The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-15
D. M. PARRY AND UNION
SAYS HE - DETERMINED TO run
HIS PLANT HIMSELF.
epIics to Labor Charges
FeIfman Says Ii Is "WOrst Fnc-
tory in the City"

The activity of labor union organizations
this summer has led to much discussion
over the proposed unionizing OF tho Parry
Manufacturing C~Ompany's plant. The COM
pany at present has on it's pay roll 1,40O en-
ployes. and in busy season as many as two
thousand or more. Few of these belong TO
labor organizations. and the unionizins of
the Parry plant is a dream that labor lead
ers have INDUCED in for many years. All
efforts To organize the men have failed. but
the impetus given to the organization
movement in this city the past year has led
those at the head of the unions to believe
that the time is ripe for unionizing the
Parry plant. Organizer John Blue. of the
Central Labor Union. now also representing
the American Federation of Labor as an or
ganiZer. claims that he has 70 per cent of
the employees ready to go into a union. ID.
NJ. Parry. head of the company. discredits
the statement and says he does not believe
Blue has 1 per cent. of the men ready to go
into a union.
The charges made against the company
and upon which the foundation of the union
rests. are about as many as could be
scheduled in the whole catechism of organ
lied labor. The company is charged with
employing men at piece work and dischars-
ing or changing them to other departments
as soon as they acquire a knowledge of
the work sufficient to enable them to earn
a fair salary: with being made to under
stand that they jeopardize their positions
when they talk unioniSm. with being dis
charged and laid of for being late to work,
and with being compelled to stand outside
To await their turn at the paymaster's win
dow on payday. These are substantially the
principal charges made against the COM
pany.
charges yesterday and produced his pay
roll Tor his side OF the case. He said that
his men are as well. II not better paid. than
i'm any factory of its kind i'm the State.
The labor leaders charge that men hired
10 do unsktilsd work I'm the plant make
put 81 TO 50 a week. The pay roll shows
paid all the way from $725 a week To $3.50;
I'm the wheel finishing department sl4.S2
girls, $5.64 10 sll.55 a week. Men i'm the
trimming department receive as much as
SO "A week, and their helpers. who. Mr..
Parry says, are boys learning the trade,
from 81 10 SIS "A week. The employees I'm
The anticipating department, who are also
from 1886 to $S.0S "a week. These are fair
estimates of the price paid for labor I'm
mis- plant, Mr.. Parry says. and a closer in
spectiOn OF the pay roll will show that
many, II not the majority of the employees.
earn SIS or more "a week.
I WANTS TO RUN PLANT HIMSELF.
do you object to your employees joining
the union?' was asked.
NO" he replied. II do not care whether
my employees join the Odd Fellows. the
Presbyterian Church or the union; il makes
no difference TO me. That is their privilege.
4 man has a right to do as he pleases In
this country so long as he does not modest
anybody else
What is your objection to your plant be-
ing unionized?'
Il have been running my business very
II 90 q ~ nr - nNaAl nnI AhA- AAA
munity for years and | do not propose TO
have 1t run by any labor union or these
fakirs who never did an honest days work
I'm their lives. | will not tolerate their die
tatorial policy in running my plant. | came
TO this conclusion long ago and / have never
had any reason TO change my mind, | will
say to YOU that my plant will never be
unionized If / can help it"
Have men ever been intimidated in your
plant?"
mo, they have not. They can join the
union If they want to-"
VIVA would you say IL one of your en-
ployes were to come TO you and tell you
that he was going into the union?"
Il would say, My dear boy, you can do
as you please That is all"
what about the charge that men are
discharged for being late =
In a plant the size of ours we nave TO
maintain a discipline and set of rules. II
We did not we could not successfully run
our business. We do not discharge men
for being late. but lay them off If ii is
thought they are negligent. Sometimes
I'LL .
! two days, and sometimes a week. according
to the nature of the case"
Us the charge true that men are dis
charged or changed to different work as
soon as they are able TO earn good wages"
THAT is ridiculous. We want the men to
do as much work as possible. In some of
the departments where boys are employed
they scarcely ever work more than six
months. We cannot keep them. They arc
young and restless and do not stay i'm any
place long. | have men working for me
that began when l first started into bust
ness"
MEN SHELTERED ON PAY DAY.
rs IL true that men have to stand out I'm
the rain and wait for their pay?'
II am not myself satisfied with the man.
ner In which we have TO pay on, but the
men do not have to stand out i'm the rain
and snow If the weather is bad we let
them stand in the building across the alley
from the pay window and wait until their
time comes We are crowded up here. but
! hope 10 better our system Of paying off
In our new plant. | have timed the pay
master. and have known him TO pay of all
OF the employees I'm forty minutes
President Feltman. of the Central Lab Dor
Union. said OF the Parry plant: From the
Investigations that ] nave made in that
plant. j honestly believe that conditions
there are worse than In any factory in the
city
The Fire Chiefs Meeting.