The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-30
Address Before Citizens S
Industrial Association.
SOUNDS A WARNING
Believes That If Trades Unionism
Should Eecome Dominant that In
dustlies Would Languish and
Streets Would be Filled with
Idle Men. To Check It.
tBy the Assoeiated Press. }


New York. Nov. 29.-Mr. ID. NJ.
Parry, in his annual address as presi-
dent Of the Citizens Industrial Asso-
citation, before the second annual con-
vention OF the associat ton, reviewed
the progress of the employers move
ment during the last two years, and
predicted for it a steady permanent
growth He said in part:
"If trades unionism should become
dominant in this country | have not
the least doubt that cur industries
would languish and our streets would
be filled with idle men. No other
results could possibly come from a
system that would base the reward of
labor not on merit, but on the power
of organization to dictate terms, a
system that would restrict output dis
courage enterprise and permit the in
dolent and least effiiciant to set the
pace for industry. Can present-day
unionism become dominant in this
country? 1t is nv belief that if you
would like to see organized labor OBJ
tain a controlling power over indus
trial and public affairs all that you
need to do is to fold your hands and
let the unions work their will. Under
the do-ncthing policy Of the employ
ers, up until a few years ago, the
growth of unEonism was magical. Fin
ally with se-eral millions OF workers
back of them and flushed with victory,
because of success in a number of
strikes. the leaders assumed dicta
torial attitude towards Congress and
local authorities. At that time it !
seemed as though public opinion was
ready to sanction anV demands that I
the Strike bosses chose to make, and I
but seant hearing was given to the /
employers side of any controversy, no |
matter how automatically expressed. |
l believe that this was a critical time
in the history of our country and had /
the employers not abandoned the let |
alone policy we should today be facing
q very different condition of affairs
from that now confronting us. We
should, perhaps. have the eight-hour
and anti-injunction bills on the stat
ute books. and the principle of pref
erence to unionists in employment, or,
in other words. the national closed
shop would more than likely be in a
fair way of adoption. But FORUM
ately, for the welfare of every man,
woman and child in this country. there
sprang uD movement, which was
practically spontaneous among the
employers, for the formation of local
associations while such great national
organizations as the National Associa-
tion of Manufacturers began TO grap-
pie with the problem with energy and
determination. What happened?
There is little need for me to rehearse
the story Strike after strike was or
dered only to be lost by the unions
and a great check was given to trades
unions aggression from Maine to Cali
fornia Shop after shop has been
opened to the non-union man, and
protection has been given him against
the sluggers in most of our industrial
centers. / believe that fully one
thousand manufacturing establish
ments have. in the last year, aban-
doned the closed shop and thrown
their doors open to workmen without
regard to their Membership or non
membership in a union. ; have beel
informed Of the names of over $50
concerns in the city of Chicago alone
that have done this. Is not that
record for the greatest hot-bed of
unionism in the country? From all
parts of the Central West / have re-
ceived information of hundreds of
other factories being opened to inde-
pendent workmen. Many concerns in
the East have also gone TO the open
shop, although l must say that the
employers movement is stronger in
the Central West than it is here in
the East, and that the results show it,
The effect of the open ShoD move
ment has been particularly beneficial.
IN some factories the output per man
has been increased from 25 to so per
cent. Who can assert that this in
crease in outout will not benefit the
toiler as well as the employer? The
theory that the less each man does
the better every one will be is one
of the absurd doctrines of the union
creed, and If followed TO it's logical
conclusion, would produce state of
society in which no one worked and
every one went hungry and naked.
II increasing the output per man
worked injury to the workers than all
machinery should be destroyed, for
the effect of machinery is to multiply
Individual OUTPUT"
Mr.. Parry declared that the labor
quesuon was not merely controversy
between employers and employees, but
rather question whether individual
HpeFty was to be maintained. He
quoteu from labor authorities to show
tnat the unions denied that there was
any such thing as the inalienable
rlgnt to work. "Mr. John Mitchell"
said Mr. Parry, land other labor lead
ers IN order to hide the real purpose
OF the unions to prevent men from
working where, when and for what
they please resort to the subterfuge
that union men have the right to re-
fuse to work with non-union men.
Now the right of men to refuse to
work with or without stating their
reason is just as valid as the right
of the employer to discharge men