The Washington herald., 1908-04-01
RAPS AT SOCIALISTS
/" Parlor Takers" Is Herman
RObinsOn'S Term for Them.
MAY VISIT At WHITE HOUSE
Labor Organizer Not keenIy Excited
Over Prospect Of Talking to Presi-
AgitatOrs ia Parish House-Says
They Kissed Like Lot of Geese"

They Kissed Like a Lot of Geese"
New York. March 3L-Herman Robin
son. the labor organizer. who walked
into the Rev. Alexander Irvines tea
party % parlor socialists last Sunday
night in the parish house Of tae Church
Of the Ascension and slammed some
pretty strong parts OF speech around the
ears Of some Of our most prominent
thinkers. wasn't keenly excited to-day
over the news that Roosevelt intends to
invite him TO the White House TO con-
gratulate him on his frankness and nerve.
In fact. the little labor leader, who never
overlooks an opportunity 20 say that the
socialist thing is all punk and fourdush-
ing Of the aggravated variety, received
the important tidings quite calmly. lie
sat IN his Office at . Third avenue this
afternoon, his feet on a desk top. receiv-
ing the congratulations Of his friends aud
celebrating his views on the Saviors Of
the Republic
When It came to saying whether he in
tended to accept the invitation Mr.. Rob
inson was very cooney. He might and
Ire mightnt-he couldn't say until he had
received a letter from the President. He
left a pretty strong impression. though,
that he didn't see the sense Of leaving
his Job for 2 day or two just to swap
adjectves with the President.
Not KeenIy Excited.
He said:
some people might get al excited over
an invitation Of that kind. but 1 have
shaken hands with The President before,
made my debut. SO 70 speak, and Il
wouldn't be a new experience by any
means. I don't quite see that my little
spiel Up there the other night before the
crowd demands a personal interview. with
compliments on the subject from Presl-
dent Roosevelt. II didn't amount 20
much. anyway. I wasn't looking for no
torlety, because / am not stuck on being
the headllner iu the newspapers. J am uOt
good breakfast food for q lot OF people
Besides, there are plenty OF folks that
think just as I do about those fellows VINO
have got calloUsed tongues instead Of
calloused hands, and II President ROose-
Welt should ask them all 10 call on him,
he would have 10 enlarge his shack"
II you accept, your boss. Gompers. VIII
be pretty sore" some body suggested.
"Gompers never interfercs with my per-
sonal affairs" said Robinson His CON-
muulcatiOns 10 me are strictly business
Would BE an Honor.
I won't say that won't go. because its
an honor that any American citizen
might be proud OF 10 put his feet under
the table with the President o. the
United States. Maybe he might ask me
10 play tennis with him. eh? I'd be an
easy mark In that game. They didn't
teach IL in the school 1 went 70.
But 20 get back 10 these windjammers.
these nice fellows with their big black
bow ties and ladylike get-up. I don't see
how any man Of horse sense can stand
for the brand Of hot air they hand out
Lots OF them know better. They are edu-
Gated men. But they get in a crowd Of
new citizens and preach discomfort, and
even violence; AID If there Is a better
way 10 make trouble I'd like 10 know IT,
II seems joke TO some people some
thing 10 laugh about and josh over. but a
lot OF US don't realize what an influence
these c0llege-bred agitators who are
well-hee.ed themselves with the coin.
have on q lot OF raw immi grants who are
trying TO grab the price of three meals
day and md the going very Iumpy.
Ought 20 Re stopped.
1T ought TO be stopped. because if they
are permitted to preach. there viii oe
trouble sure enough some day.
I don't like EN- because they're darn
ed fools al around. and particularly on
the labor question. They want TO mix
economics. industrial questions. and poll
tics The right sort Of labor man knows
that economies and politics DO not neces-
sarily closely concern labor. These par
lor socialists. as some call them. 80 ram
ming around. knocking the labor unions.
If they'd work more and talk less. I guess
the point would work out its own saliva
ton. They're so blamed Inconsistent Up
az the Sunday night meetings in the Rev.
Mr.. Grants parish house they advertise
the fact that free speech is requested on
any topic Of interest 10 the masses. Yet
when 7 strolled in there and got permis-
sion to talk and handed them a few plain
truths they Kissed me like lot Of geese.
BAD Manners, Anyway.
Tt was bad manners, anyway you look
at it. What they want is somebody 10
tell them all the time what grand people
they are. A knock makes them yelp in
q hurry"
President Roosevelt's letter was ex-
pected 70 reach Mr.. Robinson this after
noon.
They were betting 5 70 up at the
c. F. L. Office this afternoon that Rob
inson wouldn't 90; but the speculation
languised because there were few that
cared TO grab the short end OF the bet
Somehow, nobody thought that the vis-
ion of Herman Robinson, executive officer
Of the Central Federated Union sitting
down to lunch and chatting with President
Roosevelt would be pleasing 20 the ap-
petite of Samuel Gompers.
RIXEY ACTS FOR METCALF.
Surgeon General Makes Address to