Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, May 31, 1920, Page 3

sy | which ex-Presldent Taft gave July 4th, 1919, as follows: “An OPE!N SHO‘P is one in which exactly the same kind of treatment is given union and non-union employees. 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 . i | We accept the definition of OPEN SHOP of the War Labor Board as given by Messrs. Wm. Howard Taft and Frank P. Walsh, i ] It is a shop in which union men may act together as an e T o R o e e 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 1dul.s of the Citizens Alliance are embodxed in those of the* founders of this mation as expreued 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 equnl right and opportunity to enjoy life, hberty and the pursuit of happiness, and that this should be exercised by each individual in a spirit of fairness and recognmon of the rights of every other mdlvxdual The appllcanon of these ldeals in the manugement of a shop, factory or ltore, 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. oh ‘a basis of ability and honesty, without regard to their .affiliations, religious, political, umon or otherwise, and under which no discriminaton is practiced. The Alliance expresses its disapproval of any system. which does not gunnntee to every man.and woman equal rights and opportunities and which imposes limitations upon lus or her efforts to attain success. &k IE lmlds that, falrneu, forbearance and good will are the prerequsities 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 golllmes and principles as set forth in its Constitution and By-Laws, which are as ollows: 1. To promote, on a fair and equitable basis, industrial peace and prosperity in the community, and the steady employment of labor. 2. To ducournge strikes, lockouts and unfair demands by exther employer or employee. To secure for employer ‘an demployee freedom of contract in the manner of employment. 4. To uphold the principle of the Open Shop. % ARTICLE VI Difficulty Between Employer nnd Employee—Procedure Section 1. In case of difficulty arising between any member of the Al!nnce 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 Bosdrd, 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 conmlermg each case presented, the Board, or Exdcutive Com- mitee, 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 Alhmu:e if ‘such investigation shatl disclose unjust and unfair methods of the employer in dealing with his employees. These open shop policies and principles are based upon the findings and awlrd -of the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission appointed in October, 1902, by Theodore Employ men and women without considering whether or not they are members of organizations of any sort; relxglous, political, social or trade, and further pledge our- ‘ THE MEMBERS OF THE CITIZENS ALLIANCE PLEDGE THEMSELVES TO THE OPEN SHOP PRINCIPLES, WHICH ARE TO " - selves to— 6. Continue the now generally recognized'policy of the right o: by a committee from among their number. L THIS ACTION IS TAKEN BECAUSE THE OPEN SHOP means a greater ofiportuni,ty 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 Protect. every employee in the lawful exercise of the right to earn a livelihood. f employees to present any complaints or suggestions to their employers, either individually, collectively, or Roosevelt, then president of the United States, to inquire into, consider, and pass upon the questions in controversy 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 Commlsaxoner John M. Wilson, United States' Army Engineer. John L. Spalding, a noted clergyman. Edgar E. Clark, head of the Conductors’ Un‘ion and for many years a strong union labor leader, now on the Interstate Commerce Commiesion. Thomas H. Watkins and Edward W. Parker, representing em;;loyee and employer. This commission rendered unanimous a report in May, 1903, in whnch 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 hberty of a citizen, than can hever be surrendered and every infringement thereof merits and should receive the stern denouncement 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 disordér and lawlessness. Our language is the language of a free people, and fails to .furnish any form of speech by which the right of a 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 remdins 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 purpose 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 dis- approval 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 common 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 ndopted During this entire period, peace and prosperity has prevailed in the entire region affected by this decision. 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 5 Require of each employee sincere and industrious service during the whole of each working day. Abercrombw & McCrendy Armour & Co. | American Cedar Co. i Abraham, ‘Geo. Bemidji Hardware Co. i Battles,, C, E Bailey;. T.. C. 4 . Bemidji Manufacturmg Co. z g . Batker; E."A. Beltrami Elevator &’ Mlllmg Co. . Berman Insurance Agency ; Bemidji Creamery Co. < Brosvik, Paul Becker, M. Boardman’s Drug Store . Bagby, R. O. i Brakke, Henry e Bazaar Store L. Bisiar, Joe Beltrami Abstract Co. Bemidji_Auto Co. Bemidji- Gas Co. : Bemidji Meat Market Baudette, T. Bemidji Box Co. =i Bemidji Sanitary Engmeenng Co. Bemidji Laundry Bemidji Top & Curtain Co. Batchelder, I* P. Brose, A. Bemidji Candy Kitchen Bemidji Hardware Co. City, Drug Store Carlson Variety Store Clark Pole & Tie Co. Carter; Chas. - A. Crookston-Lumber Co. Carver, H. Cochran & Robb Clifford & Co. Dicaire, P-'M. Dean Land’ Co. Denu, E. H. Dunn, Martin Doran, J. J. Dalton Hotel Erickson, - Barney ‘Erwig’s News Stand Ekstrom, L. P. Elko Hat -Shop Fair Store i known remedy for the hlgh cost of hvmg, and best preven tive of even higher prices. " Funk, Chas. B., Architect Fisk, D. H. Farmers State Bank ' First National Bank Gamble-Robinson Bemidji Co. Gray-French Co. Garlock, A. V. Gill Bros. Given Hardware Co. Goodman & Loitved Garment Shop Grill Cafe s Harris, A. H. Huffman & O’Leary Hodgdon, A. E. Harding-Whaley Co. Huffman, H. L. Jackson, Edw., & Son Johnson, A. C., Lumber Co. Jewett, C. w., Co. Jefferson Hotel Kreatz, G. E. Kelliher Hotel Koors Bros. Co. § 3 THE OPEN SHOP means greater production of the things which America and the world require for its reconstruction and development, and “Greater Production” is the only Langdon Manufacturing Co. Lyecan & Co. Lillye, W. H. McTaggart, Joe Marcum, E. H. Minnesota Elec. Light & Power Co. Miller, Henry Marin, Henry Mitchell, H. Z Motor Inn Moore, D. J. Maloy, J. E. ' Northwestern Oil Co. Northrup, H. A. Northern Grocery Co. Northern Land Co. Northern National Bank Naylor Electrical Co. Nangle, Chas. Opsahl, J. J. O’Leary & Bowser Palace Meat Market Penney, J. C., Co. Palmer, A. B. Palmer, G. M. Price, Levi Park Hotel Pilatos & Tompkins i Reynolds & Winter ' i Richardson, A. A. I e Riggs, G. O. i Remore Hotel [ Shavitch Bros. Standard Oil Co. St. Hilaire Retail Lumber Co. Seado Dray Line Swift & Co. Smart, Tom Schwandt, O. G. Sievert Roofing Co. Security State Bank Stellar Co. Smith, E. H. Smith-Robinson Lumber Co. Sommers, Geo. W. Troppman, F. G. Winklesky, Paul itizens’ Alliance ‘ BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA