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

State removes from the field of in
dustrialism one OF the best trained
men ever engaged In the work in the
South. Possessing sympathetic Da-
ture, lie was the friend of the work
ing man. Having a well trained and
keen business mind he WAS able to
manage the affairs OF the many mills
OF which he was the head with notable
ability. Speaking of his work in the
cotton mills. the GrcenvilIe Piedmont
says:
You never miss the water till the
Wei goes dry" So runs an old say
ing. The truth OF that saying is DE
ing appreciated now by operativ6y, in
the cotton mills of which Mr.. Lewis
W Parker was the directing head.
and also by operatives i'm mills with
which. he had no connection. White
ne vas tho head OF the greatest cot
tion manufacturing corporation in the
South he was bitterly attacked by
demagogucs. who made great profess
sions OF love for the cotton mill oper-
atiVes but VINO never did single
thing 10 bettor their conditions OF Iiv-
Ing. There Is no taint OF demagogy
about Mr.. Parker. He never PLAYED
about love OF workngmen. as do those
who want votes. Profession mover
has been md never Will he proof of
love. Love is proven by service. by
what is done for th3Se for whom love
Is felt. And cotton mill operatives In
the Parker mill villages and others
are Just beginning TO realize what
the Pakers. Lewis ". and Thos. +.
did for them. They are missing the
water. for tho well. II not gone dry.
IL showing signs of approaching that
condition.
Prior to this advent into cotton
manufacturing I'm South Carolina, the
employer took little interest in the
welfare Of workers in the mill. They
were paid 30 much and must do so
much work--and that was practically
|all between them. Under the Par
kers. welfare work at their mills was
Thoroughly organized and systemali-
cally carried out and the inspiration
OF its accomplishments spread the
work elsewhere. In some places this
work will be continued. but In others
there are signs that II will be al
lowed TO dry up.
Monumental as was the welfare
WORK instituted and pushed by the
Parkers. and regrettable Us will be It's
abatement or discontinuauce. we have
q conviction that the services of the
Parkers to cotton mill labor in other
ways. particularly since the organiza-
idon OF the great corporation that
bears their name, have been greater.
When 1t comes TO questions of wages
and conditions OF service, we believe
their retirement from cotton milling
VIII he felt even more than in the
eject that retirement may have upon
welfare work. with which their names,
particularly that of Thos. r, are so
lindellbly associated. r.. ,s..A r.....
4 The great number OF employees of
the Parker corporation gave Mr..
Lewis w. Parker most influential
voice In all conferences as to mat
| iterRS affecting employment, for if his
views were not accepted and he put
them into effect anyhow, the cream
OF labor would have Settled at his
tmiils. Here again there is reason TO
believe cotton mill workers are. anx-
tousiy examining the level off the
water In the we'll
\ Y We helioye HOW cotton mill opera
tives understand and appreciate the
IParkefs az never before and regret
that they Sver applauded detraction
of them by seInsh demagogues. who
got 2o.sa ~ tanning asyas os pre-
lirdice,
I We. do mot know the plans OF Mr..
Thos. +. Parker, but we do know that
he will always have the love and es-
teem of toiiers who are just begin
ming to realize how much he thought,
planned, worked and gave In their
lbehalf. 20 ~
We have more definite III "a as to
Mr.. Lewis w. Parker. lie has re-
lentered the practice of law. or hiH
ability In that profession there is no
use to speak. as It is well known.
But. unless we are nightly mistaken,
he will be able to do more for labor
Ing men than ever before. for they
lwill trust, listen TO and follow him as
Inever in the days when, because he
az tn employer OF labor, working
mep thought he was trying to get
them to. grind his axes. He knows
the cotton milling business as few
men do and what he says about II Will
lbe. considered authoritative. Mnre-
! lover. he will 10 unhampered In work
for. hts sideals. as he will not have
10 defer to the wishes OF stockhoId.
Iers and directors.
We regret his retirement from the
mill business because it seems to be
ta personal misfortune to him. but
I've Will not he surprised II that re-
itiEement should prove In some ways
ia blessing 10 Greenyille and South
Carolina for, relieved OF the enormous
burdens he carried as head of the
lgreatest cotton mill corporation In the
jstate. he will have more time 70 give
to work that hss always been close
70 his heart. sfork for betterment OF
the conditions OF that large number
OF our citizens who labor In the cot
ton mills Instead sof indefinite vap-
lorings Of demagogue, who, after
igetting the votes OF such men. forgot