The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-20
In Labor's Field.
REPLIES TO PARRY
THE Business Agent Is Defended by
A. G.. cambridge of Paint
ers' Union.
The Union Says Mr.. Parry's Talk
Is Likely to Cause Ill 81
D. Feeling.

rvs remarks before the Commercial
club. Many are found who to some
extent agree with certain Of the asser-
tions made, but all are firmly OF the
opinion that the average business
agent" or walking delegate" Is hon
est; that his occupation is a legitimate
one, and that he should not be maze
to suffer by comparison with the ms
honest type paraded before the pup
lie by Mr.. Parry. That labor unions
are not all that could be wished FOR
Is admitted on all sides. but labor
men say the lack of some better sys-
tenn of Regulating conditions, Tor
the present, prevents change. Ihefe
geems to be a disposition to-day TO
look for something which would make
It possible for employer and empioye
to live in harmony, and there IS a
tendency on the part of the more al
vanced unions to avoid trouble at any
cost.
A Business Agents Voice.
A.. G.. Bainbridge, business agent or
the Painters and Decorators union,
and a man who has been prominently
identified with the labor movement Tor
thirty years, In commenting upon the
addresses of Mr.. Parry "hlle IN LIE
twin cities, says: z,t='
Mr.. Parry In his speech both in this
city and st. Paul. lays great stress upon
s'obeying the law" Well, there Is no rea-
son why the capitalists should not OBEY
the laws as they are, for all the important
laws relating to capital and labor, nave
been dictated by the capitalisttc power TOT
wears past, are in their favor and 1t Is
we'll known to all, that many Of these laws
were bought and paid for by corporations,
'If the law making Of the different states
and the nation, was turned over to the
labor organizations Tor. a tew Yeas tn., =
wonder if Mr.. Parry would then be travel
ing about the country preaching OBEY
the law" think not
Mr. Parry pays particular attention to
the agitator and the walking delegate.
would like to know what Mr.. Parry Is II
he Is not the most radical Of agitators and
also the walking delegate OF the Employ
ers association. rs. Z. a.. - p. q, .
I think Mr.. Parry Is unfair and unjust
when he classes all walking delegates or
business agents as blackma1iers. 1t IS true
we have had our Parks, but what other
line of business Is there that has not had
such men as Parks? The labor movement
has hundreds Of business agents to-day,
who are just as honest loyal to their coun-
try and conscientious in their work as Mr..
Parry could be- Mr.. Parry doesn't look
with much favor on socialism and on that
issue the great majority Of organized LABOR
will probably agree with him to a large
extent. AS the vote In the American FED
GRAFTON of Labor convention in Boston last
Wednesday will show, but want to say
that there is no man and no cause In this
country to-day that Is making more. so
cialists than Mr.. Parry and HIS radicalism.
Mr.. Parry in hts st. Paul speech says:
''The arbitrary wage scales obtained by
the unions are not paid by capital, but by
labor itself" That looks to me like an
other of Mr.. Parry's misstatements II
that were g. fact. why should Mr.. Parry
be spending his time chasing around the
country organizing employers for the
avowed purpose of disruptng labor
unions so as to decrease wages and In
crease the hours OF labor? II employers
will pay the wages and grant the shorter
work day to all their employees and treat
them like American citizens should be
treated, then the conflict Is over. The
closed shop question Is a dead issue, tha
labor union Is a useless expense. But we
know these things could not be obtained
except thru the influence Of organized
labor.
am afraid Mr.. Parry Is not travelling
thru the land extending the olive branch
preaching peace on earth and good VII
to men," but Is storing UP greater strife
discord and hatred. We all realize and de-
plore the fact that there is already toe
much strife. Both labor and capital are
heartily sick and tired Of this continusl
contention, and we are waiting and hoping
that someone will come forward In the
near future with plan upon which labor
and capital can get together. But dt
not believe that any reasonable thinking
man, be he laborer or capitalist, believes
that Parry's plan to wipe organized laDol
off the earth will accomplish that emo
Suppose Mr.. Parry would take the $1,000
men, whom he claims are the leaders o
organized labor in this country, out in thu
back yard and shoot them: which he nj
doubt would do If he had his way doe
he think for a minute that that would enc
the struggle of the masses for better con
ditions? II he does, he is sadly mistaken
Twice 10000 leaders would no doub
spring UP and perhaps better and NOR
aggressive leaders. and the great worl
for the elevation Of mankind would sti
be continued $.
There are many wrongs in the alabo
movement that should be righted and "
are looking for the man who can help u
right them; and, be he Mr.. Parry or an
other man, rich or poor. the doors of or
ganized labor will be open to him, and
am sure all fair and honest employers, c
whom there are many, will also WELDON
him. But when they come with their wa
paint on, threatening and boasting, insult
ing, slandering and belying men who ar
honest and sincere in the work In Whic
they are engaged. when they come look
ing for more trouble, 7 believe they wi
find It, even If Parry succeeds In ann
hiating the present $4,000 leaders.
I don't believe that the conservative
thinking employers and business men al
in sympathy with Mr.. Parry's ideas
dealing with the labor problem. We don
want any more radicalism either on tt
side Of labor or capital: What we war
is a. plan where capital and labor can g,
together In peace and harmony and q
Justice to all concerned.
A Millwright's View.
7. w. Davies of the Millwright
union sends a statement to L h
Journal in part as follows:
D. M. Parry argues against the desire
labor organizations to change our for
of government, and appeals to the col
stitution. This Is the class of argumel
used by every one who has wished to ST.
the wheels Of progress In the past sevent
five years. Jefferson Davis and his su
porters used 1t In their effort to Sdisru
the Union. There were also plenty Of m
who found the constitution In the W,
of our freeing Cuba. So we may expe
those who wish to keep the workf
classes from making the progress TIL
should to cry CONSTITUTIONS"
Mr.. Davies continues, by pointii
to the changed conditions Of lab
since. the day Of the adoption of Il
constitution, and urges that the CO
stitution-makers could not have for
seen present conditions, and that t
attempt to meet changed condftio
is not attempting to change the for
Of government. He believes that t
constitution should be SO corstru
that all should have their just r
ward for labor performed He co
tinues:
B is told that A is willing and anxious
work twelve hours a. day and for 10 Ger
4l,.>, $50 -