The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-28

SAM PARKS with his ready fists, his
copious discharges Of profanity, his
diamonds and his thirst, his humorous
Entertainment Committee" for the
slugging OF "scabs,' is sufficiently well
known. His personality is not greatly
illuminated, although the method Of his
madness, the secret of his operations
and corporations are lucidly related, by
Mr. RAY STANNARD BAKER in his article
In McClure's Magazine on THE Trusts
ii. e., corporation'sl New Tool-The
Labor Boss" Let Us see the machinery
by the control OF which PARKS made him
self so powerful He was the paid walk
ing delegate of the Housesmiths and
Bridgemen's Union, 4,500 strong. AS
such he had charge Of all the business of
that union with employers. There were
three other delegates, but they were
practically swallowed by PARKS. As
walking delegate he was supposed to
report his proceedings to the union and
to receive instructions from 1t; instead
of which. in the natural evolution Of
his office, he proceeded rs he pleased
and gave the union not Instructions
merely, but commands enforced by the
strong arm.
Az a walking delegate he was a repre-
sentative of his union in the Board OF
| Building Trades, consisting of walking
delegates from each of the thirty-nine
| trades connected with the building in
dustry in New York. This house Of
representatives of the building trades
was supposed to arbitrate between the
| unions represented in it, to deliberate
for the welfare Of the building workmen,
to enforce sympathetic strikes Of all
UNIONS in it for the supposed benefit of
any union aggrieved. Like each union
! it was supposed to be run by majority.
| The whole beautiful scheme followed the
lines of our political system. Here was
! the delegate to represent the wishes OF
| his constituents, here was the congress
of these representatives. But institu-
! tons in practice are often very different
| from the same institutions on paper. AS
a rule not more than a ninth Of the MEN,
! beers Of the HOusesmithS and Bridge
mems Union attended its meetings.
| The hall where these were held would
/ seat only COO persons comfortably. The
! hard working members stayed at home,
| A minority, young, not fond Of work,
thoroughly enjoying the political game,
was always on hand. The Parks ring
got control,
He had obstructive or too inquisitive
opponents discharged or licked. Under
his direction in 1901 $4,000 Of 100000
received in dues and fees in that year dis
| appeared missing or unaccounted for.
In 1902, 500. 900 Of SIS, 900 went away into
| the Ewigteit in the same way. He
called strikes or called them off for a
| consideration Sing Sing Interrupted
his operations, The law is after him
| again. He IS the product Of system
and hard words would be wasted on him,
| The system survives him His highly
! respectable aCcomplIOcs and accessories
! are the persons on whom the mOrallst
may mach more prohtably expend his
Indignation, This Is his justification TO
the union and explains IN part the long
patience Of his followers:
IN 1887 tuc npusr,mItn received o. ~ DAY, In
lJ0J be receives $3.50 u day PARIS ha, male No
better worth lylug at least IN a material sense
| for 6,uOg New workers."
Doubtless PAHks regards himself as a
much injured man, a beneIactor Of his
A4nd Let ~ look, with the AID VI Mr.
BABERs EAsa"s, ~ soma sleeksr phil
anthroplsl- who have exploited in thir
town u great Chicago idea
Some i've 81 nix wears ago the GeOrg,
A Fuller Construction Company, one Of
several similar Chicago o0HoerDs, sst VI