Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-04-23
Manufacturer Associations Presi-
dent Replies to Senator Hanna.
WHAT POLITICS WILL MAKE DO
The Fixing Of wages by Artificial Methods
Free Industrial Conditions EssentIalto
the Highest Progress, Accord
Ing to Mr.. Parry.

to the attack made upon his labor
position by Senator Hanna at the
banquet of the Amalgamated Steel
Workers at Columbus.
II must confess that 1t is with
some surprise that read his decla-
ration that | display ignorance in
my report. But then good deal
can be forgiven man who is in the
midst of trying campaign, espe-
cially when he has recently been de-
feated by candidate like Tom
johnson.
"In the campaign of 1896 the very
men that Mr.. Hanna now extols as
the able leaders of organized labor Is
sued circular demanding in the
name of all the wealth producers of
the country the reconciliation of
silver, and because he, as chairman
of the national republican commit
tee did all he could in support of the
gold standard He was lampooned and
abused worse perhaps than, any man
before or since by these very men
whose friendship he now so assidu-
ously seeks. The genesis of Mr..
Hanna from an energetic business
man, with labor record not particu-
larly distinguished for leniency, into
a political leader and finally United
States senator, who Is the leading
spirit If not the founder of the Civic
federation, is a remarkable instance
Of what the political bee will make a
man do when 1t gets to buzzing in
his bonnet. Who knows where the
metamorphosis of Mr.. Hanna will
end? Is it possible that he has be-
come a convert to all the leading
tenets Of trades unionism? AS a
good union man he may yet think it
incumbent upon him to look with an
indulgent eye upon Organism and /
am almost inclined to believe 1t an
opportune time to make the sugges-
ton that he be made the next rum
ming mate for Mr.. Bryan. Bryan and
Hanna--how Ia that for a ticket?
"Of course, l am aware that all
this is not argument, but then there
was very little argument in Mr..
Hanna's speech. He takes up the pa
per which has met the Endorsement
Of 90 per cent. Of the manufacturers
of the country as being fair expo
sition of the socialistic tendency and
what Carroll D. Wright calls the
damnable practices of trades union
ISM and makes what I think the
country will hold as poor attempt
to answer 1t. He reads section
from this paper, then denies 1t is true,
and turns around after sneering at
the writer and says in the manner OF
the ordinary stump speaker: Boys,
isn't that SOP OF course, the boys
send up an uproarious shout Of APP
proval-then he patted this man on
the back and then that one, called
Mr.. Shaffer brother and otherwise
conducted himself as the presiding
genius Of q veritable love feast. This
method Of disposing Of one Of the
most serious questions Of the day
probably takes with the kind of men
that he was addressing, but I cannot
help feeling that the rest OF the
country would have been better salts
fed with more dignified treatment
Of the labor problem.
'What has Mr.. Hanna TO say about
fixing the wages by artificial
methods? There is the root Of the
whole matter. If IL is right that one
class of worlmen should have their
wages fixed arbitrarily, then 1t is
only Just that the wages Of all classes
should be fixed in the same manner.
I have heard It said that had 1t not
been for Mr.. Hanna and his Civic
federation the anthracite coal strike
would have been settled without the
crushing losses that fell upon the
consumers of the country.
"I wish II thoroughly understood
that am not against the individual
workman getting the highest price
for his labor that industrial condi-
tons will permit nor am against
organized labor per Sc. What l DO
oppose, however, Is any system that
seeks to pry up wages by the use Of
artificial methods or physical force
by strikes, boycotts, joint agree
ments, coercions, etc. ] declare that
the arbitrary adjustment of wages Is
radically wrong. fMr. Hanna is not
encouraging chaos in wage relations,
what 10 he doing7 I maintain that
free Industrial conditions are essen
tial to the highest progress and that
only under such conditions can the
laboring classes hope to receive the
highest reward for their toll
81 note that Mr., Hanna says that
he Is opposed TO making the unions
legally responsible for their scts be
cause they are composed Of honest
men who win abide by their agree
ment. This Is about the first time
that I have heard II intimated that
any one thought the unions would
not keep the agreement they may en-
a r.uamlmN