The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-15
MIR. PARRY'S ADDRESS.
Vigorous Arrangement Of Organized
Labor and It's Methods.

Vigorous Arrangement OF Organised
Labor and It's Methods.
In beginning his address Mr.. Parry re-
facturers and organized labor in connection
bills, which were defeated at the last ses-
sion of Congress. Referring to this contest
Mr.. Parry said:
passage Of the eight-hour and the anti
injunction bills this association performed
what to my mind was great public serv-
ice, the full significance of which Is, per-
haps. not realized even by many who were
foremost in condenming those measures.
The mere defeating of these two bills does
not tell the story. What was done that
was much more important and far-reaching
was to give an opportune check to socialis-
tic impulse. 1t is impossible to hide our
eyes to the fact that large mass of the
people, forgetful of the liberties and bless
ings they now enjoy. are with restless ar
dor striving to force the Nation to what
must eventually mean Industrial disaster,
if not anarchy and despotism.
Organized labor. an army presumably
two million strong, feeling its strength and
exultant over many victories 1t had won,
concluded last winter that the time was
ripe to make Congress engraft upon the
statute books of the Nation its sprigs of
socialism, legalizing those denials of in
dividual rights which it has heretofore
~
fathered the eight-hour and anti-injunction
bills, the former of which could well have
been entitled An act to repeal the bill of
rights guaranteeing the freedom of the in
dividual,' and the latter should have been
termed, a bill to legalize strikes and boy
colts.
1.-The introduction In Congress of such
measures these and the support they re-
ceived there and from the press and public
can only be regarded as ominous mani
festations OF the deepseated power of an
or oy,iv yrh In lot hnc had
such an insiduous growth that we find it
dominating to a dangerous degree the
whole social, political and governmental
systems of the Nation. Who can take note
of the hundreds of strikes of the last year,
of the many acts OF aggression and ruth
less violation Of principles heretofore held
servient and apologize tone of many news
papers and public men towards those
things. and also Of the all too prevalent
antagonism toward capital without being
impressed with the gravity of the situa-
ton? If organized labor had succeeded in
getting its two bills enacted into law more
measures of similar character would have
followed close upon their heels, and we
should have found socialism stealing upon
at rapid rate.
A DEFEAT FOR SOCIALISM.
at is well that those who would revolu-
tionize the social order should at the very
inception of their national programme
meet with organized resistance, and it was
fortunate that there was an association
strong enough to checkmate the influence
of organized labor this last winter. and
that at a time when in the full plenitude
of its power ii seemed certain to success.
This confiict-and 1T was a conflict, and a
very momentous one-deserves to go down
in history the first decisive defeat of the
socialistic forces which have of late years
had such surprising growth.
snnn OIL a IN 10 frrfa MT
of this un-American institution of organ
lied labor as at present conducted, the
people, i firmly believe. will place their
stamp of diSapproval upon ii and 1t will
dwindle in power faster than II grew. Per-
haps a new form of unionism will take its
place-a beneficent unionism-for the right
of the workmen to organize within the
spirit of the federal Constitution is not TO
be disputed. The employers of this coun-
try have no quarrel with the men that
work for them considered as individuals.
The welfare of those who toll in our fac
tories calls for our most earnest cons.dera-
ton. But what We must protest against is
the unwarrantable usurpation OF rights and
the disastrous industrial policy which char
acterizes them in their present associated
capacity.
that Is the law of physical force-the law
| savage. All its purposes accomplished
either by actual force or by the threats OF
force. Ii does not place its reliance In rea-
son and justice. but in strikes, boycotts and
coercion. 1t Is, In all essential features, a
mob-power, knowing no master except ite
or defying the constitutional authorities
The stronger II grows the greater menace
Il becomes to the continuance of free gov
) frnments In which all the people have z