The Delta independent., 1904-09-23
Democracy and Its Candidate
Found Wanting In Sympathy
for Wage.Earners.
JUDGE PARKER WAS SILENT
While Presideat Roosevelt Was Frask
aad Slscere ID Expressisg Hin.
self o. the Labor Questioa
Views OF LEADERS.

Indianapolis, Ind, Sept. This plaza
70 rapidly becoming the industrial center
of the country, so far as organized labor
Is concerned. II is 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 q great railroad center. and for that
place for the heads Of tho great trans
portation organizations. The State also
contains splendid coal mines. and tina
has given Indiana a 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 at one
time or another. until Of late II 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 NO much larger stom
manufacturing standpoint.
Labor Leaders ChaGrined.
II is no secret here that the labor
leaders representing the greatest indus
trial organizations are surprised and cha
n
they have received from the Democratic
organization this year. That party has
always posed In peculiar degree n the
friend of the lnboring man. the benefac-
tor OF the masses. and the good angel of
the poor man. IL has never done much
for the laboriDg man. II Is true. but as =
rule II has never failed 10 proclaim It's
love for him and TO invite him in turn
to assist II In recovering the power IL
had forfeited through mismanAgement
and incapaciiy.
There was no representation OF organ
lied labor at the St Louis convention
this year. because II was felt II would BE-
better to let the two parties declare
themselves on the labor question. and
then II would be possible to make an
honest choice between them
II was apparent long In advance Of
the st. Louis convention that the Demo
cratic nominee would be Judge Alton u.
Parker of New York. He was entirely
an unknown quaptity 10 the labor Lead
ers. and they were willing in common
fairness TO give him a chance TO express
himself. They were quite well aware Of
the fact that Judge Parker, In 4 cele-
bratsd opinion declared unconstitutional
the eish,-hour law passed hy the New
York Legislature That Law. as everyone
know. was passed at the express request
of the Ia bor leaders, who had their rep
rreentstives nj Albany for many weeks,
working for Il day and night. The de-
cision handed down by Judge Parker was
q bitter disappointment bat the men st
the head OF the great trade organiza.
lions OF the United States nowadays are
sober. sensiblc leaders They were quite
ready TO believe that Judge Parker's
decision was based wholly upon the law
In the case. aud tha, II would be unfair
to attack him on that account
Dscei,ed and ssubbed.
For this reason the representatives of
the mine workers. OF the railroad men.
OF the packing house ncu. Of the build.
Ing trades. aud OF other great labor or
ganisations. waited with confidence for
Judge Parkcr's speech Of acceptance.
They argued that Il would he unfair to
Judge him while he MAS on the bench and
while he was keeping his sclf-impossd
vow of absolute silence. They were con
hdent that when hi. lip. were uuseaied
be would make II evident to the labor
world at once that he was q strong friend
and champion Of organized labor. and
that HE decision In opposition to the
eight hour Law was not horn OF any per-
sonal prcJuAc.
The surprise aud Indignation of the
conservative isbor leaders when they
read Judge Pnrkcr's SPEECH Of accept.
ance cannot be described. They felt
they had been deceived aud snubbcd. b.
cause he devoted not n word TO the In
trrrstx OF organized labor. Instead Of
calling attention to the good results of
uuiouism and proclnimiug the doctrine
that the laborinr man has a. much right
TO organize nS the capitalist. the Demo.
cratic candidate for the presidency con.
tented himself with a judicial dissertation
on what liberty means. winding up with
declaration that THE essence OF good
government lies In st..ct observance OF
constitutional limitations" hut without
ono word of commcndation for the hon.
est laboring man who is properly endcav-
crinE to resist the cncroachments of un-
scrupulous employers and to secure fair
wage when II IL once fairly earned. and
who knows but little about constitutions.
Parker Uaasted for Prssidsncy.
Among good many Of the labor lead
err Judge Parkcr's extraordinary silence
on the labor question has led them to the
conclusion that he Ia manifcstiy untitled
for the great ofice he aspircs to fill.
They point out the fact that for dozen
years or more he has lived n life apart
from the people, shut up In the scclnsion
of his law library. where he has formu.
lated abstrrsrt opinions on questions OF
right and wrong, hut where he has had
no opportunity to learn the ways OF the
world. They feel that Il would be n
great mistake to put into the once OF
President of the United States, where de-
Il. -
daily required. n man who has no prnc-
ficnl know ledge Of the Industrial condi-
tions which have grown up In this coun.
try since the advent OF the sky scrapcr
aud the trolley car.
Even the men who n'e the most ready
10 concc,ie to Judge Parker al. possible
praise for his upright life and his per-
sonni honesty Of purpose freely admit
That instead Of bringing 70 the high once
" President the experience of an actual
man OF affairs. he would examine aud
iecidc upon every great question merely
~ a judge does, upon general principles
md without much regard to the ordinary
OF life. This iucxpcricnce Of
Judge Parker, his evident inability TO un-
the tremendous conflict now go-
ng on between capital and labor, and
ais significant silence on this subject In
, speech which was full Of mere specu-
alton on general principles, has had an
influence upon the mon In
control OF the great labor organizations,
md while they will continue to keep
hose orRanixa tons out Of politics. they
10 not hesitate to express their own opin-
ons as to the the course to be pursued
" the friends Of organised labor gen.
rally In the coming campaign.
visws u Mr. Dsbs.
In recent interview. Dussas ". DsAs,
sho is the Socialist candidate ter prssi.
lent and who represents = certain stxeAg
,lement in the labor camp. Rnvo eEnens-