The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-02
BARRY VS.. PARRY.
Labor Union President Submits
Questions to Manufacturer.
609.177.6O

Indianapolis, Sept. 2.-President Barry
of the Central Labor union of Indian
apolis has submitted to D. M. Parry,
national president of the Manufac-
turers' association the following ques-
tions and asked for a formal answer:
What is your idea of the legitimate
purpose of a labor union?
Would you permit the formation of
a perfect union in your plant?"
rs your plant conducted along po-
litical lines?''
DO you believe that our laws are
such as to foster special privileges and
restrict the opportunity to labor?''
rs it not fact that wages are high
er in communities using union labor
and the community thereby benefited?
Ought the welfare of the many be
placed in the hands of the few?
Ought not the laborer be on an equal
footing with the employer when 1t
comes to settling the wage question.
rs it within the power of law to sup
press the labor unions?
Have you not adopted an institution
similar in scope and nature to the boy
colt?
ing child labor?
What actuates your opposition to
labor unions?"
President Parry in a statement said:
Barring one or two questions IN
which there is tone of anlmoS1ty oil
rected at me personally I think Mr.
Barry's questions are entitled to fair
answer. zsf
The real issue is whether an orga-
nization, labor or otherwise, can per
form acts which its members as indivl-
duals can not legally do. No individual
has the right to prevent another from
disposing of his labor as he sees mt ana
neither has an organization the right
The union says. however, that man
must take an oath of allegiance to It's
organization and abide by its govern
Iment or else be denied the chance OF
employment in those industries Wnlch
It controls. This is as much usurpa-
ton of the inherent rights of liberty as
it would be to compel man to Join a
certain church or a certain lodge
have stated that unionism aims TO es-
tabIish a condition of affairs similar to
that of feudalism and serfdom or Ior-
mer centuries when the right OF ols-
nosing of ones labor was denied to the
individual. If the labor leaders had
their way they would in time re-enslave
the human race
"Again. in order to enforce their lie
gal purpose the members OF unions ma
bitually resort in times of strikes 10
physical and mob violence They gather
in crowds about the place of their
former employment with the intent OF
inspiring fear in the minds OF men VINO
might be disposed to work, and all too
frequently they terrorize the women
folks of so called 'scabs' and commit
cowardly assaults. Even murder Is now
and then committed in the sacred name
of organized labor
Il wish to bring out the point that
any organization that has lawful pur-
poses and conducts itself lawfully mas
a perfect right to exist, and that If or
ganized labor would eliminate that
which is unlawful in it's creed and
would act strictly within the law In
its practices there would be no cause
for agitation against it.
s.Tf unionism must necessarily be law
less. then it is correct to assume that
those who object to lawlessness on the
part of the organization are in favor of
destroying the unions. otherwise II is
not true"