The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-12-05
Ak E[! 1. on! Iron. Tn
FQBLES. OF PARKS
~
DULUTH BUSINESS AGENT COM
MENTS ON WALKING DELEGATED,
Passing of Sam Parks Is Matter Of
Congratulations, But Organized La
Dor Should Take Heed. Bad Policy
to Place Power In Hands Of One
Man. Unions Should be Careful
About Giving Authority.

The Labor World has commented on
the fate Of Sam Parks during the last
few weeks. 1t believes that there is
lesson in his career for every leader
of labor. This week it asked J. w.
Richardson, Business Agent of the
Painters union for an interview on
business agents and Sam Parks exper-
fence, and he replied as follows:
Duluth is. to be congratulated that
it is free from the i'll effect of un-
scrupulous business agents. The reput-
ed nigh cost of building can not be laid
at" their door. The. duties and powers
OF business agent in the building
trades of Duluth archie must be the
servant Of those who employ him, his
duties are clearly defined, his powers
limited and his local union sees that
he confines himself strictly within
bounds. He must be gentle
man in behavior and give strict atten-
ton to business which is indispensable
for the successful conduct of his Of
flee and nothing different or less
should be tolerated.
The passing of Sam Park is certainly
matter for congratulation to all
decent union men and especially to
those whose official positions rendered
II necessary for them to occasionally
transact business with him, but I hope
that the career of this man will instill
It's lessons so thoroughly that organ
lied labor will take stringent measures
to render impossible repetition of
such dishonest conduct on the part OF
it's agents, with its attendant disgrace
full notoriety, injury, and shame to
trades unions.
Standing in the shadow of the peni-
tertiary walls which for him is prob
ably the shadow of the "Valley"-for
dissipation has left him a physical
wreck-the feeling of disgust one ma
turally has for the ignorant foul
mouthed former agent of the House,
smiths changes almost to pity. Liberty,
health, and life sold for mess of pot
tase' his past a disgrace to himself,
his family and organized labor, his
present, the prison and his future a
convicts grave.
Merely his deserts? Probably So
but what then are the deserts of the
scoundrels who helped to- make him
What he Is, who tempted him to sell
out those who trusted him.: who paid
him to strike the jobs of his compe-
t1tors, their business friends in whose
faces they smiled while they stabbed
them in the back. These sharers in
the proceeds Of his infamy, partners
in the gains of his dishonor and the
prostitution of his office; their pockets
filled with gold, the price of this mans
blasted reputation and rlife-blood
money are prominent in New, York
business circles and: d Omitted tohssthe
society: q jof* decent: peop g, q triking
comment on the standard Of morals in
commercial life.
In no case should a business agent
have voice or vote in the body which
has Jurisdiction over him; his accounts
should be audited carefully and often,
then We may rejoice that the system
has been driven out of existence and
l trust that this severe lesson may
teach the unions Of the whole country
the necessity of retaining in their own
nands the power of governing them
selves, of conducting their own BUSH
in their own interest instead of
delegating to hired employee the pow
ers and responsibilities that belong to
the union alone.