The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-09-09
Democracy and Its Candidate
Found Wanting in Sympathy
for Wage Farmers.
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.-Ihis place
As rapidly becoming the industrial center
of I'll 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
.cen,ered the active influences which con-
troi the greatest Industrial organization
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
portation organizations. The State also
contains splendid coal mines, and TINS
has given Indiana a potent voice in the
settlement of labor disputes OF this char
meter. John Mitchell, Eugene V. Debs
and other men who nave had much to do
with the control of the labor market,
have had their headquarters here at one
time or another, until of late it has be-
come generally recognized that the head
ccMtcr of organized labor may be found
here rather than in Chicago or New
York, which are so much larger from u
manufacturing standpoint.
Labor Leaders ChaErined.
II 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 laboring m 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
had forfeited through mismanagement
and incapacity.
There was no representation of organ
izcd labor at 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 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 B.
Parker of New YORK. He was entirely
an unknown quantity to the labor lead
crs, and they Were willing in common
fairness to give him a chance to express
himself. They were quite we'll aware of
the fact that Judge Parker, in a celc-
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
rcsentatives at Albany for many weeks,
working for it day and night. The de-
>ision handed down by Judge Parker was
a bitter disappointment, but the men Mt
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 packins-house men. of the build
ing trades, and of other great labor or
CARNATIONS, waited with confidence for
Judge Parker's speech of acceptance.
They argued that it 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-
tidcnt that when his lips were unsealed
he wonld make it evident to the labor
world at once that he was a strong friend
and champion of organized labor, and
that his decision In opposition to the
eiSht-hour law was not born of any per-
sonal prejudice.
The surprise and Indignation Of the
conservative labor leaders when they
read Judge Parker's speech of accept
nnce cannot be described. They felt
they had been deceived and snubbed, be-
cause he devoted not a word to the in
tcrests Of organized labor. Instead of
..f l,-- =
,lionism and proclaiming the doctrine
that the laboring man has as much right
to organize as the capitalist, the Demo-
cratic candidate for the presidency con
tented himself with a judicial dissertation
on what liberty means, winding up with
Il declaration that The essence of good
government lies in strict observance of
constitutional limitations" but without
ono word of c~ommendation for the hon
est laboring man who is properly endeav-
oring to resist the encroachments of I'M
scrupnlons employers and to secure a fair
wage when it is once fairly earned, and
Miio Knows but little about constitutions.
Parker Untitled for Presidency.
among a good many OF the labor lead
erS Judge plr6er's extraordinary silence
on the labor question has led them to the
conclusion that lie is manifestly untitled
In the great office he aspires to fill.
They point out the fact that for Il dozen
years or moro he has lived a life apart
from the people. shut up in the %seclusion
nl his law library. where he has formu-
lated abstract opinions on questions of
li.;it and wrong. but where he has had
H., opportunity to learn the ways of the
world. They feel that it would be a
great mistake to put into the office of
President of the United States. where de-
.,.isiaas on matters of great moment are
slAiiy required. ;; man who has no prac-
i;cal knowledge of the industrial condi-
tons which nave grown up in this coun-
ty.s since the advent of the sky scraper
.al.G the trolley car.