Arizona republican., 1903-07-11
The Eclipse of the Walking Delegate.

delegate, is getting what is coming to him" just now. Aroused public opin- ion has condemned him so severely for causing a multitude of senseless anu harmful strikes that he has been forced to slink into obscurity, for time al least. The labor unions themselves are growing tired of him. It has been borne in upon their intelligence. at last. that the walking delegate thrives upon their calamities. When they are at peace with their employers the busi- ness of the walking delegate is at d standstil. IL is only by ceaseless agi- tation, by causing frequent disputes between employer and employe, and by keep labor circles in a turmoil gener- ally, that the walking delegate makes his income continuous The excited laborer contributes much more readily to the bulgine- pockets of the agitators than does the laborer whose mind IS chiefly upon his work and the welfare of his family. There is gratifying evil dence that at least a dim realization of these facts is breaking upon the understanding of the laborers. They are beginning to see that when they ing delegate is discontented. and that when they are in trouble the walking delegate is in clover.
 There is even good reason for be- lieving that the miners of Arizona are taking a tumble" to the walking dele gates sent out by the Denver agitators. and to the talking delegates" of the democratic party. Had such smooth takers, able orators" and promoters of prosperity as J. Frank Wilson, Mark Smith, Frank Cox, Charlie Shannon and Eugene Ives been taken gently by the miners to a hole in the ground last year, and kept there during the cam paign, the miners of the territory of Arizona would not now be regretting the losses they have suffered Many of the mining fraternity already acknowl- edge the fact, and most of them will be able to perceive within another year the motives of the Colorado agitators and the motives of the white -shirted. soft-handed politicians. all of whom have been quick to nose out the graft to be found in labor agitation.
 At present, however. the eclipse of the labor agitator is most pronounced in New York, where the walking dele gate had his origin and where he has f1ourished so mary years. This eclipse has come about from the ex- cessive tyranny of the walking dele gates. and through exposure of the fact that the most prominent of these gentry were regularly blackmailing large manufacturers. Strikes were or dered without any reason whatever. submissive laborers without a griev- ance were thrown out of employment and forced to see their wives and child ren suffer in order that the arrogant and sleek walking delegates might ex- tort blood money from employers be- fore calling the strikes off. During the past two months more than 125,000 men in the building trades have been idle in New York City on account of strikes ordered by thrifty walking delegates Finally. the employers were forced to form a combination in seIf-defense, and from the domination of the walking delegates. There was no opposition oi consequence to the principle of union ism, but there was unanimous opposi- walking delegates for their personal profit. It was resolved that in the future the employers would deal with the unions without the intervention oi consent to this reform, as now appears probable, the walking delegate will be eliminated and will have to go to work or starve. Most important. the labor organizations will be freed from his poisonous influence. Discussing the situation, the president of one of the New York labor unions is quoted as saying:
 we "Sic AoShco Oul 1HlOush d HIS take on our part, and we are all tired of sticking out to satisfy the ambitions and prejudices of a few walking dele gates. The trouble Is that the walking delegates see their power going up in the air, and they want to stave it of as long as possible. If this was fight foE principle or for wages. or for short CT hours. we could stay out until next winter and not suffer. but there is real. ly nothing involved now but the in jured dignity of the walking delegates Time Is passing. good weather is com ing. and We ought to be making mon ey."
 It will, indeed, be a great day fol American manhood when laborers ev. erywhere have the courage to make (