Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-23
OPPOSED TO UNIONS
Head of National Association
of Manufacturers.
HAS DECIDED VIEWS
HE REGARDS ORGANIZED LABOR
AS A STANDING MOB.
What Strikes Cost the Public-The
Business REPRESENTATIONS
ton Ridiculous.
HAS DECIDED VIEWS

Copyright. 1904, by Frank G. Carpenter)
Written for The Evening Star.
The trades union men of the United States
look upon David NJ. Parry, the president of
the National Association of Manufacturers,
as an enormous BULL an overgrown golden
calf, which is dashing about in the china
shop of the labor organizations shattering
the images. They cali him bloated cap
italist with horns. and think he Is seven
teen feet high and weighs ton. The real
David NJ. Parry measures five feet SIX
inches, and he tips the beam at just one
hundred and twenty-five pounds. If he mas
horns / have not discovered them. His
black hair Is we'll brushed back from high
forehead, his dark face is smooth shaven
and his eyes are gentle and his voice as
suave as that of any business man know
Mr. Parry has made himself noted as the
chief antagonist of organized labor IN the
United States. He has no use for labor
unions in any shape. and he does not hesi-
tate to say so. He not only opposes theiA
himself but he is now the president or the
Manufacturers Association, which has
n membership of 5000 of the leading rae
tories and corporations of this country
covering every part of the United STATES.
He tells me that they represent cap
ital running high into the billions OF
dollars and that each pays 500 a year
TO the association as membership dues
The association largely represents the anu
union sentiment of the country, although
l venture many of its members would nos
jndorse views so radical as those OF Mr.
Parry.
1t was In the offices of the association
that l met Mr.. Parry. l had come lot an
interview, and he answered my question:"
at once. Said he: -,
B lyon ask me why ] oppose organized
labor. 1 do it because as 1t exists IN ,he
United States it is revolutionary. 1t makes
the Declaration of Independence ana the
Constitution obsolete documents ana de-
clares all of us who are so old fashloneo as
10 believe in individual liberty the OPP
pressors of labor End the enemies of the
race. / believe many of the labor leaders
would guillotine us if they could
Organized Labor as Mob.
THAT is rather strong language, Mr.. Par
ry.' said I.
Yes, but 1 believe in calling things by
their right names. Organized labor as 1t
now is is standing mob engaged in acts
of open rebellion against the government
1t defies the constituted authorities and tries
to nullify individual and property rights:
Such rebellion is worse than that which had
the secession of the states for its object,
and l think ii is high time the country was
waking up to the fact.
why look at it," Mr. Parry went on.
1--WE have had q series of labor inSurrec-
lions during the past year known as strikes.
in which the unions have tried to force their
authority by mob law. They denounce the
government officials who try to restrain
them. they are keeping their members out
of the militia, and they have even attempt
ed to make the President of the United
States violate his oath of office to please
them. In their crusade against the exercise
of individual rights, they have clustered.
threatened, assaulted and murdered. They
even threaten helpless women and children:
l know the leaders of the labor unions will
disclaim responsibility for such crimes. but
they are nevertheless the accomplices of
the brutal and ignorant men whom they
have melted TO commit such outrages.
The Views of Workingman.
What right have you to speak against
labor. Mr.. Parry?'' said 1. Have you ever
been workingman yourself?'
II have the right of both a workingman
and an employer was the reply. Il have
worked all my life and 1 work now l be-
gan to work on the farm boy and 1
know all about farm work. from the dig
ging of post-holes to hauling manure. l
have clerked in a store, sold goods on the
road and had hardware store of my own.
/ am now employer of labor, having
eral thousand hands; ! am also a consumer
and every man has right to discuss mat
ters in which ne is vitality Interested.
How about working at trade? Do you
know anything of mechanics?"
Il make buggies and l understand every
thing connected with my business and have
worked at every branch of it,
Gould you set wagon tire?'
Il have set thousands of them. / have
worked with my men, and l think I know
something of the workingmen of the United
States. 1t is not right to look upon the
unions as representing American labor for
80 per cent of our workmen do not belong