The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-16
ONE COUNTRY
ONE FLAG AND
ONE PURPOSE
President elect Taft Sits With
Gompers at Banquet of
Civic Federation.
NOTABLE SPEECHES
DURING THE EVENING
RECENT CAMPAIGN DECLARED
TO BE SEALED BOOK BY IN
COMING CHIEF EXECUTIVE.

New York, Dec. 15.-The annual ses-
sion of the National Civic Federation
in this city was brought to a close to-
night with a brilliant banquet which
grouped together at one of the five
score of individual tables President
elect Taft and Mrs. Taft, Samuel Com
pers, August Relmont,~As B. Garrett
son, chef of the Brotherhood of Rail-
way Conductors; Melville E. ingalls,,
former president of the Big Four rail-
road: President Seth Low of the fed
Grafton and Mrs. Low; former Judge
Alton B. Parker, and Mrs. Andrew Car
negie. At other tables at the banquet
hall of the Hotel AstoT sat employers
and many employees of corporations.
John d. Rockefeller, jr.,-and Frank b.
Kellogg, who had been prosecuting the
governments inquiry into the Standard
Oil company, were near neighbors,
though not at the same table. Andrew
Carnegie and John Mitchell sat side by
side.
Campaign Closed Book.
The notable throng of men and wo-
men brought together by the federation
led Mr.. Taft, who was the principal
speaker of the evening, to remark that
he had been sitting with company with
for him to associate prior to election.
He then declared that all that had hap
pened before the election was closed
book tohim, and he would be the presi-
dent of all the people. Mr.. Taft was the
last of eight speakers. Those who pre-
ceded him were Mr.. Low. who acted as
POSTMASTER, and Messrs. Mitchell. Com
pers, Carnegie, Belmont, ingalls, and
Garretson. Mr.. Taft spoke entirely ex-
temperaneously and briefly.
Much had been said during the even
ing concerning the problem of the ''twi-
light zone" where state jurisdiction
ends and federal authority begins.
Sherman Law Defended.
The Sherman antitrust law also had
been attacked by Mr.. ingalls,, who as
sailed it as an Anticipated measure
which should be entirely driven from
the statute books. Mr.. Taft came to
the rescue of the Sherman law, and said
that while he believed with others that
certain amendments were necessary, he
would be opposed to any attempt at its
repeal As to the twilight zone" Mr.
Taft declared the country had gotten
along very well under the constitution
| and he believed that it would continue
to find that instrument all-wise and in
dispensable. Speaking of labor, Mr.. Taft
said:
Thine was when everybody who en-
ployed was opposed to labor unions
Time was when these organizations
We're regarded as menace. That time
| now has largely passed away, and the
man who today objects to the organiza-
| ton OF labor should be relocated to the
| last century. Labor organizations have
done marvels for labor, and in the fu-
ture will do more. They will avoid the
reduction to a level of all workingmen
| whether earnest and energetic, or shift
J less in their work.
Working to Higher Level.
Labor unions viii encourage work
| ingmen, not to a level down, but to q
| level up, and will exemplify that those
/ who lead in energy will have the lead
! ership and reward
Mr.. Taft declared that he believed
! laborers on the one hand and capital
| lists on the other have equal rights OF
opportunity for the protection of theil
own interests.
Il feel a delicacy,'' said Mr. Taft, iii
| discussing some subjects that hav,
/ been touched or here tonight, for ! shall
| soon be sworn to uphold the constitu
ton of the United States. But I fee
that l must rally to the support Of th'
battered old instrument which has beer
Continued on Page 2.
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