The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-22

justice, but that he will not 90 fur-
ther. His definition of justice to la
Dor does not, as we understand it, in
clude either Of the principles con-
famed In Mr. GOmpers programme as
set forth officially in this bill.
Does Mr.. Bryan disagree with Mr..
Ia1t on these propositions? Will he
state publicly. definitely, categoricaily,
Wnetner ne accepts the programme
outlined in his bill. as Mr. Gompers
in his letters has assured the public
that he does?
Mr.. Bryan's party platform paid a
nigh tribute to our courts of Justice. 1t
states: We resent the attempt of the
aePuoIcaH party 10 raise false issue
respecting the judiciary. 1t is an un-
Just reflection upon a great body of our
citizens to assume that they lack re-
spect for the courts"
The great body of our citizens" to
whom this platform refers, is admit
tedIy MI. Gompers and his followers
Attack on Federal Courts.
Mr.. Gompers. now Mr.. Bryan's open
and aVowed ally, has in these letters
hereln quoted. attacked the federal
courts in unmeasured terms of reproach
because by long line of decisions the
equity courts have refused to make an
outlaw OF the business man: because
MS right to carry on a lawful business
under the peace of the law has been
protected by the process of Injunction:
because. in word. one of the most
vital and most fundamental rights of
the business world, the right of a bust
ness man to carry on his business, has
been sustained and not denied by the
processes of the courts of equity. This
sweeping attack of Mr.. Gompers upon
the judiciary has been frank and open
effort to secure votes for Mr.. Bryan.
Are these attacks made with Mr.. Bry-
ans consent?
N
Does he indorse them or does he re-
pudiate them?
Mr.. Bryan has frankly questioned Mr.
Taft during the progress of this cam
paign and very properly so, asking him
to clear his stand on public matters on
lghtened. In turn, with equal frank
ness and with equal propriety, Mr.
Bryan should be asked to break a long
continued silence and make definite and
certain his own position in regard to
the matter which concerns not only
abiding citizen. whether a wage work.
er or not, just as much as it concerns
Mr.. Gompers and that part of organic
ed labor that stands with him. There
is no need of generalities of vague ex-
pressions of sympathy for labor. Let
Mr.. Bryan simply conf1ne himself to the
anti-injunction plank of his own plat
form and tell us publicly definitely and
clearly whether he accepts or rejects
the statement of Mr.. Gompers that this
plank pledges him to the principles of
the bill for which Mr.. Gompers stands;
and whether if elected he will endeavor
to have this proposal enacted into law.
This is asked honestly, in the interest
of that large voting public which be-
lieves sincerely in the promotion of ev-
cry legitimate right and interest of Ia
Dor, but which believes also that from
the standpoint of the best interest OF
labor it neither requires nor is entitled
to more than justice, and that the right
to destroy business should not be for
mally recognized in the law of the land
1 feel that 1 have the right to speak
frankly in this matter, because
throughout my term as president it has
been my constant object to do every
thing in my power, both by administra-
tive action and by endeavoring to Sc
| cure legislative action to advance the
cause of labor, protect it from unjus:
aggression and secure 1t to it's legiti-
! mate results. / have accomplished
something; hope to accomplish some-
thing more before I leave office; and
have taken special and peculiar inter-
est in Mr.. Taft's candidacy because
believe that he is the man best quail
| fed for continuing the work of secur-
| ing to the wage workers of the coun-
| try their full rights. l will do every
| thing in my power for the wage work
u
| is wrong. 1 will do wrong for no man,
and with all the force in my power
solemnly warn the laboring men of this
country that any public man who ad-
vOcates doing wrong in their interest
cannot be trusted by them; and this
whether his promise to do wrong is
given knowing that it is wrong, or be
| cause of a levity or lack of considera-
| ton which made him willing to prom
! Use anything without counting the cost
| if thereby support at the moment Is
| to be purchased. Just as have fought
! hard and shall continue to fight hard
/ to bring about in the fullest way the
recognition of the employe to be amply
| compensated for injury received in the
| course of his duties. so 1 have fought
hard and shall continue to fight hard tC
do away with all abuses in the use OF
the power of injunction. 1 will d.
everything 1 can to see that the power
of Injunction is not used to Cypress
| laboring men. I will endeavor to Sc
cure them full and equal justice. There
| fore, in the interest of all good citizens
| be they laboring men, business, profess
| sional men, farmers or members of any
| other occupation so long as they have
! in their souls the principles of sound
| American citizenship, / denounce as
wicked the proposition to secure a laW
| which. according to the explicit state
| ment of Mr.. GOmperS is to prevent the
courts from effectively interfering with
riotous violence when the object is to
destroy a business, and which will le-
galize the blacklist and the secondary
boycott. both of them apt instruments
/ of unmanly persecution.
! But there is another account agains
Messrs Bryan and Gompers in this
| matter. Ephriam feedeth on wind
Their proposed remedy is an empty
| sham They are seeking to delude theil
followers by the promise of law which
would damage this country solely be-
| cause of the vicious, immoral purpose
| that would be shown by putting it upoI
| the statute books, but which would bt
| utterly worthless to accomplish its
| avowed purpose. / have not the slight.