The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-21
WALKING DELEGATE, CRATER
SO LABOR MAYOR SULLIVAN or
DERBY, CONN, DECLARES.
He says That Union Labor Must dispense
With Such Agents. and That Local
Unions should Rettle Their Own
IDisput es-Union Recognition UseIess.


DERBY, Conn, June 2o---George p. Sulli-
van. Mayor Of this city, one of the four
labor union Mayors Of Connecticut cities, In
an interview printed here to-day denounced
the walking delegate and advised unions
to have nothing to do with him. deprecated
the extravaganza Of the high union offi-
cials, and regretted that so much money
Ia paid In salaries for which the working
people receive practically nothing in return
He protested against the insertion OF the
union recognition clause In agreements
between employers and employees, and
said that In his opinion the successful labor
union must settle its differences without
assistance from the outside. Mayor Sulli-
van said.
"The walking delegate Is moro or less Of
a CRATER, and the sooner local unions dis
pense with his services the sooner will
capital and labor reach common ground
upon which all differences can be settled.
l believe the days Of the walking delegate
are numbered and that in the future the
differences between employers and EN-
ployed will be settled by the local unions
without his assistance. Local men are In
better position to settle their differences
because they are familiar with the situation
and the conditions, and are likely to secure
more from their employers by going to them
than Through the negotiations Of an out
side official.
"Ibelieve it nonsensical to insist on the
recognition clause in agreements, and such
a thing is not worth fighting for When
an employer grants union wages and hours
he recognizes the union. 1t ia my belief
that the clause Is frequently inserted by the
walking delegate simply for his own personal
benefit and to keep open the breach be-
tween the employer and the employees.
Il am opposed TO the walking delegate
also on the ground that he is a useless ex-
pense. He isn't eded and he always
draws a good fat salary. and to m make s, i
always particular about what he does
or how his actions may affect those men
whose interests he is engaged to take care
Of. l am opposed to all high-salaried
officials In unions. 1t is extravagance,
The money paid in salaries, or much Of It,
should 70 to swell the strike benefit fund.
The successful union OF the future will be
one In which most Of the officers will serve
without pay.
which every member is active and which
looks after the interests OF all. That will
involve many changes, but these changes
will come.
.The walking delegate and the high
salaried officials being eliminated. the
locals will be able within few years to
secure a good-sized emergency fund,
sufficient to carry them through any ordi-
nary strike
Mayor Sullivan was inaugurated last
january. He was once president OF the
Central Labor Union. When he took office
1t was predicted that he would have as
unpleasant a time as Mayor Mulvihill Of
Bridgeport and Mayor Charters Of An
sonia. Six months Of his first year have
passed, and 80 successful has been his
administration that he has won the COM
mendation Of some OF his bitterest oppon-
nents. His salary Is $500 year