New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-02
A MADE-TO-ORDER MARTER.

The temporary return Of Parks from Sing
Sing under the stay pending appeal Of his con
yction granted by Justice Sewell promises 20
add a new feature TO the Labor Day parade.
Parks viii walk in the procession displaying his
prison tonsure as a crown Of martyrdom won
IN the cause OF labor. II they should let him
bring away his striped attire from Sing Sing
he would doubtless wear that. too. that he
might the more strongly move sympathy for
his sufferings. The lew-abiding. honest and self
respecting wage earners Of this city are TO have
the inestimable privilege Of being marshalled in
honor Of a feloa. They are 10 be asked TO glOrify
crime and declare themselves liz a body to sym
pathize with thevery and extortion
That Parks's personal adherents and those
VINO wish 10 perpetuate grating" under cover
Of organized labor should rally in such a cause
j. not surprising That the great body of wage
eamers should permit themselves TO be used
for such purpose can only be explained by
their utter Ignorance Of the case. They are told
that Parks is a martyr To the cause of labor.
and they believe il. If he were n champion
brayciy devoted TO their interests their loyalty
would be commendable. Even if he were q law
breaker whose crimes were in the nature of
revolutionary campaign for their rights or privi-
leges IL would he natural for them to stand
by him and parade bis riderless horse If he were
absent in prison for devotion TO them. But what
can they see TO admire in one whose crime was
mere vulgar betrayal Of the trust they repoSed in
him TO further his own interests? He was a
traitor 10 them. He sold them out. He used
the power which they had given him to further
the interests of some employers and 10 practise
extortion on others. IS an incident TO his game
he brought hunger and cold TO the wives and
children Of many 4 workingman who had no
grievance and who was anxious TO earn the lig
ing that Parks would not allow him 10 make till
his employer had lined Parks's pockets or that
employers rival had secured the contract or
reaped the other advantage which he sought
from his neighbours strike
That is the sort OF a martyr that the wage
earners arc asked 10 canOnlze. Aside from the
clique which along with Parks has been mis-
representing labor. we DO not believe many
workmen viii pay their devotion at such
shrine. At least they would not have done 80
but Tor the District Attorney. Parks's one scar
OF mHrtyrdom which IS likely 10 arouse the
sympathy even OF those who believe he IS a
rascal IS the result Of Mr. Jerome's impulsive-
ness and irritability Parks. we believe. de-
serves State prison. and the District Attor.
ney did right 20 resist all temporizing ex-
pedienis and seek 10 keep him there pending
appeal. Bur the unusual expedition shown in re-
moving him from the Tombs inierruptinc his
only visit with his wife after his conviction and
making her the weeping witness OF his trans
portation. did not make Il pleasant impression.
II was unnecessary. II was pettish. Mr. Jerome
had sought 10 delay sentence and when he was
overruled through the insistence Of Parks. hi.
action said as plainly as words: You wanted a
sentence. Take IL and see how you like it.'
Instead q discrediung Parks by getting him in
prison lie hiss. Ia view Of this prompt release
gwen him pretoxt for saying that he was sub
.ectsd TO slndictiye treatment. That simply