Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1925-01-09
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
AND
CONTROVERSIAL QUESTIONS


the Board of Directors Of the Chamber of Commerce
planning of the action Of certain unnamed employers Of
the Twin Cities in employing outside Labor while Union
men of Champaign- | lrbana we're unemployed.
The letter asked that tire Board of Directors adopt
resolution condemnng this practice giving reason
the fact that foreign labor takes out of Champaign the
money in wages that should be spent with the merchants
of the Twin Cities.
The Chamber of Commerce board decided that the
question controversial and authorized letter of con-
dolence the Painters expressing their sympathy fo
Union in the Twin Cities but explaining that the
board could take action because of strict policy of the
Chamber not to enter into controversy.
To Organized Labor this action seems IN direct con.
tradcton to action of the board other public questions
Within the last year the Chamber of Commerce through
it's board of directors has taken decided action several
controversial questions.
At least its action has led to controversy. One note
worthy instance is the transfer of tract of ground to the
Circle Products company which bitterly opposed by
members of the South Side Improvement Association
This of course was business that directly concerned
the Chamber of Commerce. but the question proved to be
controversial
In the Judgment of The Review no civic organization,
that pretends be dedicated to the good of the whole
community maintain neutral attitude upon ques-
tions that are of vital interest to the city
1t is of vital interest to the city, and particularly To
the merchants of the city who form large body of the
membership of the Chamber Of Commerce and to Union
Labor that the money paid in wages employees be al
lowed circulate in the Twin Cities and not be trans
fered to other nearby cities.
1t is also Of vital inter rsst that the Union of
Champaign and Urbana be employed Wnen thefe Is WORK
to do Consequently the policy of certain employers to
import labor both skilled and unsled from other cities
neghboring towns is direct blow at every mercantile
Interest of this community.
For such reasons it appears that the Chamber Of
Commerce might easily have taken definite stand in
cordance with the Painters request.
Organized Labor has inclination to dictate what
action the Chamber of Commerce shall take upon given
question But Union men, the whole, are fully con
scious that sympathy without generosity is nil.
Just why the board should have taken neutral stand
this question is problem They pronounce the ques
ton controversial But that is apparently not the real
reason though members of the board of directors have
evidently persuaded themselves that it is.
The evidently is that to favor Union Labor is
considered dangerous precedent To offend contrac-
tor who wishes to employ outside Labor is serious
oense than to offend Union Labor and productive of
more harm to the Chamber of Commerce.
The Review appreciates the situation in which the
Board of Directors finds itself and extends its heartfelt
sympathy The deicacy of their situation in dealing with
question of vital public interest is deserving of SYM
pathy. But send no flowers.
The Painters Local did not raise the question of
wages the question of employing Union nonunion
men. The scale paid to out-oftown employees pre-
sumaby the that paid to local Union men, and the
employees thus imported may have been Union employees
The question raised had merely to do with the H.
praccabty of employers going to other cities for help
while members of the Twin City Federation of Labor
were seeking employment