The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-10-22
Roosevelt Assails Denver
Plank in Letter to Senator
Knox of Pennsylvania.
Declares Plan Would React
to Injure WOrkingmen, as
Well as Other Citizens.

Declaring that Samuel Gompers. pres
ident Of the American Federation OF
Labor. and William Jennings Bryan. the
Democratic candidate. are proposing j
sham remedy for labor legislation, by
which they seek 20 deIude the voters,
President Roosevelt, in an open letter
to Senator Knox. made public today,
puts &c up to Mr. Bryan TO clearly define
his attitude on the labor question. The
President asks some pertinent questions
10 which he desires categorical answers.
The letter was written 90 Senator Knox
TO congratulate him upon his speech
delivered in Philadelphia last Tuesday
night
The Democratic labor plank. the Pres
ident says. means absolutely nothing.
yet II seems clear and satisfactory 10
Mr.. GompeIs, who, in letters to his fol-
lowers. asserts that he has the requisite
inside knowledge
The President says that Gompers is
charging that the judiciary is destroying
democratic government and substituting
an irresponsible and corrupt despoJism
in the interest Of corporate power. and
this has been done. GOmpers claims. by
the process Of injunction in courts of
equity.
Refers to Remedies"
Referring TO what Mr. Gompers calls
the remedies" submitted 10 Congress
the President says they are found in
House bill 81. Introduced in the FIRST
session OF the SiXtieth Congress. From
the viewpoint of the President this bill,
IFS a program of the most fixed and def
mite kind. making It an authorized ap-
pendiX TO the Bryan platform if Com
pers is correct and authorized to speak
for the Democratic leaders"
Mr.. Roosevelt. after Analysing this bill
and the Democratic platform. IN cOnneC-
ton with the Interpretation put upon il
by GOmpers. proceeds to ask a few
questions. Does Bryan, ne queries, ac-
cept the correctness OF the position or
GOmpeTs? Bryan. the President de-
Clares. has not discussed IL In the cam
paigu, he did not discuss the labor
plank of his platform IN his letter Of
acceptance. The President points out
that this is in sharp contrast with the
repeated specific declarations OF Mr.
Taft regarding where he stands In the
matter OF lujUnCtions.
''Wul Bryan state publicly, definitely.
categoricaUy," asaS the President,
whether he accepts the program out
lined I'm this bill. as EIr- GOmpers in his
letter mas assured the public that he
does2'
Then the President asks II Gompers'
attacks on the judiciary in a frank
and open effort 10 secure votes for
Bryan have been made with Brsan's
consent. and do they meet with his
approval? What he wants Bryan 70 do
Is simply confne himself 10 The anti
Injunction plank of his own platform,
and tell us publicly. definitely. and
clearly whether he accepts the state
ment of Gompers that this plank
pledges him to the principles of the
bill for which Gompers stands, and
whether II elected he viii endeavOr 10
have this principle enacted into law2"
MIR. Roosevelt says he feels he has
the right to speak frankly, because
throughout his term It has been his
constant object to do everything f. his
power, by administrative action and
by eEdeavorinE to obtain legislative &C
ton. TO advance the cause OF labor
protect II from unjust aggression, and
secure to IL its legitimate rights. He
declares that he viii continue TO DO
everything in his power for the wage
workers OF the country except TO do
what is wrong and what Bryan and