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9-20-1920 The Open Shop, Number Nine Business Men's Association of Omaha

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Recommended Citation Business Men's Association of Omaha, "The Open Shop, Number Nine" (1920). Digitized Books. 9. http://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/ascdigitizedbooks/9

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NUMBER NINE SEPTEMBER 20, 1920

Americanism or Classism ?

The time is fast approaching when we assured us by their embodiment in the must decide the political issues involved in Constitution. the coming election. It is true in this Remember, besides a President, we are election as it has been in the past that the to elect members of the National Congress vital issues are based upon the economic and officers of the state government. Test problems that face us. Regardless of all them by the issue as well. The American the noise that is being made and the voter should weigh the statements of the charges and countercharges that are candidates in their relation to the welfare hurled back and forth there are some im­ of the whole people and not to one class. portant issues that must be studied and We see the results of class dictation in conclusions that must be arrived at in a Russia and the ominous threats of it in dispassionate manner. England. Let us have none of it in America. Probably the most vital issue before us Which candidates will carry out the today is the one brought about by the rise principles of Americanism as we have of classism .in this country. We see an developed them in the century and a organized industrial cla$S entering into the half of our life as a nation? This is campaign with the avowed purpose of the rule by which to gauge the candi­ " rewarding its friends and defeating its dates. Go to the polls on November 2 enemies."" Its friends are either those and vote intelligently on this jlreat whose official acts in the past have been issue. particularly satisfactory to this class or who give assurance, if elected, to so act. Its enemies are those who have had the C. of C. Approves Open Shop courage of their convictions and whose By an overwhelming majority the convictions have at some time or other Chamber of Commerce of the United run contrary to the views of organized States approved the open shop principle labor's leaders. The test is not what may in industry in a recent referendum sub­ be best for the American people as a whole, but what will serve this class most. mitted to its members. That labor organi­ zations should be compelled to assume We grant every man the right to vote responsibility for their contracts and his own convictions. That makes it all agreements the same as other organiza­ the more the duty of every man, who tions and that strikes on public utilities ls interested in the welfare of all the should be forbidden, with tribunals pro­ people, to arouse himself· and put vided to fix wages and working conditions down the sinister movement that received almost unanimous approval. seeks to benefit one class only. This action by the National Chamber ef Study the party platforms, the speeches Commerce is significant of a growing of acceptance and subsequent pronounce­ feeling in this country that the day of the ments of the leading candidates and closed is doomed and that regardless of party affiliations vote for the American industry intends to free itself perpetuation of those American principles therefrom. The "handwriting on the wall" that were first declared by that intrepid ought to be apparent to the leaders of group of men on July 4, 1776 and later organized labor. 2

Our Creed "Umbrella Mike" A Leader "The Open Shop" Belleves- Another "leader.. of organized labor has ln close co-operation between employer received considerable publicity in the past and employees, in united whole-hearted effort by both to achieve the greatest good few months. Catered to by public officials, for their mutual interest and that of the is it any wonder that he has resorted to the public. most absurd means in asserting his In the settlement of problems between leadership? employer and employee by direct, open and fair negotiation. In January, 1917, after being convicted In fair wages, good working conditions of conspiracy to violate the Sherman Anti­ and complete freedom of , trust law by keeping non-union material both by employers and employees. out of Chicago, Michael Boyle, better "The Open Shop" Opposes the known as ··umbrella Mike,·· was sentenced ""- by Federal Judge Landis to one year in Because by this, union labor demands of prison. According to the Chicago Tribune, the employer that none but union members "'A reign of terror followed the labor move. be given work. that there be created a Gunners and bombers got on the job, monopoly of labor in the han~s of union according to the charges, and a great deal leaders. of property was deitroyed"' Because this principle is perniciously This character got his sobriquet from his unfair and unjust to the individual, who practice of hanging his umbrella on a bar has the right to exercise his own judgment rail in a Chicago saloon and compelling as to whether or not he wishes to become contractors and owners to drop a substan­ a member of a union and whose right to tial cash contribution therein in order to earn a livelihood for himself and family insure them against strikes while their should not be dependent upon that decision. buildings were being constructed. He is Because it is uneconomic in its tendency reputed to be worth $500,000. to destroy ambition, restrict production A legal fight lasting nearly three years and lower all workmen to a dead level of ensued, but the sentence was affirmed by mediocrity. the United States Circuit Court of Appeals Because it is thoroughly un-American and Boyle began to serve his sentence last and undemocratic in the facility with January. On April 28 the whole country which it lends itself to the creation of class was astounded to hear that President antagonism and class politics. Wilson had pardoned him. While Mike "The Open Shop" is for a square was under sentence he was re-elected deal for the public, the employer and business agent of the Electrical the employee, union or non-union. Workers' Union, and when llberated he immediately called a strike of the "Divine'*' '*' Rill,hts" * union electricians, completely tying, The Courts of Kansas have upheld the up the street car system of Chicag,o. new Kansas Court of Industrial Relations, Boyle's demand was that the south side car shops which had been operated as open and Judge Curran, who rendered the decision said: "The divine right to strike, shop, should be closed to all but union where it affects the health and welfare men. of the public must be relegated to the It might be interesting to know that realm where the divine right of kings has a protege of "Umbrella Mike," one Ray­ been sent. In stressing the divine right to mond Cleary, also convicted and while out strike, the divine right to work, the right on bond spent the spring and summer of of a man to have employment so he can 1917 in Omaha as a leader of Omaha provide for his wife and children has been workmen in the Building Trades strike of sadly overlooked." that year. 3

Omaha Street Car Decision "In general the service of the Com­ On August 18, the Nebraska State Rail­ pany is of a high standard. It now operates a larger number of cars, with way Commission rendered its decision in a greater mileage than at any previous the action instituted before it by the union time In its history. It a.lso hes upon its employees of the Omaha 81. Council Bluffs payroll a larger number of men than ever before, and at present there is no Street Railway Company, for an increased lack of men." wage scale, declining to grant any increase The opinion of the Commission discusses whatsoever. wages at length and states that 720 train­ The union employees complained the men working 25 days or more during May, wages paid were not sufficient to enable 1920 (a typical month), earned an average the Company to keep an adequate number wage of $152.66, the highest wage earned of competent conductors and motormen, for the month 'being $204.98; that the thereby impairing the service, and alleged remaining 138 men included those who for they had taken a strike vote and intended one reason or another did not work 25 to strike if adequate relief in wages was not days, and that- provided by the Commission. An increase "T tis a fair statement to say that of 13 cents per hour was demanded for those who were experienced and trainmen who now receive from 53 cents to worked faithfully during 26 days of 57 cents per hour, and a corresponding the month and a reasonable number of hours per day, received on the average increase for othe.r employees. upwards of $1 50. • • • ft should The Company raised the question of the be added in this connection that the Commission's jurisdiction to determine its wages of trainmen have been more than doubled from August I, 1914 to wage scale. The union employees, through this time. To be exact, they have their attorneys and leaders, appealed Increased on the average 114.98%. strenuously to the Commission to assume The Commission reviewed wages paid such jurisdiction. This the Commission other employees in Omaha "whose occupa­ did, holding that under its constitutional tions are comparable with those of the power to regulate the service of and to ComPBcny's employees in skill, responsi­ generally control common carriers, it could, bility ;nd effort required," and found :- in order to insure continued service, es­ "Only two or three of them reach tablish a scale of wages "sufficient to the level enjoyed by the street car attract and secure the necessary number of employees. The t timony shows that men to operate the system." men are continually leaving other employment, including some of those Thereupon the Company filed its answer mentioned above, to engage In street to the complaint, denying the wages paid car work. We cannot, therefore, say were inadequate or the service impaired that the wage paid by the defendant Company is not sufficient to attract and alleging its belief to be that the alleged suitable men and the- fact that its "strike vote" did not truly represent the Ii ts -are now full is evidence that they will of its employees and that a large pro­ arc coming in sufficient numbers.·· · portion of them were satisfied and did not The Commission also found the Com­ intend to strike. The Company further pany's contention that it was financially averred it was operating at a loss and was unable to pay higher wages under the financially unable to pay higher wages. existing fare of "four tickets for a quarter,·· to be true. During a hearing lasting nearly four In discussing the strike threatened by weeks much evidence was submitted to the complainants, the Commission said:- Commission by both sides. In addition the Commission made independent investiga­ "There is no place for a strike in the public economy of " stste that has tion of wages paid generally in Omaha. provided for regulation • • • The decision is a complete vindication of ""That the employees of the Company in this instance have Invoked the the Company. Concerning the charge of jurisdiction of the Commlss[on to .. impaired service," the Commission says: settle the controversy between them 4

and the Company Is a recognition of permits granted for the fiscal year ending the Tact that tbe people have the May I, 1920, totaled $20,881,488 and power to adjust these matters end that they have crea_ted a tribunal for permits for the first half of 1920 were that pu.rpose and we have every nearly $10,000,000. Before the organiza­ confidence that the decision of the tion of the open shop $8,000,000 worth of Commission will be received as a final building construction was being tied up by detemiination by all parties except oo far as they may desire to exercise labor troubles. All such difficulties have this right of appeal."' ceased under the new policy. Without rescinding the strike vote, but without putting it into effect, the Union has concluded to pursue its right of appeal From a Churchman to the Supreme Court of Nebraska. In these days when prominent men in the church and school are speaking and writing on industrial subjects, often with­ Think on This out close acquaintance with them, it is The three large cities in the United good to read the following extract from States that have had the greatest percent­ a letter Bishop Wm. A. Quayle of the age of growth in the last decade are militant Centenary Conservation Committee of ··open shop·· cities. Akron, Ohio, has in­ the Methodist Church wrote to Samuel creased 201.8%, Detroit 113.4% and Los Gompers: Angeles 80.3 %. "I believe that under the Declara­ tion of Independence and under the Take Los Angeles for an illustration. Constitution of the United States, it We read in Current Opinion for August, is absolutely illegitimate for any ma,, · 'One indication of what the open shop has or group of men to call any other done for the southern California city is American citizen a scab because he does not belong to their aroup or that in a circumference of five square organization. I hold that that must blocks, ten class A office buildings are now cease if America is to remB in a in the course of construction or are republic. I hold that the laboring shortly to be started." Upwards of thirty man constitutes all who labor, and that the words 'laboring class· to ready-to-wear garment factories have which all.honorable Americans belong, sprung up, employing nearly three thou­ must not be applied to a very small sand skilled workers. The Master Builders' minority of the laboring peoplc ..to the Association recently refused to bid on an e.'

Armies of Labor Employers Take Heed Conscription of labor is now openly For seven months Mr. Whiting Williams, admitted by the bolshevist government vice president of a Cleveland, Ohio, steel of Petrograd. company lived and worked side by side It is defended by the Lenine-Trotsky with coal miners, mill workers, ship regime on the ground that Russia needs builders and common laborers. He says of every ounce of brawn in the country. his experience: ·' I am perfectly sure, from all that I have At first the soviet government pretended learned in these seven months, that the that the alleged conscription was nothing worker as a whole is not bolshevistic, has other than the voluntary agreement of no desire to become an agitator, and does labor to conscript itself. not wish an overturn any more than you Neutral investigators who have come and I. If he ever becomes bolshevistic it out of Russia denied this, and charged the will be the result more of bad strategy on soviet leaders with actual enslavement of our part and good salesmanship on the part workers. of the agitator. As I see it, there is going Just recently the international labor on before our eyes the most crucial, most office of the League of Nations accused the significant and most serious selling contest bolshevik authorities of putting human the world has ever seen." labor under an iron military discipline. The solution of the problem of labor "We must create armies of labor, .. unrest, he believes, is for the employer to declares Leoine. look to the workers through the eyes of his But why "armies?" Why conscript daily job, to come into a sympathetic workers? Why put them into chain gangs understanding with him, to give him some to make them work? How can bolshevism comprehension of the part he plays in explain that? Wasn't it once the bolshevik industry and in general present the em­ theory that, decapitate capitalism, take ployer's side of the argument as skillfully away private property, and every person and energetically as the agitators are will be willing-yes, eager- to work? pressing theirs. Lenine and Trotsky once spoke volumes The worker is a human. The more of a in contention of that theory. American routine nature his job, the more his mind bolsheviks argued thusly. considers other things. The agitator is always there pointing out h is d ifficulties So it was that a part of Russia destroyed to him and giving him solutions for them. the system so ardently disliked by Lenine. T he employer is pictured as one who hlls no Capital was reduced to the ranks. Private troubles and who_ _p rolits at the expense 0f property and individual profits were out­ the employee. T he working man has a tremendous ignorance about the plans and I awed. The dictatorship of the proletariat purposes, ideal and character, in other came into actual being. words, the soul of the employing company. Give hi m an insight into the affairs of the What result? company and he will have something to Conscription of workers. think about. Give him information that he may use it in combating the specious Labor armies controlled by the ring­ a rguments of the agitator. Get In the leaders of bolshevism. personal touch. M ake the workman a friend of the com_pany and he will not Ten- and twelve-hour days. listen to the arguments of the bolshevist. Less production than ever in Rus­ sia's history. -$, '* '*' Hoover Speaks Less food and less clothing for all We hington. May 14.-"The principle workers, excepting among those near­ of individual freedom requires the est Lenine and Trotsky. open s'hop,' ' H erbert H oover decb1 red Less happiness and more misery today in testifying before the senate labor committee at hearings on proposed legis­ throughout all of Russia.--OMAHA lation for the settlement of industrial DAILY N EWS, Sept. 7, 1920. (EDITORIAL) unrest.-OMAHA B EE. New Recruits The open shop movement is sweeping to declare for the American plan in the the country. Every day brings notices building trades. After a short period of that other · cities and whole states are inactivity, building operations resumed on declaring their freedom of closed shop the open shop basis. On August 9, the domination. The fairness of the American Building Trades Council voted that 1.1nion Plan, as the open shop is being more and men were permitted to go back to work on more frequently called, appeals to every­ the open shop basis. Contractors are one who gives the subject any thought. retaining their non-union men and look Some of the most recent activities in this upon the capitulation of the Building direction follow:- Trades Council as one of the biggest achievements in industry in this section CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE The Associated General Contractors of of the country. Chattanooga declared for the open shop NEW YORK, N. Y. last month and refused to sign a closed Manufacturing retailers and whole­ shop contract with the carpenters' union. salers in the New York fur industry are TOPEKA, KANSAS operating open shop. The industry has The machine shop owners of Topeka, been affected by ~ strike since last May Kansas, have refused to sign closed shop and has taken this means to end the contracts. This lines up Topeka with trouble. The same thing has taken place Wichita, Newton and Salina on the open in Boston. shop basis. CLEVELAND, Omo DENVER, COLORADO The labor relations committee of the The Denver Gas and Electric Light Cleveland Chamber of Commerce refused Company has refused to recognize the to seek to arrange a conference between union and is insisting on running its the employers and employees in the business on the open shop basis. As a tailoring trade so long as the union would result of the recent street car strike the not agree to the elimination of the closed Tramway Company is now running an shop provision of the proposed agreement. open shop in all its departments. The Chamber takes the j)E)Sition that it will not promote the adoption in any trade of FLORENCE,ALABAMA an agreement, the terms of which differ in The business and professional men of any vital particular from its declaration Florence have formed an Open Shop of principles on labor relations. The Association. The contractors of the com­ declaration opposed the closed shop. munity say that they have more and better workmen than they ever had before. BUFFALO, N. Y. BUTTE, MONTANA A campaign is in progress in Buffalo, The American plan of employment has N. Y., to make it an open shop manufac­ been successfully established by the Butte turing center. Four organizations started Associated Industries in the building the campaign. They are the Chamber of trades. This is:the outcome of constant Commerce, the Employers Association, trouble in this industry which finally the Commercial, a daily newspaper, and resulted in a strike. Since the first of the the Buffalo Clothing Manufacturers Asso­ year all construction work in Butte has ciation. The open shop is being maintained been under the American Plan. in the clothing manufacturing trade and by SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH the traction company. The high handed methods of the The Employers Association of Buffalo Building Trades Council in demanding has adopted an Open Shop Label, which unusual and extravagant concessions will appear on the stationery, packing determined the Utah Associated Industries cases and finished products of the plants tlt:bt ~ptn 6bop 7

which make up the membership of the Donlin Blames Labor Association. About one hundred thirty­ John Donlin, president of the building seven of the industries of Buffalo are trades department of the American Feder­ represented. ation of Labor, must have given the ranks NfoNTGOMERY,ALABAMA of his oiganization an unusual jolt when he said in his annual report to the Nlontreal At a recent joint meeting of the Kiwanis Convention of the A. F. of L. that the and Rotary Clubs held at Nlontgomery, workers are shirking their responsibility the Open Shop was almost unanimously and that curtailed production is equally to endorsed. Nlontgomery has been a closed blame for the hardships suffered by the shop town for years. public. TONAWANDA, N. Y. "The wage earner is just as much responsible for th.e high cost of living The Standard Pattern Company, of as any other agency," is the way he is North Tonawanda, N. Y., has declared rcPorted to have expressed his view. for the Open Shop. In referring to the ··If every worker doing physical labor intolerable restrictions enforced by the would insist that production equal pre-war times there would soon be a union, Nlr. Corbett stated: "I found it was reduction in the price of commodities. impossible to put my own son to work in The higher wages go and the more my own plant as an apprentice without production falls off the more the first securing the consent of the union.·· worker is going to be hurt."' This statement, coming as it does, from • • • an official of a labor organization, merits Farmers Speak more than a passing glance. It should The National Grange, the American make the worker take notice that he has Farm Bureau Federation, the Cotton heretofore been upholding a false doctrine. States Board, and the Association of State Similar acknowledgments from other Farmers' Union Presidents have chal­ officials of high rank in labor unions, of lenged something organized labor holds the soundness of the employer's view sacred, the right to strike. These organiza­ would do much toward bringing about tions say: increased production and a consequent "What would be the verdict of the reduction in prices.-NATIONAL NIETAL people if the farmers of the United States TRADES ASSOCIATION BULLETIN. should suddenly decide to go on strike and refuse to supply the wants and needs of Gompers for Cox those who are not in a position to produce Samuel Gompers and two others of the food and clothing for themselves? non-partisan political campaign.committee "They would be condemned from one of the A. F. of L., have issued a report end of this country to the other and the addressed to unions affiliated with the fact would be pointed out that they, as Federation urging members to vote for owners and tillers of the land, had no right, Cox for President. either moral or legal, to bring about such This is a further attempt "to deliver'" a calamity. the vote of organized labor in the coming "If the farmers who own and occupy election. It is safe to say that this effort land have no such moral or legal right, on the part of a committee to decide for then why should it be conceded by anyone and dictate to the workers how they sha!J that those who handle the farmers· vote, will have no great effect one way or products have a right to block the trans­ another, even among the rank and file of portation or industrial facilities of the organized labor, for they like all other good country and thus jeopardize the food and American citizens, will decide for them­ clothing supply of the nation? selves, according to their own convictions "No such right has ever existed and no and conception of the true worth of the such right now exists. It is economically candidates, which shall receive their vote, unsound." regardless of instructions from "higher up." 8

A Woman's View works could get together and talk things

(DR. FRANK CRANE IN THE over they could soon settle matters. It's PHILADELPnIA BULLETIN) the outside agitators and big guns that mix I wonder, writes a woman from Lowell, in and make trouble. Massachusetts, I wonder why nobody has 7. One bad thing about strikes is you ever written about what the women think never can tell when they are over. When of strikes. one is settled another is liable to break out We hear much about the good they do any time. We sometimes doubt if all the the "Cause of Labor" and alt that, but we good we get out of them is worth tha con­ women are not a Cause, we are human tinual distress of mind they keep us in. beings. 8. If employers and bosses would take Of course we stand up for strikes because half the trouble to get acquainted with our husbands do, and we are loyal if the workmen and co-Operate with them nothing else, and are for our men folks that the agitators do it would be money in first, last, and all the time. their pocket. But when we are alone we think differ­ 9. The working men have rights, the ently, and when we get together, just a few capitalists have rights, and the public has workers' wives, and there are no scabs or rights; we are always hearing about them; spies prei;ent, here is what we think: but what about the rights of the women and children? I. It's a great pity people can't go along and do their work peaceably without 10 . Men go out on strike lots of times fighting and disputing. without knowing what it's all about, just because the others do. Well, what if they 2. What is a government good for if it is found their wives on a strike when they not to prevent injustice and keep people reached home, and the women would not from being treated unfairly? There ought cook and clean and sew and take care of to be some other way than strikes, with the children, but spent their time at their loss and hard feelings and violence, to meetings talking about their rights? get more pay and better conditions when they are needed. I hope you will publish this, but don't 3. We hate the sight of the professional print my name, as I have trouble enough as agitators who flock to town when a strike it is. Only I thought somebody ought to is threatened. The passions of the men are speak up for the women. already inflamed and these agitators make things worse. The more trouble they can stir up the more money they can make From Labor's Friend for themselves; that's the way it looks to us women. "Industrial liberty, like civil liberty. must rest upon the solid foundation of law. 4. We have to see that the home is kepl Disregard the law in either, however good up, the children fed and clothed, and thing~ your motives, and you have anarchy. kept going. When the pay envelope is The plea of trades unions for im­ stopped we are the ones who suffer most munity, be It from injunction or from If the men had to stay home and make th.­ liability for damages, is as fallacious pot boil instead of loafing around at as the plea of lynchers. If lawless meetings they would see things in anothb•' methods are pursued by trades unions, light. whether it be by violence, or by intimida­ 5. Especially is a strike dreadful whe:1 tion, or by the more peaceful infringement there is sickness in the family and fund.s of legal rights, that lawlessness must be are low. put down at once and at any cost. "-HoN. 6. Most of the men's troubles arc local, Louis D. BRANDEIS, Justice of U. S. and if all of those connected_with the local Supreme Court.