The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-01-08
PASSING OF LEWIS W. PARKEB

| The passing of Lewis ". Parker
from the cotton mill industry in this
State removes from the field OF in
dustrialisn ono OF the best trained
men ever engaged In the work in the
South. Possessing sympathetic ma
ture. he was the friend OF the work
ing man. Having we'll trained and
keen business mind he was able 10
manage the affairs OF The many mills
of which he was the head with uota ole
liability. Speaking OF his work In the
cotton mills. the Grcenville Piedmont
says:
| fou never miss the water till the
well goes dry" so runs an old say
ling, The truth OF that saying is be-
ing appreciated now by operatives In
the cotton mills of which Mr.. Lewis
w Parker was the directing head
and also by operatives in mills with
which he had no connection. While
he was the head Of the greatest cot
tion manufacturing corporation In the
South he was bitterly attacked by
demagogues. who made great profess
sions OF love for tho cotton mill oper-
I dtAN'o Out uO ulu al
thing to better their conditions of liv-
Ing. There Is no taint of demagogy
about Mr.. Parker Fie never nlnyed
about love of workngmen, as do those
who want votes. Profession never
has been and never will be proof of
leve. Love is proven by service, by
what Is done for those for whom love
Is felt. And cotton mill operatives In
the Parker mill villages and others
are just beginning 10 realize what
the Pakers. Lewis W. and Thos. +.
did for them. They are missing the
water. for The WE'LL II not gone dry.
IL showing signs Of approaching that
condition.
Prior to this advent into cotton
manufacturing In South Carolina, the
employer took little interest in the
welfare Of workers in the mill. They
were paid so much and must do go
much work--and that wgs practically
all between them. Under the Par.
kers. welfare work at their mills was
thoroughly organized and systemasi.
cally carried out and tho inspiration
OF its accomplishment spread the
work elsewhere. In some places this
work will be continued. but in others
there nro signs that il will be al
lowed TO dry up.
Monumental as was the welfare
work instituted and pushed by the
Parkers. and regrettable as will be its
abatement or discontinuance, we have
6 conviction that the services of the
Parkers to cotton mill labor In other
ways, particularly since the organiaa-
ton Of the great corporation that
bears their name, have been greater
n 70, ..affA
and conditions OF service. We believe
their retirement from cotton milling
Will be feit even more than in the
effect that retirement may have upon
welfare work; with which their names,
particularly that OF Thos. F., are so
indclitly associated. fs,t t
| The great number of employees of
1.-THE Parker corporation gave Mr..
Lewis w. Parker a most influential
voice In all conferences as TO mat
ters affecting employment, for II his
Views were not accepted and he put
thenl into effect anyhow. the cream
OF labor woaid have settled at his
mills. Here again there is reason to
belt. :, ao;ton !..!i wo-ksrs ars aHz-
.6usiy examining the lever uf ~; tho
twater IN sthe we'll l1'ec5 n z ~
/ We halicve now cotton mill opera
tJpes understand and appreciate the
Parkers as never before and regret
4 that they ever applaaded detraction
sof them by selfish deiuagogues, who
got votes by tanning flames OF pre-
liudice.
! We do not know the plans OF Mr..
Thos. +. Parker. but we do know that
he will always have the love and es-
teen Of toilers who are lust begin
ming TO realize how much he thought.
lplanned.e worked and gave in their
behalf. ..
Ne have a more definite idea as to
Mr.. Lewis w. Parker. lie has re-
Ientered the practice OF law. OF his
liability In that profession there Is no
iuse TO speak, as 1t is we'll known.
But. unless we are nightly mistaken,
he will he able tc- do more for labor
Ing men than ever before, for they
Twin trust. listen TO and follow him as
ineser In the days when.i because he
az an employer OF labor. working
men thought he was trying to get
thefn to grind his axes. He knows
lthe cotton milling business as few
linen do and what he says about It will
he considered authoritative. More
ever, lie vii, ba Jnhamperei al work
!, for his ideals. as he will not have
'hp defer to the wishes OF stockhold-
era and directors.
4 We resres Ills retirement from the
Enili business because It seems to be
10 personal misfortune to him. but
we Will not be surprised Il that re-
tifement should prove IN some ways
la blessing 10 Greenville. and South
Carolina for. relieved es the enormous
burdens he carried rs head OF tho
greatest cotton mill corporation In the
state, he will have more time 10 give
y 10 work thar haR always .heen. isInzn