To Cut Across the Craft lanes
To Cut Across the Craft lanes In Organizing the Workers President of International Typographical Union Gives His Reasons for Favoring Industrial Unionism By Charles P. Howard By Charles P....
...Arises the question, what does that have to do with the great problems of a better and happier and a more decent world . . . why go and indulge in a little futile playacting, when such tremendous questions ail around us ask to be settled and insist upon being settled today...
...And the beauty of it is that it can be done...
...I do not relieve there should be such a decree of selfishness or organization nterest that would inspire an objection to the issuance of a charter ,o a large number of workers in a >lant simply because one or more organizations might have workers employed who would be eligible to membership in our craft unions...
...My interest in this ttw is to provide an organization policy that will bring about that condition...
...Such plays do not appear then he horizon merely because aj vould like to see them do so...
...ildest of the arts,- it seems to m hat we might conveniently do Ilka vise, and so in the words ef So •rates (as related by Plato in ta book called "Phaedra") I offer ai his short prayer of one of f wisest men of all times: Oh beloved Pom...
...The Wortes and the Theatw ? ? ? ? Van Loon's Address at the Opening of the Rand rimfkiy^ By Hendrik Willem Van Loon TONIGHT we are opening a new theatre...
...Petition for a writ has been • nied by the Appellate Court, tj bad been brought by Raymond f Henderson, retained by tat ¦ tional Sacramento Appeal Gil mittee to handle the appeal 4 Norman Mini...
...io not know...
...Now in the olden days it sai -bought fitting that whenever saj ind women came together asaj ome ceremony of high import hey should invoke the good wfl if the presence that shapes em .uman destiny...
...our poets, our artists...
...I beg mam nJS fully but most emphaticallj\ *. agree with this viewf* ™ Taw Stage Is Set 1 The real road towards ataaiga is shown us by our pJifloaoaSms...
...They believe—and not without cause—if they organize in a Federal Union without the drawing of jurisdictional lines,that as soon as some national or international union makes a jurisdictional claim for a small block of these workers, the unity of action will be destroyed and that this group will be forcibly removed from the Federal organisation on industrial lines and set over into s' craft organization that cannot protect them under existing conditions...
...suppresses all news of Bananas* fight...
...And so it has come to Z —not once but invariably—tte{5 ?reat book can prove to stt f> minds of men in motion uhmS thousand lives have *~flin (kg me great piece of motie I stirred the chords of nun's eS ,ions when all the impaMioBsi speeches of all the statesman i :he world have fallen upon ast aars—that one great pictor* ha old a story of hope that vat ai o be found in a barrel of s*aS ind that one truly great pity fen :hanged the entire 'coarse ef fas, ory with a million practical pofticians were not able to hods* tot in willing masses by so much as i angle inch...
...To Cut Across the Craft lanes In Organizing the Workers President of International Typographical Union Gives His Reasons for Favoring Industrial Unionism By Charles P. Howard By Charles P. Howard President International Typographical Union "THE question of industrial unionism is of far too great importance to the welfare of millions of workers in this country to resort to* quibbling or sharp practice in attempting to deal with it...
...I don't know, and I don't know that there is a man in the United States who knows, how many workers have been organized into independent unions, company unions, unions and associations hat may have some affiliation with subversive influences during the past few years...
...Certainly that should be accepted as Protecting their craft and national ir international unions...
...I do not expect the milleniom...
...And if either of those conditions should eventuate, I submit that it would be a far more serious problem for our government, for the people of this country and for the American Federation of Labor itself than if our organization policies should be so melded that we can organize them and bring them under the leadership of this organization...
...The one particular difference is that it makes it the duty at the Government to protect the rights of workers engaged in industries devoted to interstate commerce, to bargain collectively, choose their own representatives and form an organization of their own choice...
...Being one jf the few people who can chum this part of the world as his own . . my ancestors bought this Island decently and honestly from the Indians for all of twenty-four guilders . . . we might want to swap it again for the same amount, It is eminently fitting that this series on the theatre as a social force include at least one of the talks given at the dedication of the Rand Playhouse as an active home far the drama of the workers...
...Reasons for Change - I understand, because of contact during the past three or four years, the reasons we have failed to organise the workers in these mass production industries...
...And here when ve intend to practice one of tk...
...There is no use in expecting a truly new and more amiable and agreeable world until first of all there be the will on the part of the majority of all the people to want such a world...
...Let us say that here is a plant that employs 6,000 workers, organized in an industrial union, and hat^ the owners of that plant an going to do some construction vork...
...The rest is up to m, H k up to you...
...were sentenced to Saa Quasi Prison last spring, to provide ¦ defense with an additional copy...
...Tha ome to us perhaps once every haslred years...
...Here is a plant in which there may be 600 or 6,000 workers...
...Change the laws, they say, and you will change the people . . . the old story of changing the bottles and keeping the same sour wine . . . no . . . speaking as an historian I would say...
...First, there is involved the question of continuous employment...
...I believe the organization of these workers Is far too important o permit objections of that kind to prevent the issuance of charters to industrial and plant unions in he types of industries which we have referred to...
...I represent what is usually referred to as strictly a craft union...
...i" think no truer words have been said than the statement of Mr...
...Even then they tea] is still-born unless they were gtajj a chance to grow up—to protpa mder the| proper conditions—«sj o be nursed into maturity by a understanding audience...
...I submit to you that it is not possible to induce those men, with their inexperience, to organize upon craft lines...
...a world that shall recognise tha all men are born unequal and there fore should have an equal chane< to make as much of their oppor tunities as their own ability shal allow them to do...
...I am one of those who is willing, first to organize them with the assurance that their continuous employment is not going to be affected by jurisdictional controversies...
...It seems to me that the answer is logical, it is plain, and it would be of great assistance to the building trades unions rather than to take from them any of their present or potential laaililifi ¦¦In the s^bTert^^ndustriar^ace^I bow to no one in the matter of industrial peace...
...What el now out of this-new venture...
...we have one thing in common . . .and that is our love for the common country of which we are now citizens and our insistence that we shall make this country, in so far as H is within our own power, the most truly civilised spot of habitation on a planet that God knows is sadly in need of such a thing...
...I say to you that nobody could answer that question under present conditions...
...I repeat, I don't expect the milteniam, nor do I have any hope that no matter what "conditioning" you give them, you will not have a world composed of a tew leaders and a great mm followers...
...If that be true, I submit to you that there is rapidly growing a menace to the American Federation of Labor, because if some one or some agency is interested in creating a movement that is dual to the American Federation of Labor, they have a fertile field and a very fine basis .upon which to work, and I am sure that is a condition that no trade unionist desires should arise or a condition with which the American Federation of Labor should be confronted at any time in the future In discussing the question of organization policies I have been asked many times as to how they were to be applied...
...And after they secured that charter jurisdictional claims were made by national and international unions for some of those in the group who were organized, with the result that the charter was recalled and in that plant today there is no semblance of an organisation...
...immediately they are directed to step across jurisdictional lines by their supervisors there is the possibility of a jurisdictional controversy which will affect their opportunity for continuous employment...
...And that is wkerT* little speech finally coeateuTJ tonight's festivities...
...WnftherflS go, the others will eventually «t low...
...That story can be repeated as applying to numerous places in this country...
...I contend that the success of an organization campaign depends upon molding the policies / of the American Federation of Labor to meat the desires of those whom we decide to organize, rather than to attempt to mold the desires of the millions of workers who are unorganized to accept the policies that we would impose upon them...
...I reply that my interpretation is such it would not adversely affect your interests...
...a world oi more color and belter music and e leisure that shall extend beyonc the purely anaesthetic pleasures oi Hollywood and organized gladiatorial combats—in short and in or der that I may make myself entirely clear and in the fewest possible number of words...
...There is another condition that interferes with the organization of workers in these plants...
...no matter to what particular political creed we m-xy happen to belong...
...submit to you that is not a common ?ense policy if we desire to organize the unorganized workers...
...and it is not a theoretical fear, but one that has been experienced in many places and is real in the minds of these workers...
...There are those who believe that in a labor organization any policy should be adopted to have your own way and your own belief prevail...
...I am not one of those...
...We who are here tonight probably belong to a number of different political parties.' We have come here from all the four corners of the world...
...SABOTAGES ) THE MINI DEFERS Special to The New Leader SACRAMENTO, Calif .-The Stat Supreme Court will soon has to decide on a mandamus orderta the trial court in the Saeraraaa criminal syndicalism case, in aim eight agricultural union organist...
...One familiar with the situation knows that under the system for the operation of these industries the workers are required, perhaps within the limit of one day, to perform work that would come under the jurisdiction of more than one national or international craft union...
...They succeeded to a marked degree and they secured a charter from the American Federation of Labor...
...ts3 "practical people," the sort j3 practical people we vote bus al legislature...
...it is still on th tnees of the Gods, But the stay s set...
...Civilizing Human Beings I have spent most of my days studying the behavior of the hu man race as it is revealed by the history of the past...
...However, I am inclined to believe that the number of members in these classes of organization is far greater than any of us would grant...
...New, let me say that the workers ef this country are going to organise, and if they are not permitted to organize under the banners of the American Federation of Labor they are going, to organize under some other leadership or they are going to organize without leadership...
...When we go into the practical application of our present organizational policies, what is the condition with which we are confronted...
...Organizing the Unorganized Of course they are inexperienced, they know nothing about the process of forming an organization, and perhaps through inquiry they learn that the information can be secured from the American Federation of Labor and they endeavor to seek information as to whether or not a charter can be secured...
...Does it not occur to you that the organized building trades vould receive greater consideration if the workers of that plant were organized rather than if they were not organized...
...but I don't know whether the Indians would be willing to take it . . . any way . . . here we are, no matter where we came from . . . no matter what language our fathers spoke...
...Bat Wfli Asfe' fffl ers you can do wonders if ,Z!j after it inj the right way I which I mean of course the inJf gent way...
...former West tm cadet now Prisoner 57,606 ¦ ¦ Quentin...
...Clear and effective in his point of view is Hendrik William Van Loon...
...Now, these workers are sufficiently intelligent to know tha...
...Rosenblatt that it has been the policy of the industrial kings of this country to divide and conquer, and so long as they are permitted to continue that policy they will continue to divide and conquer, and it is my belief that the American Federation of Labor cannot stand still upon a question of this kind, that it should not be wedded to the policies that were made a half a century ago, or even a year ago, but that we must go ahead and perform our full duty in organizing the unorganized workers of this country...
...Jurisdictional Claims I have been told about a plant that employs about 2000 workers...
...Does it not occur to you that the owners of that plant would pay far more attention to having that construction work done by members of the building trade unions than if they had an entirely unorganized plant...
...Here is how I see this world into which I was born some fifty-ears ago and in which I have go to live today and in which my chil dren and grandchildren will havt to live tomorrow...
...And I am willing to believe that their experience in organization in the future will indicate the class of organization that will most effectively protect and advance their interests...
...any line of industry profit as a result of industrial warfare...
...His noteworthy books, from "The Story of Mankind" through his study of Rembrandt to his humanized georaphy, are less significant in this connection than the fact that he is one of the inspiring spirits, shall we say oval president, of the university of the air...
...a world of less unnecessary worrj and more spontaneous laughter...
...Henderson is i lull — • the State Executive Committal* the Socialist Party of CslbwA which has condemned the 1*# and the Communist Party fwfff ruption and sabotage of the MK mento defense...
...I ask you if it be the policy of the American Federation of Labor to organize the unorganized workers, where is there common sense in making requirements that cannot and will not be met...
...That is one of the principal reasons that I am urging an organisation policy I believe will accomplish that result...
...The conviction of Vt and the others followed s Mm trial in which She jurors wen sfl jected to anti-union pressor** employers' jumps working tmvtm the Hearst press and the fa# ration...
...Nobody outside of those who have access to the payroll are fully informed as to the nature of the duties the workers perform, but for some reason or other, because they have read in the public press tnat the workers have a right to organize, or because they have heard an inspirational address upon the subject of organization, or because they have read something that the President may have said, there is inspired in some of those workers a desire to organize...
...it cannot be done...
...those interested in organization work in that city set out upon an organization campaign to organize those employed by this plant...
...and all w other Gods who haunt thm place...
...Many of us understand that the Wagner Act does not give the workers of this country any right or privilege that could not have been exercised under the Constitution of the United States...
...In response to the demands of labor there has been adopted by Congress what is known as the Wagner Act...
...the trial record...
...Strengthening Unions It has also been said to me by some of those in the building trades that the adoption of an organization policy such as is proposed would adversely affect the industry in which they are engaged...
...Have patience, my friends Have patience with him and have patience with me for just three more minutes, for what I have tr say will not take much longer thar that...
...I cannot be charged with having a personal or organisational interest in this matter other than the general welfare of the workers...
...Give us beauty to tat inner souL LLP...
...It is my opinion that it vould assist you generally...
...I submit to you that the only way we eaa have industrial peace in the industries of this nation is to organize the workers to a sufficient extent that those who manage and operate and earn the industries and the tools of production of the country will not dare to invite a conflict of that kind...
...You have got to know the classification of work, you have got to know the duties these workers are performing, you have got to be able to judge how many of the national and international craft unions might claim jurisdiction, and after you have secuced that information any one of the national or international craft unions that is inclined to object to the issucr.ee of a charter to that group can prevent the issuance of a charter...
...And where is there common sense in continuing to make organizational lines which defeat the very purpose of this organization...
...Conditions as they exist at this time make it more^necessary, in my opinion, for effective organization activity than at any time during the life of the American Federation of Labor...
...It is up to us to give them that will...
...a world that shall be the exact and direct opposite of the ideal of the gooc life as preached by the newspapers of William Randolph Hearst...
...I realize the incredible difficulties of revaluating the first cousin of Al Smith':' little baboons in his Zoo out then in the Bronx into a man, created after the image jaf^a Spinoza oi a Lincoln...
...Mini's fellow-prisoners are nf resented by the I.L.D., whose...
...I believe that if there isapy group of people where you can,expect fairness in debating questions that affect the workers k should be in a labor union...
...But when we consider that this business of civilizing th« creature has only been going on in a serious fashion, for about ter thousand years, while in one font or another he must have been walk ing on this earth for almost a mil lion years, there is no reason t despair...
...Majority Will But in order to get such a world a mere change ia our economic order will be by no means sufficient Many people disagree with me on this point...
...Joseph T. Shipley...
...There a curious notion abroad ? ta>U that progress depends opoc we are sometimes please...
...It will be i world in which the inevitable necez sity of making a living will no preclude the opportunity of devis ing a decent mode of living, fit foi self-respecting men and women...
...I am told by some of those who are employed in the type of craft that we seek to organize that there are times when a worker will be engaged upon work that would come under the jurisdiction of three or four craft unions within- a single day...
...I do not believe that the woiksas Jtn...
...The supporters of industrial unionism say it is not the purpose to take from any national or international union any part of their present membership, or any part of their potential membership employed in certain types and plants of industry...
Vol. 18 • December 1935 • No. 51
