The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1908-09-24
REPUBLICAN PARTY
AND LABOR
An Equality Of Opportunities Sc.
cured for Wage Farmers.
william H. TSit's Speech o. Accept
anoe Gives Party Record In behalf
Of Labor.
Cwmiam II. Taft in his speech Of nc.

Cwiniam II. Taft in his speech OF nc
ceptance)
We come now TO the question OF Ia.
Dor. One important phase Of the poll
Giles Of the present administration has
been an anxiety TO secure for the wage
Garner an equality Of opportunity and
such positive statutory protection as
shall place him on a level in dealing
With his employer.
The Republican party has passed an
employers liability act for interstate
railroads, aud has established an eight
hour law for government employees and
On government construction. The es-
spnce of the reform effected by the for
mer, is the abolition Of the fellow-ser-
Want rule and the introduction Of the
comparative negligence theory by
which an employee injured IN the service
Of his employer does not lose all his
right TO recover because OF slight negli-
genee on his part.
Then there Is the act providing for
compensation for injury 10 government
employees, together with the various
statutes requiring safety appliances
upon interstate commerce railroads for
the protection OF their employees and
limiting the hours OF their employment
These are all instances of the desire
Of the Republican party to do justice to
the wNge-earners.
Doubtless a more comprehensive
measure for compensation Of govern
ment employees viii be adopted in the
future the principle IN such cases has
been recognized aud In the necessarily
somewhat slow course OF legislation
will be more fully embodied In definite
statutes.
The interests Of the employer and the
employee differ except when Il
comes TO a division OF the joint profit
OF labor and capital into dividends and
wages, This must be a constant source
OF periodical discussion between the
employer and the employe, az indeed
are the other terms OF the employment.
To give 20 employees their proper Do
sition In such a controversy. TO enable
them 10 maintain themselves against
employers having great capital. they
mRy well unite. because IN union there
Il strength. and without it. each lndi
vldual l0borer and employe would be
helpless. The promotion OF the indus
trial peace through the ln~strumentality
OF the trade agreement ~ often one of
the results OF such union when intclll.
gently conducted.
There is a large body Of IaborerA
however. skilled and unsklled who are
noe organized into unions Their rights
before the law are exsctly the same bs
these Of the union men. and are to 81
protected with the same care and
watchfulnesa
In order 70 induce their employer
into a compliance with their request
FOR changed terms OF employment.
worsmen have the right 10 strike ia a
body.
They have a right to use such per
suaslon rs they may. provided 1t does
not reach the point Of duross. 70 lsad
their reluctant c%o-laborers 70 Join them
m their union against their employer,
ard they have a right. n they choose
% accumulate funds 10 support those
engaged IN d strike. 70 delegate 20 Of
acars the power 20 direct the action OF
The union. and 10 withdraw themselves
and their associates fgcV dealings with
or giving custom 10 those with whom
they ARE in controversy.