The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1907-05-04

labor leaders, or mlS-lcaderS
who are controlling the Moycr-lIay-
wood conference expected the robust
Mr.. Roosevelt to Sidc-stcp their lead
they must iccl considerably 'Jolted
BY the mix-up. There was no side
stepping in it. Instead OF breaking
ground. the President closed in with
a right-hand cross counter that to our
way OF thinking is Knockout punch.
He has rather put the Cook County
Mover Haywood Conference" out OF
business and ii the gentlemen who con-
sttutc that noble band OF patriots are
we'll advised they will take the count.
In other words, to iorsakc the unSecm-
" lingo OF the prize ring, and speak i'll
chaste and classic phase, don't mon
KEY with 4 buzz-Saw" That is what
this Conference OF labor leaders wer.
doing when they undertook to bring
the President to book because he had
referred to Meyer and Haywood As
undesirable citizens" His reply to
these dOminccring critics not only re-
veals his "profound indifference" to
their criticisms but reveals also his
thoroughly sane and fearless estimate
of where i'll labor organizations may be
right and good and wherein they may
be wholly wrong and bad. We quote:
u entirely agree with you that it is
improper to endeavor to influence the
course OF Justice, whether by threats
or i'll any similar manner. For this
reason have regretted most deeply
the action OF such organizations as
your own in undertaking to accom-
plish this very result in the very case
OF which YOU speak. For instance.
your letter is headed. Cook County
Mover IIarwood Pcttibonc confer.
ence.' with the headlines, Death can
not. will not. and shall not claim our
brothers. This shows that YOU and
your associates are not demanding a
fair trial. or working for fair trial.
but are announcing in advance that
you will not tolerate any other YER
dict Such action is fragrant in its
improperly, and Join heartily in
condcmning it,
No ehilly-shaly wing in that 1t rings
clear and honest and no iair-minded
man can iail to approve the uttcrance.
But the President is not done lie
never did have "cold icet" in the face
of a grizzly bear or Spanish gun. and
he is not going to get them under the
fire 81 Meyer haywood Conference.
He goes OH
But no possible outcome. either of
the trial or the suits can affect my
Judgment as to the undcsirablitv OF
the type OF citizenship OF those whom
] mentioned MesSrs. Mover Hay
wood and Dcbs stand as representa-
tves al those men who have as done
as much to discrcdit the labor move
mcnt as the worst speculative fnan-
cicrS or most unScrupulouS employers
of labor and debauchers OF Icgisla-
lures have done to discrcdit honest
capitalists and fair dealing business
men The men whom dcnounce rep
resent the men who have abandoned
the legitimate movement for the upliit-
ing OF labor, with which | have the
most hearty sympathy: they have
adopted practices which cut them off
from those who lead this legitimate
movement
That IS the sort of outspokcn criti-
sisms which the labor movement sadly
needs today. II anything is calculated
to wreck that movement. it is its mis-
leaders. The trucst friend OF organic
ed labor is the man who. with entire
sympathy for its legitimate aims and
efforts. will yet frankly and fcarlcsslv
warn it against the foes OF its own
household, Let the Presidents own
words define this POSITION
I'm every way | shall support the
law-abiding and upright representative
of labor. and in no way can / better
support them than BY drawing the
sharpest possible line between them on
the one hand and, on the other hand,
those preachers OF violence who are
themselves the worst foes OF the hon
est laboring man.
you say you ask for Square dear
for Messrs Meyer and Haywood. So
do |. When | say square deal mean
square deal to every one; it is equal
ly violation OF the policy OF the
square deal for a capitalist to protest
against denunciation OF capitalist
who is guilty OF wrongdoing and for a
labor leader to protest against the de
nunciation OF labor leader who has
been guilty Of wrongdoing.
Il stand for equal Justice to both
and so far as in my power lies I shall
uphold Justice whether the man ac-
cused OF guilt has behind him the
wealthicSt corporations. the greatest
aggregation OF riches in the country
or whether he has behind him the
most influential labor organization ir
the country"
That's what I call man. A ? by 4
politician would dodge and Squirm and
palter and palaver. The President
stands four-square to every wind that
blows and profoundly Indifferent tc
political effects or personal results
thinks out so squarcly and 50 fair.
" that 90 per cent OF the American
people who are not afraid OF their owr
shadows, will say well done, Theo.