Albuquerque morning journal., 1908-09-01
Interesting Correspondence
Between Former Head Of
Manufacturers Association
and Kern,
D. M. PARRY OPPOSED TO
PROSPERITY PLACARDS
Contrary to Good Business
Methods to Promise to Open
Factories in Event of Any
Mans Election He Says,


Indianapolis. Aug. BID. NJ. Parry.
ex-president of the National Associa-
tion of Manufacturers ana promi-
nent republican and manufacturer in
Indiana, In reply to a letter from John
w. Kern, democratic nominee for vice
president, today announced himself as
opposed to the posting of so-called
prosperity placards" in factories.
The correspondence follows:
indianapolis, Aug 81.
ID. NJ, Parry. President of the Parry
Manufacturing Company
My Dear Mr.. Parry: | am enclos-
ing a newspaper clipping which re-
ports the posting OF so-callcd prosper
ity placards In manufacturing estab-
lishments over the eonutry and | am
interested in learning how the distin-
guished ex-president of the National
Association of Manufacturers David
NJ, Parry, stands on this proposition of
begullng or coercing the workmen OF
the factories to vote the ticket Of
party which many believe has become
the party of tariffized trusts. rather
than a party of the people You viii
note that these plaeards read to the
effect that ON the day after the clec-
tion of Taft and sherman this factory
will start up in full force The in
tent of the placards Is obviously 10
frlghten the public, AS well as the em-
ployes directly affected. into a belief
that the success of the democratic
party would work injury To business
and national interests. l, OF course,
resent as entirely unjust an attempt
to place such an imputation upon the
democratic party and | must presume
that the factory owners who post these
placards are beneticiaries Of the tariff
tax to such an uniustinable extent
that they fear any revision Of the tar
iff except such as may revise 1t up
ward.
II have had much pleasure in the
last year in reading special articles
written by You in which you show
yourself to be a sincere advocate OF
letting the tariff bars down between
the nations to a reasonable extent for
the benefit Of our exporting industries.
and | am led to believe that many
other manufacturers hold like views.
In. the light of the fact that the pres
ent high tariff has not maintained
prosperity. | would like to ask wheth-
er the posting of these prosperity pla-
cards by the stand patters' does not
SAVIOR good deal of trying 70 obtain
money under false pretences?
Believing that you do not sympa-
thize with this placard scheme. and
hoping to hear from you fully on the
sbiect, | am,
yours very truly.
JOHN w. KERN"
Indianapolis. Aug. 80.
"John w. Kern.
"My Dear Mr.. Kern: have your
very interesting letter concerning the
prosperity placards and to disabuse
your mind at once Of any doubt az TO
where I stand on this matter, | will
say that no such placards VIII be post
ed at the plant of the Parry Manufac-
turing company.
Il have had a great deal to say Ia
the past about the abuse Of power by
the labor unions-some people to say
tell me | have said too much on the
subject-but | have yet To say a word
In favor of any abuse Of pOWa- nc
employer. And II Is an abuse oi the
power of the employer 10 intimate TO
the cmploye that his services will not
be needed II he does not vote GER
tain way. When man Is made TO
believe that his bread and butter de-
pend on how he votes, he Is no longe
free to exercise his own Judgment
he Is deprived OF the most important
of his citizenship rights. / believe Il
is our duty TO frown down upon all
efforts to sway the judgment Of men
other than by methods Of proper argu-
ment and persuasion, untlnctured with
coercion
Il am sure that the great major
lty Of the manufacturers Of the coun-
try will refrain from posting of the
Objectionable placards and that main
~ because II would be taking an un-
just and distressing advantage Of the
employe. There is the further reason
also that most manufacturers run
their business In accordance with the
demand for their product and
not IN accordance with the poli-
tIeal barometer. Il rs poor busi-
political barometer, II IL poor bust
ness Judgment. on the face Of il, TO
post a promise 10 run a factory full
time In the event OF any ones election.
for there Is a chance, you know, that