The Connecticut labor news., 1922-05-12
MANUFACTURERS TO FORCE ''OPEN SHOP"
 CONVENTION HEARS
Too Much With Unpopular Taxes.

Those members of Organized La bor who have been fooling themselves into the belief that the 'open shop drive Is over and soon industry will be normal again, had their eyes open ed this week if they happened to read any account of the annual meet Manufacturers held in New Yorl; city the early part of the week. Not only do the manufacturers want the open shop but they are going to in sist on getting 1t no matter what their employees may wan or insist on. The president of the association told them so and his remarks were long and loudly cheered making it evident that the fight Is yet on.
 The Monday afternoon session of the convention was devoted to com mittee reports, including one on the "open shop" which precipitated a lively discussion, in which everybody stood for the open shop. Congress was taken to task for spending too much energy in seeking taxes that are popular or that are the least unpopular especially among the manufacturers.
 
 upon spending all the proceeds of for eign loans for purchases here would probably mean that other nations more wise would outbid us in placing these loans and would likely use our funds for the purpose" said F. C. Schwedtman, vice-president of the National City Bank of New York. The closest possible cooperation be- tween exporter, bank and investor IS desirable, but control of one by the other is repugnant to our way Of thinking and opposed to economic law
 We shall always be able to hold our own in certain lines of interna tional trade, while in other lines we cannot hope to compete with foreign sales even in our home market. For eign trade for this country IS vital necessity, and its financing must be equal to the best in the world.
 We have more gold than we have any use for, and it would be better for everybody concerned If some of it could be used to stabilize the cur rencies of Europe and thereby in crease Europe's purchasing power of American goods. When normal times return, I believe there will be a long era of prosperity in this country that well stagger the imagination.
 The recognized truth that only through it's own ships can a country properly develop it's foreign trade makes 1t evident that only through such a merchant marine as we pro- pose can the foreign trade of this country be properly developed, and the industries of this country be given their proper opportunities, said Com missioner Hummer. Shipping is a means and not an end"
 On the subject of the open shop, George L. Markland of the Philadel- phia Gear Works, said there should be an open shop policy in every state, and that open shop was a logical American way of working" John Trix, president of the American In jector Company of Detroit, said that the shipment of 2I3,ooo automobiles out of Detroit last month was due to the open shop, while John E. Edger- ton, president of the Lebanon (Tenn.) Woolen Mills, and president of the thing being equal he would employ said:
 My plant is small and my em- ployes can organize for better work ing conditions, but I do not propose to have them organize for sinister purposes and be taught that they must get justice out of me with club. l want them to trust my sense of honor. 1 have so much faith in my employees that they can look at my books-and they have many times"