The Springfield herald., 1904-09-09
Democracy and Its Candidate
Found Wanting in Sympathy
for Wage-Earners.
JUDGE PARKER WAS SILENT
While President Roosevelt Was Frank
and Sincere In Expressing Him.
self on the Labor Question
Views of Leaders.

indianapolis, Ind, Sept 2.-This place
Is rapidly becoming the industrial center
of the country, SO far as organized labor
is concerned. 1t is a curious thing that
in this capital of an original agricultural
State there should gradually come to be
centered the active influences which con-
troll the greatest industrial organizations
in the world. Indianapolis has long
been a great railroad center. and for that
reason it has been a favorite meeting
place for the heads of the great trans
portntion organizations. The State also
contains splendid coal mines, and TINS
has given Indiana potent voice in the
settlement of labor disputes Of this char
acter. John Mitchell, Eugene v. Debs
and other men who have had much to do
with the control of the labor market,
have had their headquarters here Mt one
time or another, until of late it has be-
come generally recognized that the head
center of organized labor may be found
here rather than in Chicago or New
York, which are so much larger from o
manufacturing standpoint.
Labor Leaders ChaRrined.
1t is no secret here that the labor
leaders representing the greatest indus
trial organizations are surprised and cha
krined at the extraordinary treatment
they have received from the Democratic
organization this year. That party has
always posed in a peculiar degree as the
friend of the lnboring man, the benefac-
tor of the masses, and the good angel of
the poor man. 1t has never done much
for the laboring man. it is true, but as a
rule it has never failed to proclaim its
love for him and to invite him in turn
to assist it in recovering the power it
huI aA
and incapacity.
There was no representation of organ
lied labor ut the st. Louis convention
this year, because it was felt it would be
better to let the two parties declare
themselves on the labor question, and
then it would be possible to make ali
honest choice between them.
1t was apparent long in advance of
the St Louis convention that the Demo-
cratic nominee would be Judge Alton B.
Parker of New York. He was entirely
an unknown quantity to the labor lead
-ers, and they We're willing in common
fairness to give him n chance to express
himself They were quite well aware of
the fact that Judge Parker. in n cele
brated opinion declared unconstitutional
the eight-hour law passed by the New
York Legislature. That law, ns everyone
knew, was passed at the express request
of the Ia Dor leaders. who had their rep
resentatiyes Mt Albany for many weeks,
working for it dny and night. The de-
cision handed down by Judge Parker was
a bitter disappointment, but the men at
the head of the great trade organiZa-
tions of the United States nowadays are
sober, sensible leaders. They were quite
ready to believe that Judge Parker's
decision was based wholly upon the law
in the case. and that it would be unfair
to attack him on that account.
Deceived and Snubbcd.
For this reason the representatives OF
the mine workers, of the railroad men,
of the packing house men, of the build
ing trades, and of other great labor Or
gnnIzations, waited with confidence for
Judge Parker's speech of acceptance.
They argued that it would be unfair to
Judge him while he wns on the bench md
while he was keeping his self-imposed
VOW of absolute silence. They were con-
fdent that when his lips were unscnled
he would make it evident to the labor
world Mt once that he was strong friend
and champion of organized labor, and
that his decision in opposition to the
eight hour law was not born of any per-
sonal preju1tre.
The surprise and indignation of the
conservative labor leaders when they
read Judge Parker's speech of accept
ance cannot be described. They felt
they had been deceived and snubbed, be-
cause he devoted not n word to the in
terests of organized labor. Instead of
calling attention to the good results of
unionism and proclaiming the doctrine
that the lnboring man has as much right
to organize as the capitalist, the Demo-
10 p.i daft fnr N
tented himself with judicial dissertation
on what liberty means. winding up with
a declaration that The essence of good
government lies in strict observance of
constitutional limitations" but without
one word of commentator for the hon
est laboring man who is properly endeav-
cring to resist the encroachments of un-
scrupulous employers and to secure n fair
wage when it is once fairly earned. and
who knows but little about constitutions.
Parker Untitled for Presidency.
Among good many of the labor lead
ers Judge Pnrker's extraordinary silence
on the labor question has led them to the
conclusion that he is manfcstly untitled
for the great office he aspires to fill.
They point out the fact that for Il dozen
years or more he has lived n life apart
from the people, shut up in the seclusion
of his law library. where he has formu-
lated abstract opinions on questions of
right and wrong. but where he has had
no opportunity to learn the ways of the
world They feel that it would be
great mistake to put into the office of
President of the United States, where de-
cisions on matters of great moment are
daily required, man who has no prac-
teal knowledge of the industrial condi-
tions which have grown up in this coun-
try since the advent OF the sky scrnper
pnd the trolley cnr.
Even the men who ais the most ready
to concede to Judge Parker all possible
praise for his upright life and his per-
sonal honesty of purpose freely admit
that instead of bringing to the high office
of President the experience Of an actual
man of affairs, he would examine and
decide upon every great question merely
as n judge does. upon general principles
and without much regard to the ordinary
conditions of life. This inexperience of
Judge Parker, his evident inability to un-
dcrstand the tremendous conflict now 60
ing on between capital and lnbor. and
his significant silence on this subject in
a speech which was full Of mere specu-
lation on general principles. has had an