University of Nebraska at Omaha DigitalCommons@UNO Digitized Books Archives & Special Collections 9-20-1920 The Open Shop, Number Nine Business Men's Association of Omaha Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/ascdigitizedbooks Part of the Labor History Commons, and the Labor Relations Commons Recommended Citation Business Men's Association of Omaha, "The Open Shop, Number Nine" (1920). Digitized Books. 9. http://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/ascdigitizedbooks/9 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Archives & Special Collections at DigitalCommons@UNO. It has been accepted for inclusion in Digitized Books by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UNO. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Obe C)pen @)bop Published by THE BUSINESS MEN'S ASSOCIATION of OMAHA 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 union shop 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 employment, 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 "Closed Shop"- 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.