Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-05-18
THE MASTER PERIL.
1T is THE PARRY ILk AND NOT THE
TRADES UNIONS.


the breeders of Strikes ut New Or
leans.
The address of David NJ. Parry, pres
| ident of the National Association of
| Manufacturers in session at New Or
leans, would necessarily lead any man
| of good sense and proper feeling to sup
pose that body so important had been
| tricked into electing a fool as its CHIEF
| officer This natural presumption Is
mistake, however. Mr.. Parry in the
arrogant ignorance he shows in dealing
with the labor question and his brain
| less ferocity of temper appears to be
| thoroughly representative of an organ
| ization which is as far from represent
ing the intelligence of the American
business world as any riotous striker Is
from typifying the American working
man.
According to Mr.. Parry, who SEEM
ingly has the full sympathy of the Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers,
trades unionism is the master peril
now menacing not merely our indus
trial prosperity, but the life of the re-
| public.
'It is impossible to hide our eyes to
| the fact" he says, that a large mass
of the people, forgetful of the liberties
and blessings they now enjoy, are with
restless ardor striving to force the ma
ton to what must eventually mean in
dustrial disaster if not anarchy and
| despotism."
| Because workingmen want an eight
hour law and an end put to the abuse
of the writ of injunction Mr.. Parry
sees the dread specter Of socialism
stealing upon us at rapid rate"
| The rule that organized workingmen
seek to establish President Parry as
| serts, "is the rule of the least intelli-
gent portion of labor" Its leaders "are
found to be agitators and demagogues,
men who appeal to prejudice and envy,
who are constantly instilling q hatred
of wealth and ability and who in incen-
diary speeches attempt to seize by
physical force that which their merit
cannot obtain for them"
The resolutions adopted by the asso-
citation setting forth Its attitude to-
ward organized labor were as whole
quite In keeping with its presidents
address.
Suppose that any important organi-
zation of workingmen in this country
should express itself against the or
ganized manufacturers in the same
spirit, what would be thought and said
of them?
The narrow and bitter selfshness of
the National Association of Manufac-
turers, their Grass incapacity to see
any other interest than their own, DEM
onstrates the need of organization
among workingmen for self protection
against such employers.
The only kind Of labor union which
President Parry and his associates re-
gard with favor is either one which
can offer no advantages to its mem
bers or one whose declared object is to
war upon organized labor. The ''scab,'
the strike breaker, appeals to these EN-
ployers as the ideal workingman. But
much as the National Association of
Manufacturers hates and assails the
union principle among wage workers no
part of the New Orleans conventions
proceedings excited greater enthusi-
asm than the declaration that the as
sociation should go on Strengthening 1t
self for the benefit Of It's members.
Every man who can think, whether
he can manufacture or not, is aware
that upon the prosperity of the masses,
of the people who do the country 8
work, depends the prosperity of the ma
ton. The higher the standard of wages
the greater the consuming power OF
the wage earners. That is truth so
obvious that it ought to be apparent
even to the grade of mind which has
been exhibiting itself at New Orleans.
Trades unions above all other agen-
cies have been instrumental in raising
and maintaining the standard of
wages. Therefore while seeking their
own advantage they have conferred an
inestimable pubic benefit.
And the trades unions are continuing
to render this public benefit by their
natural efforts to bring wages into har-
mony with the enhanced cost of living
which has resulted from our industrial
prosperity. Within a few years the
cost of living has advanced from 30 to
so per cent But general wages have
not gone up in anything like the same
, proportion.
The workingman wants his reasona
BILE share of this prosperity.
If he can get it by mediation, concilia
ton and arbitra ton he does it. If not
he strikes.
And he does quite right to strike
. when other means fail.
The National Association of Manu-
n facturers, which happily contains bu
, a small percentage Of American manu-
, facturers, has condemned itself eco
e nomically, and morally, too, for 1t Is al
hard of heart as 1t is wanting in powel
to think. Such men as Parry and hi'
sort war against Industrial peace ant
national prosperity. They are the wors
. of strike breeders. Could they have