The Democratic advocate., 1908-09-04
NOT AFRAID OF BRYAN.
Republican Manufacturer Denounces
Effort to Coerce WOrkmen.

Republican Manufacturer DenOunces
Effort to Coerce Workmen.
John M. Kern, Democratic nominee
for vice-president, wrote to David M.
Parry, fromer president of the Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers
and a stalwart Republican, calling his
attention to the prosperity placards"
which the Republicans are using, and
which read as follows: "On the day
man this factory will start up in full
force" The intention of these plac-
cards is obviously TO frighten the
public, as we'll as the employees direct
Iy affected, into a belief that the sue
cess of the Democratic party would
work injury to business and indus
trial interests, and Mr. Parry, as a
leading manufacturer, was asked to
give his opinion of this method of cam
paigning. His reply follows:
My Dear Mr.. Kern-I have your very
interesting letter concerning the
prosperity pIacards," and to disabuse
your mind at once of any doubt as to
say that no such placards will be post
turing Company.
I have had good deal to say in
the past about the abuse of power by
the labor uniOns-some people tell me
/ have said too much on the subject
but I have yet to say word in favor
of any abuse of power by the employ
er. And it is an abuse of the power
of the employer to intimate to the en-
MI hof ho mood
ed if he does not vote a certain way
When man is made to believe that
his bread and butter depend on how
he votes he is no longer free to ex-
ercise his own judgment-he is de-
prived Of the most important of his
citizenship rights. I believe it is our
to sway the judgment of men other
and persuasion untinctured with CO.
ercion.
| am sure that the great majority
of the manufacturers OF the country
will refrain from the posting of the
Objectionable placards, and that main
ly because 1t would be taking an unjust
and distressing advantage of the en-
pIoye. There is the further reason
their business in accordance with the
demand for their products, and not in
accordance with the political barom-
eter. 1t is poor business judgment,
on the face Of it, to post a promise to
run a factory full time in the event
of any ones election, for there is a
chance, you know, that the promise
may have to be made good" in the
face of adverse business conditions. |
Should the promise for any reason not
be made good" the employer would
be guilty of bad faith with his men,
and if the employer does not keep |
faith with his men, he cannot expect
his men to keep faith with him.
| think it impossible to fix a date |
for the return of full prosperity. 1t |
must be remembered that there are
economic causes for business reaction
which are quite beyond the power of
political parties to control-this thing
of looking to the Government to give
US prosperity has its limitations. But
the recuperative powers of the coun-
try are such that we can assert with
confidence that times or Industrial de-
preston cannot long continue, and
this also regardless Of which of the
two political parties Is successful. OF
course, ill-considered legislation and
the continued existence of public evils
obstruct the path to prosperity, and
perhaps if my distinguished acquaint-
ance, William j. Bryan, and my es-
teemed friend and fellowtownsman,
John w. Kern, were really anarchists
Or Socialists, enemies Of individual
and property rights, might feel justi
fed in posting up some kind of plac-
ards, but despite my 'Republicanism
cannot bring myself to any such no
tions concerning them. I no more
sympathize with the statement that
Mr.. Bryan is the enemy of industry
than l do with the statement that Mr..
Taft is the creature Of the Trusts, and
as for Mr.. Kern's possible election be-
ing a menace to business, it Is posi-
lively absurd.
AS for the tariff, l think the coun-
try is to be congratulated in that both
parties promise its readjustment. I
am free to say that the Parry Manu-
faccturing Company is willing to see
any duties imposed for the protection
of the buggy business go on the trad
ing list in negotiating with foreign
for reciprocity treaties, and
there are other manufacturers in a
similarly generous mOOQ. III Il recent
poll of the National Association of
a majority of it's MEM
bers declared in favor Of revision, and
since manufacturers will not be dis
posed to buy heavily or raw material
when there is a possibility of cheaper
prices for such material through a re-
taxation of the tariff, I believe that
speedy revision will materially assist
in restoring business to normal condi-
tions. OF course this revision cannot
be accomplished the first day after the
election, no matter who is elected, and
to my knowledge the prosperity plac-
ards" proposition has not received the
official Endorsement of the manufac-
turers' association.
do not believe that business
scares," gotten up to influence cleo
tions, are calculated to help legitimate
business, and therefore should not be
by business men.
The Democratic Advocate for the cam.