The Seattle Star Newspaper, November 7, 1919, Page 16

oe | ‘ | | THE SEATTLE STAR—FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1919. WE SHALL BE FREE AMERICANS! Seattle Will No Longer Submit to the Rule of Minority Radical control of organized labor has brought Seattle to another crisis. We must decide whether, as free Americans, we shall order our own affairs or whether we shall submit to the dicta- _ tion of a radical minority which has usurped the power of organized labor and is using itto hamper industry and de- mand more than is its due. We face a crisis, because the industries and commerce of Seattle are being strangled by this control, our progress halt- ed and our future growth and prosperity imperiled. ; If we submit further, we will become vassals of an autocratic power which has shown no regard for American rights and liberties. ’ If we break this control, we can exercise our rights as free American citizens; we can break the fetters which are strangling industry and commerce and Seattle can proceed to her destiny as one of the greatest commercial and indus- trial cities of the world. We have determined to be all American, to meet this crisis as it should be met, with plain talk and decisive action. We subscribe to and shall follow the declaration below: The Platform of Free Men————— ‘ 1. Absolute fairness to employe and em- ployer alike is one of the foundation principles on which Americanism rests. 2. We will work for the improvement of industrial relations, the elimination of class prejudice, which generally results m misunderstandings, and the estab- lishment of equitable og uniform work- ing conditions fair alike to employe and employer. We will always use our united in- uence in opposition to injustice, whether practiced by employers or em- ployes. 4. We stand for the American plan, which means absolute fairness to all classes of workers, whether union or non-union. We unalterably oppose the “closed shop” which shuts the doors of — industry against the American working- man who is not a member of a labor or- ganization. . } It is un-American to interfere with the personal rights and constitutional liber- ties of the individual. Therefore, we shall oppose the use of force or intimi- dation by any one endeavoring to per- suade workmen either to join or to re- sign from a labor organization. 6. . We hold that both the employe and , the employer are privileged to terminate their relations whenever either chooses to do so, unless, of course, there be con- tracts between them. 7. We do not countenance limitation of the amount of work which may be ac- complished in a given time, or the man- ner in which payment shall be made for such work, whether by hourly rate, piece work, contract or otherwise. We believe that every workman should have an opportunity to earn a wage propor- tionate to his ability and productive ca- pacity. 8. By encouraging fair dealings and broadminded policies, we hope, with the co-operation of Seattle’s thinking public, to bring about working conditions wages which will make Seattle known as a good city in which to work, to live, and to raise children. Kiwanis Club of Seattle One Hundred Per Cent Club Young Men’s Business Club