The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-26
PARRY,S RETORT.

Apparently the Central Labor Union of
Indianapolis did not understand just what
a handsome opportunity it was giving d.
NJ. Parry, president of the National Asso-
citation of Manufacturers, when it put to
him a number of questions relating to
unionism and capital. In response, Mr..
Parry has written small book, which is,
upon the whole, one of the most forceful
arguments against unionism and some of
its fundamental tenets that has been put
forth. Mr.. Parry, of course, overlooks
the economic necessity of the labor union
as the only practical means by which the
individual that works with his hands and
has no other capital can resist the tendency
to reduce the cost of production at the
expense of wages; but from his point Of
view the argument is a very strong one,
starting off with the following very clear
statement of individual rights under our
form of government:
Under the American form of government
men have perfect right to quit their en-
ployment when they see fit. But when they
once quit they have no right to interfere
in any manner whatever with their former
employer or with the men hired to take the
places they have abandoned. This is a SIM
pie proposition, and Ii admits of no modi-
fication whatever. 1t is unlawful, there
fore, to use opprobrious language such as
"scab, to nonmember of your organiza-
ton, and IT is all the more so to hurl brick
bats at him or brighten in brutal fashion
the women and children of his family. Men
have the right to use the public streets,
but only with lawful intent and when they
blockade the sidewalks with the object of
inspiring fear in the minds of others they
are assuredly violating the law If he
cannot find other men to take the places
vacated ii is up to him, and him only. to
decide whether to quit business altogether
or tn open negotiations with his former
employees in the effort to secure terms that
will be mutually satisfactory. The point
where the rights of one citizen end and
the rights of another begin is very clear
to American citizens. Those who throw
up their jobs must go quietly about their
own affairs, and allow the employer they
have quit to work out his own problems
Those who refuse to discern il and act ac-
cordingly are simply lawbreakers, and
must be dealt with as any other criminals
This is fair and moderate statement
of a principle of right and conduct that
must be recognized, if free government is
to exist as such. That it does not always
obtain is, of course, true, but the only
considerable body of men endeavoring to
maintain the right of one man or body of
men to interfere with the property or legiti-
mate business of another man or corpo-
ration in which they have no financial in
terest. is the labor union.
All this, of course. is allied to or grows
out OF the assumed right of prescription.
the effort to arrogate the power to say
who shall and who shall not work for
wages, the effort to deny the individual
the right to seek and obtain employment
Our government and laws recognize the
right of the State only to deprive man
of his liberty, and then only upon convic-
tion for crime after due process of law
The people will never consent TO delegate
power in restraint of liberty to any private
association organization.