The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-01

The walking-Delegate Scandal Open
ing the Eyes of the Public.
New York Finan meier

ing the Eyes of the Public.
New York Financier.
The arrest Of a walking delegate In New
York city last week on a charge OF having
extorted $1,000 from manufacturer whose
works had been closed through an unjust
order of. the labor-union representative
serves to call attention TO the helplessness.
or apathy, of the average business man in
more serious from year to year. The walk
ing delegate may not be any more dishon-
est than the average run OF mankind. but.
taking him as class, he is working ire
sponsible injury TO the industrial interests
OF this country. From a subordinate posi-
ton in the union movement he has forced
his way upward until to-day he is an alb
solute autocrat, a director OF labor and q
tyrannical boss of men. employer and EN-.
plcye alike. whose subserviency affords q
spectacle both hnmiliating and exasperat-
ing.
In the case already alluded TO the dele
gate demanded a cash payment as the price
OF continued work. This being refused, he
Immediately called a strike and then forced
the employer TO pay him money to order the
men to work again. His real interest In the
welfare OF the men whose interests he "a
supposed to protect can be judged from the
arrested the prisoner sought to excuse his
action on the ground that he had divided
the money among the strikers: There 10
doubt on this point. but, conceding that he
did, the crime Is not lessened In the least.
The payment by the employer under stress
Of circumstance constitutes the offense.
There is lesson In the whole matter
which deserves serious attention. IN one
line of business alone In New Yori City
this season twenty-five million dollars have
been wasted In strikes. Other confiictr be.
tween employers and employees and between
unions themselves have brought the strike
bill 10 an amazing total. In a period of
greatest prosperity industry Is suffering
from partial paralysis a result OF need
less strife. The workman as a rule is NOT
to blame Individually, he would like -
work. but he is only a tool In the hands
by ordering him to remain idle, infiictin6
misery on him and those dependent upo5
him for support No meaner. more despite
able or conscienceless crime than this can
be imagined. and IL is to be hoped that now
that the law has one walking delegate IA
its grasp, II will deal with him In mans
ner that will scare some OF the unlovely
And in general way, the time has come
when the business man must frame a new
declarat ton of independence He has been
the victim long enough. The whole wo lt
of graft reaches out 10 him for supLorf
ing s fn ras p5 ths %an or tsas ess.
not carry on improvements without feeling
some one Perhaps the business man NAV
be accessory to the crime. but he has 70
live. and competition is fiercer every year,
The tendency TO live by extortion. or By
Gustry-is becoming altogether too pro
nounced IL Is a development foreign u
the American character. and IL In a menace
corrupt politics. from the highest to the
lowest. and II Is debauching our national
life. The business man Is its victim. will.
ing, or unwilling, and IL ne has regard for
his own future, TO say nothing Of the IA.
ture of his country. he must stop being Z
source OF revenue to the idle. vicious eie-
ment, political or otherwise. IL he does
eraxeniy TO the extoptions praot,e s1o'n n1
him, he II inviting his own downfall.