The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-14
"Conciliatory Arbitration" as Urged
by the Civic Federation Comes I'm
for Vigorous Denunciation.
DOGMA OF MILITANT SOCIALISM
THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF
TRADE UNIONIsM.
Evils of the Labor Movement Must Be
Met by Organization on the Part of
All Employers of Labor.

6CFF ALL, n. J., May io.-1he iotio
Manufacturers Association and the Piano
Dealers Association met in separate con-
ventions here to-day. The associations rep
resent an invested capital of about $780,
000,000. The Dealers Association elected the
following officers: President. Henry Dreher.
Cleveland, o.; first vice president, j. c.
Miller. Philadelphia; second vice president.
Philip Werlein. New Orleans; third vice
president w. H. Currier, Toledo, o.; fourth
vice president, f. A. Leland, Worcester,
Mass; secretary, George Z. Bradnack,
Middletown, ~ Y; treasurer, F. p. Ander-
son. Brooklyn N. Y.
A joint session was held this afternoon,
which was addressed by Mr.. David M.
Parry. of Indianapolis, president Of the
National Manufacturers Association. Mr..
Parry took as his text the manifold phases
of the union labor question. and was heard
with close attention. He spoke in part as
follows:
the labor question. This is a matter in
which 1 am much interested There are
others also who are giving 1t consideration.
In my opinion the day is not distant when
every business man and liberty-loving citi-
zen of America will have cause TO think
deeply concerning IT, Already the never
ending procession or strikes and persistent
demands of organized labor are arousing
fear that chaos. in place of order, will soon
be the rule in industry. Men are beginning
TO ask themselves whether the mantle or
is sbHlt to on the
thought has become the fad, and those who
head organizations whose avowed purpose
Is to confiscate all the homes. mills and
roes. Is it possible that we will yet become
nation OF cringfngi sycophantS at the feet
or professional agitators and social disturb
ers! Is It possible that the spirit of '76 Is
dead, and that we are going to tamely re-
sign ourselves to the mercy of the avarice
and the lust for power of men who do not
understand and who do not care to under
stand the first principles of successful bust
ness or of free government?
Gentlemen, / have been called an alarm
ist If an alarmist is one who calls atten-
ton to breakers ahead and hopes thereby
TO induce men to take steps that may prove
their salvation. then all have to say is that
the present situation appears to demand a
few alarmists. In proof of my assertion
that grave condition confronts us / have
only to appeal to your own knowledge of
recent labor troubles and of current social
istic thought. The literature, the newspa-
reflect the dangerous drift of public senti-
ment. Why, the strike microbe has become
SO virulent that even the children are sue
cumbing to it, We read the other day of
the boys and girls of Omaha making a de-
mand for fewer school hours and the en-
forced closing of the schools in consequence.
Is 1T not time to cali halt? Or shall the
American Nation go on a strike, business
men and all, and be done with it?
STRIKES In CHICAGO.
when I started to write this paper /
glanced over Chicago daily of that morn
ing and noted accounts of something like a
score of strikes, some of which were given
a few lines, while others received notices
rrL
recording the May day strikes. nor did Sc
lect 1t for my purp9se-it was simply the
first paper 1 happened to pick up. We all
have habit of giving the newspapers a
hasty glance and the headlines about labor
troubles and violence we hardly give a
passing thought; these things have such a
familiar look that they have ceased to
arouse particular interest. But what a
story that paper really told. On one page
was an account Of q great laundry strike.
The employees were holding dances in cele-
bration Of the strike; they had refused to
arbitrate and they were making merry be-
cause they had found a way to boss their
employers and because they were able to
make all Chicago wear dirty linen and use
other peoples napkins and tablecloths in
the hotels and restaurants. The laundry
proprietors meanwhile smiled grimly in
their Offices From the police reports ii
was seen that the Chinese were being in
fiuenced in the orthodox way to close ur
shop. a number of them having been as
count of a great strike of the employees OF
the harvester machinery companies; in an
other column an account of a riot of strik-
ers on the subways in New York; in still
another an article telling of the fear tina,
possessed the whole city of Omaha and the
almost total cessation of business there be-
cause of a transfers strike, and in still
another column was told the story of Low.
ell w a fri of cot.
ton mill operatives has paralyzed business
and is depopulating the town. / have no,
mentioned all the strike news in the pa.
per-only few of the leading items
but besides the strike news there were
several other articles of much interest re.
lating to the labor problem. One was ar
account of the national convention of ma,
chnists at Milwaukee; another was an &C
count of the action of a Judge in sendns
three picketers to jail; another was an &C
count of the organization OF a branch Of
that interesting society of philanthropists
and professors known the National Civi,
Federation, and still another was an ed
torial calling attention to the formation o.
cago Federation of Labor, which commit
tee was intrusted with extraordinary pow
er. looking to more scientific development
machinsts convention was edifying be
cause of the denunciation of the judiciar,
by speakers and because of the purpose ex
pressed to deny employers the right to rul
| article telling of the decision of Judg,
! Holden sending to jail three men convicte,
of picketing was in refreshing contrast t,
news. This Judge said in making his deci
| sion:
These employees, had no dispute as t
| wages paid them, their treatment or thei
condition. 1t was simply an attempt O
men representing themselves as so-callet
! organized labor to get recognition of thei
| union. This was a direct assault agains
! the laws of freedom. 1t is perfectly prope
for men to organize and to persuade other
TO Join with them. but they have no RICH
TO picket plant for the purpose of intim
| idation. no right to. interfere with a cor
poration in its enterprise
These were brave words to be uttered b.
| a citizen of Chicago, even though he be
! judge. To say that picketing is an assault
on freedom amounts TO crime IN Chicago
I hope the gentleman was correctly quoted
1t is indeed enrauraglns fnn At IN this da
find that the judiciary is still disposed {
stand by the Constitution of the Unite
/ States and to insist that individual an
property rights be respected.
RESPECTS TO AN EDITOR.
"I wish to briefly refer TO the editorial
have mentioned. The man who wrote |
| must have been shaking in his boots. II
| actually had the temerity to point out tn
| fact. even though In a casual and sugges
| tive way, that the creation of the ne'
strike tribunal would make 1t possible 70
organized labor to focus the policies of a
the local unions and to mass the fu
strength OF those unions on any desire
point. In order 10 make the display of TIL
little editorial courage less Objectionable I
labor the writer calls the new central com
| mfttee a labor senate and tells IL tina
! A. can 40 great good by putting stop