The state 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 Ia 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 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 great railroad center, and for that
reason it has been a fayorite meeting
place for the heads of the great trans
portntion organizations. The State also
contains splendid coal mines, and tnis
has given Indiana potent voice in the
settlement OF labor disputes OF this char
ncter. 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 1t 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 .
manufacturing standpoint.
Labor Leaders ChaErined.
1t is no secret here that the labor
leaders representing the greatest indus
trial organizations are surprised and cha
Grined 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
H.. Ia 4 A.
for the laboring man. it is true, but us n
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
had forfeited through mismanngement
and incapacity.
There was no representation OF organ
lied labor at the st. Louis convention
this year, because It was felt il would be
better to let the two parties declare
themselves on the labor question, and
then il would be possible to make an
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. lie was entirely
m unknown quantity To the labor lead
ers, and they were willing in common
fairness 10 give him a chance TO express
himself They were quite well aware OF
the fact that Judge Parker. in cel.-
brated opinion declared unconstitutional
the eight-hour law passed by the New
York Legislature. That law, as everyone
knew, was passed at the express request
OF the labor leaders, who had their rep
rcssntatives at Albany for many weeks,
working for II day and night. The de-
cision handed down by Judge Parker was
a bitter disappointment, but the men Mt
the head OF the great trade oreaniEa-
tons 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 IL would be unfair
to attack him on that account.
Deceived aud snubbed.
For this reason the representatives of
the mine workers. OF the railroad men.
OF the pncking.housc men, OF the build
Ing trades, aud OF other great labor or
CARNATIONS. waited with confidence for
Judge Parker's speech OF acceptance.
They argued that II would be unfair TO
Judge him while he was on the bench and
while he was keeping his self.imposed
vow OF absolute silence. They were con
hdent that when his lips were unscaled
he would make It evident to the labor
world Mt once that he was n strong friend
and champion OF organized labor. and
that his decision In opposition TO the
sight'hour law was not born OF any per.
sonal pr-ju%se.
The surprise and Indignation OF the
eonservatiy. labor leaders when they
IUIs p.rL..sa -
snce cannot be described. They felt
they had been deceived aud snubbed, be.
cause he devoted not word 10 the In.
teres,s OF organized labor Instead OF
calling attention to the good results OF
unioniSm and proclniming the doctrine
that the laborlng man has as much right
io organize ns the capitalist. the Demo.
cratic candidate for the presidency con.
tented himself with judicial dissertation
on what liberty means, winding up with
n declaration that "fhe essence OF good
government lies In strict observance or
constitutional limitations" but without
one word OF commcndation for the hon.
est laborinR man who IN properly cndcny.
cring 10 resist the onrroachmcnts of mn.
scrnpnlous employers and 10 secure fair
wage when II il once fairly earned. aud
who knows but little about constitutions.
Parker unnttcd for Presidency.
Among . good many ~ the labor Head.
srs Judge pnrker's extraordinary silence
on the labor question has led thnn to ia.
conclusion that he N mnnlrcstly untitled
for the great once he nspirrs TO hli.
They point out the fact that Tor dozen
years or more he has lived life apart
from the people, shut up In tho secluslon
Of his law library. where he has furmu.
lated abstract opinions IN questions Of
right and wrong hut where he has had
M opportunity 10 learn tho ways NJ the
world. They feel that it would be u
rrcn, mistake 10 put Into the once Of
President of the United States. where de.
ripionz on matters n great moment are
dali, required, u man who has no prnc.
iieal knowledge Of the Industrial condi
,ion- which have grown up In this conn
Try since the ndSsn, OF the sky scrnper
aud the trolley eat
Even tho men who ne the mos, ready
10 concsis 10 Judge Parker all possible
praise Tor his upright life and his per.
sonnl honesty ~ purpose freely admit
that Instead NJ bringing 10 the high once
Of President the experience Of an actual
man OF affairs. he would srnnipe mud
decide upon every great question merely
rs Judge dnas, upon general principles
aud without much regard 10 The ordinary
conditions of life, This ine,perisnre of
Judge Parker. his evident inability to nn.
derstand the tremendous cun1ict now go.
ing on between capital and labor. aud
his airniHrsnt silence on this subject ia