the debate well prepared to up
hold his side of the question. Mr..
Frey spoke with a conviction gained
from long years of experience in the
cause of unionism, and held his audi
ence's attention throughout his en-
tire talk. Mr.. Baer, while not the
finished orator or debater his oppon-
ent was, ably presented the stand
point of the "open shoppers" and
presented, probably, every argument
possible against the collective bar
gaining plan as advocated by the
uares unions.
Mr.. Frey, in opening the debate,
said:
| think that Mr.. Baer and myself
are indebted to you for your presence
here this afternoon. Neither of US
are personally acquainted with each
other and in debating this question,
We only have in mind endeavoring to
present our respective viewpoints.
American people had some years
ago a very splendid system of de-
batting societies and the result was
that the young men and older men
and women in the community occas-
ionally had that exchange of view
points, and that joint discussion on
some question that enabled them to
understand it better. Here in Cham
paign an effort is being made to re-
vive the old ideas of holding differ
ent views upon the subject--discuss
the question together on the same
platform, because that is probably
the most effective way that we can
acquire information.
| do not think it necessary to make
the statement that no question IN
IN this country is more important
than the industrial one. We woke up
more clearly to that during the war,
when We found that the question of
raising troops had very largely to do
with the question of production or in
dustry; that armies would be success
ful depending very largely upon it
and whether the industries at home
were able to meet with the military
needs. We know today our civiliza-
ton depends more and more upon in
dustry, than perhaps upon any other
factor. And, so far as the industries
are concerned--our industries are
concerned, might say, there is
probably no more important question
than the one which we are going to
discuss this afternoon. Strange to
say, it is important mostly in this
country and in Canada, because in
Europe the idea of the open shop and
what it stands for passed away some
Years ago, and instead of there being
mat opposition to organization among
workmen which We find in the United
states and Canada today, there is
rather a welcoming of organization
On the part of employers, particular
~ In Great Britain and also other
countries, because it has been found
out that industry depends more or
less upon cooperation-rght of wage
earners TO organization, so he can
study his problems and take them
up with his employer. This is neces-
sary for the success of industry-or-
sanlzatlon among the employers
themselves.
The open shop question is partieu
'arly an American question and not
world wide question so far as in
aaStry Is concerned. Now, unfortu-
hstely, the term "open shop" is some
what misleading. We read of the
open shop and We find it is called the
american Plan and the average mans
aand looks with favor upon anything
tnat is truly American, because we
are quite convinced in this country
ana more today than ever before,
Snat what is truly American is the
nhest IN the way of principle and
practice that any people on earth
Know anything at all about, and we
are all for what is truly American.
m but, there is danger in the term.
nose who invent terms are some
ames clever men.
@ Inc open shop: what does it mean?
oome years ago when the eastern
eyqntrles were being exploited by the
Viaer countries of Europe, diplomats