Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, May 6, 1920, Page 3

THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 6, 1920 'THE BEMIDJI DAILY PIONEER ’ P What we mean by Open Shop We accept the definition of OPEN SHOP of the War Labor Board as given by Messrs. Wm. Howard Taft and Frank P. Walsh, which ex-President Taft gave July 4th, 1919, as follows: “An OPEN SHOP is one in which exactly the same kind of treatment is given union and non-union employees. It is a shop in which union men may act together as an organization, but may not use their power to exclude those who do not belong to the union, or to coerce men into joining the union. Any other kind of a shop was held to be contrary to the principals of the War Labor Board and I hold it to be contrary to the principals of fairness.” . STATEMENT OF POLICY AND PRINCIPLES / The principles and ideals of the Citizens Alliance are embodied in those of the founders of this nation as expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, viz., that all men, without regard to race, color, or previous condition, are entitled to an equal right and opportunity to enjoy life, liberty and the pursu_it of happiness, and that this should be exercised by each individual in a spirit of fairness and recognition of the rights of every other individual. The application of these ideals in the management of a shop, factory or store, establishes a system spoken of in industrial terms, as “The Open Shop”’—a system prevailing in shops, factories, stores, etc., under which men and women are employed on a basis of ability and honesty, without regard to their affiliations, religious, political, union or otherwise, and under which no discrimination is practiced. The Alliance expresses its disapproval of any system which does not guarantee to every man and woman equal rights and opportunmes and ‘which imposes limitations upon his or her efforts to attain success. It holds that fairness, forbearance and good will are the pre- requisites of peace and harmonious co-operation in all the social and economic relations of men; that the interests of employees and employer are reciprocal; that the success of industrial processes is the result of their co-operation, and that their attitude must be that of friends and not of foes. To this end the Citizens Alliance hereby reaffirms its present policies and principles as set forth in its Constitution and By-Laws, which are as follows: 1. To promote, on 3 fair and equitable basis, industrial peace and prosperity in the community, and the steady employment‘ of labor. 2. To discourage strikes, lockouts and unfair demands by either "employer or employee. 3. To secure for employer and employee freedom of contract in the manner of employment. 4. To uphold the principle of the_ Open Shop. ARTICLE VI Difficulty Between Employgr and Employee—Procedure Section 1. In case of difficulty arising between any member of the Alliance and his, theirs, or its employees, and said member should desire the aid or assistance of the Alliance, said member shall first notify the Secretary of the Alliance in writing giving full details of the case for the information of the Board of Directors, and thereupon the Board, or Executive Committee, shall immediately convene, consider the case, and render such aid and assistance as in its opinion the case deserves. Section 2. In considering each case presented, the Board, or Executive Committee, shall at all times have in mind the rights and equity, of the employees, as well as those of the employers, and in no . case thus under consideration shall a member be entitled to the aid and support of the Alliance if such investigation shall disclose unjust and unfair methdds of the employer in dealing with his employees. These open shop policies and principles are based upon the findings and award of the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission appointed in October, 1902, by Theodore Roosevelt, then president of the United States, to inquire into, consider, and pass upon the questions in con- troversy in connection with the great coal strike then in progress. The commission consisted of the following men: George Gray, United States Judge. Carroll D. Wright, United States Labor Commissioner. John M. Wilson, United States Army Engineer. John L. Spalding, a noted clergyman. Edgar E. Clark ,head of the Conductors’ Union and for many years a strong union labor leader, now on the Interstate Commerce Commission. i Thomas H. Watkins and Edward W. Parker, representing em- ployee and employer. This Commission rendered a unanimous report in May, 1903, in which, among other things, they said: “The right to remain at work where others have ceased to work, or to engage anew in work which others have abandoned, is part of the personal liberty of a citizeh, than can never be surrendered and every infringement thereof merits and should receive the stern de- nouncement of the law. All government implies restraint, and it is not less, but more, necessary in self-governed communities, than in others to compel restraint of the passions of men which make for disorder and lawlessness. Our language is the language of a free people, and fails to furnish any form of speech by which the right of sm.citizen to work when he pleases, for whom he pleases, and on what terms he pleases, can be successfully denied. The common sense of our people as well as the common law, forbids that this right should be assailed with impunity. It is vain to say, that the man who remains at work while others cease to work, or takes the place of one who has abandoned his work, helps to defeat the aspirations of men who seek to obtain better recompense for their labor, and better conditions of life. Approval of the subject of a strike, or persuasion that its pur- pose is high and noble, cannot sanction an attempt to destroy the rights of others to a different opinion in this respect, or to interfere with their conduct in choosing to work upon what terms and at what time and for whom it may please them so to do. “The right thus to work cannot be made to depend upon the approval or disapproval of the personal character and conduct of those who claim to exercise this right. If this were otherwise, then those who remain at work might if they were in the majority, have both the right and power to prevent others, who choose to cease to work, from so doing. “This all seems too plain for argument. Common sense and com- mon law alike denounce the conduct of those who interfere with this fundamental right of the citizen. The assertion of the right seems trite and commonplace, but that land is blessed where the maxims of liberty are commonplaces.” . This open shop decision was rendered in 1903. It has stood the test of years and is today the same in principles as when it was adopted. During this entire period, peace and prosperity has pre- vailed in the entire region affected by this decision. A THE MEMBERS OF THE CITIZENS ALLIANCE PLEDGE THEMSELVES TO THE OPEN SHOP PRINCIPLES, WHICH ARE TO Employ men and women without considering whether or not they are members of organizations of any sort; religious, political, social or trade, and further pledge ourselves to— _“z 1. Base the pay of employees upon their individual skill and ability, loyalty and diligence. 2. Pay as high wages as existing commercial conditions will safely permit. 3. Establish and maintain reasonable hours of work, and surroundings as desirable and attractive as the type of business makes | possible. : ) 4. Require of each employee sincere and industrious service during the whole of each working day. 5. Protect every employee in the lawful exercise of the right to earn a livelihood. 6. Continue the now generally recognized policy of the right of employees to presentany complaints or suggestions to their employ- ers, either individually, collectively, or by a committee from among their number. ; . THIS ACTION IS TAKEN BECAUSE THE OPEN SHOP means a greater opportunity for every boy and girl in America to achieve and prosper. THE OPEN SHOP means greater efficiency in the transaction of business, which insures economy, and . 4 , i THE OPEN SHOP means greater production of the things which America and the world require for its recofistruction and develop- ment, and “Greater Production” is the only known remedy for the high cost of living, and best preventive of even higher prices. CITIZENS’ BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA ALLIANCE THE