The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-11-25
TAFT AND L4BOR.

which is in convention at Norfolk, Va, did we'll to not adopt a resolution of fered which declared it to be the pro- found conviction of that body that a great political party could not more wantonly affront and outrage the organized toilers of the country than by nominating William H. Taft for the presidency" and which also as- serted that he was the chief packer of the federal judges who promulgated government by injunction, that great crime against the human and civil rights of the American workingman." The committee on resolutions wisely determined that it was not the busi- ness of the convention to handle that kind of proposition.
 There is no man in the country to- day who deserve better at the hands of the toilers than the greatest toiler of them all, Secretary Taft, whuse sincerity of purpose is so fully devel- oped that he deliberately put away the easy qualification of his life's ann bition to redeem the pledges he gave the Filipinos. That perhaps is the most characteristic act of his life, and should present him to observing men as one who knows his duty, sees it and is not afraid to do 1t. He is trying his level best to put the Philippine Islands upon a politically independent basis and to increase the prosperity of their inhabitants by substituting for the trade they lost when the power of Spain was withdrawn that which would surely flow from free inter- course with this country Men who are indifferent to the welfare of oth- CTS do not do such things, and 1t Is lby doing them that other men come to trust them and to at all times att tribute to them an honesty of purpose which would make duplieity incon- ceivable In them. The kind of service Secretary Taft has given the country. the manifest sympathy he has given the doctrines which have made Presi- dent Roosevelt so popular with the masses of the people, and his even tempered conduct under all condi- tions, ought to especially commend lhim to the toilers of the nation.
 That Mr Taft while judge on the bench found it to be his duty to de- eide questions in dispute contrary to Ithe wishes of the labor officials cannot fairly be recalled as proof of his in- difference to the welfare of labor. He did not make the laws which he con strued conscientiously and which were upheld by the highest court in the Hand. It has been said of him by competent judges of his work that while an officer of the court he invari- ably employed legal discrimination land clear sighted understanding oi
 his oath of office which forever de- termined in their minds his fitness fo1 1.-the Supreme court It is the profound lconviotion of those who know him best that no political office within his
 reach would move him to enter other
 than his honest judgment As a judge
 he would not render a decision in vio'
 lation of his conviction. As a candi-
 date for office he could not be induced
 to suppress hls honest conclusions. A
 an officeholder he would perform the
 task assigned him zealously and con-
 scientiously. To declare that thf
 nomination of such a man would bt
 an affront to the toilers of the coun
 try involves such a misunderstanding | of the traits of character which makt
 some men greater than others as tt
 provoke lasting curiosity of the mo tives back of the declaration. Int party to which he belongs and upoi
 which he has shed such distinction
 may not select Secretary Taft as it
 presidential candidate, or if it does tn, lcountry may not elect him, but on,
 thing is perfectly sure, the resolution
 offered at the Norfolk convention , does not represent the understanding , the average man in all political or ganizations has of his personal char acter.