The Elk Mountain pilot., 1908-09-24
REPUBLICAN PARTY
! AND LABOR
An Equality Of Opportunities Sc
cured for Wage Farmers.
William H. Taft's Speech of Accept
ance Gives Party Record in Behalf
OF Labor.
KE.
StGEesrss
twlllinm II. TAFT in his speech o, ac

ceptnncc)
We come now to the question OF la
Dor. One important phase of the poll
clcs 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, and has established IN eight
hour law for government employes and
ON government construction. The es-
scncc Of the reform effected by the for
mer, * the abolition OF the fellowser-
want rule and the Introduction OF the
comparative negligence theory by
which an employe injured In the service
of his employer does not lose all his
right to recover because OF slight ne.li-
gencc on his part.
Then there is the net providing for
compensation for Injury to 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
4 the Republican party TO do Justice TO
the wagc-eG.ncrs.
Doubtless more comprehensive
measure for compensation OF govern.
mcnt employees VIII be adopted In the
future the principle In such Eases has
bceu recognized and In the necessarily
somewhat slow course of legisla tion
win i,e more fully embodied In definite
statutes.
The interests OF the employer and the
enploye never dlfrer except when 1t
comes TO n division OF the joint profit
OF labor md capital into dividends and
wages. This must be constant source
OF periodical discussion between the
employer aud the einploye. Ms indeed
nrc the other terms OF til. employment.
To give TO employees their proper po-
sItion In such n controversy. to enable
them TO maintain themselves against
employers having great capital. they
may well unite. because In union there
is strength. and without 1t. each indi-
'luual Ihborcr ana cinploNc Woulu nc
helpless. The promotion OF the indus
trial peace through tho instrumentnllty
OF the trade agreement is often one OF
the results OF such union when intelli-
gently conducted.
There is large body Of laborers,
however skilled and unskllled. who are
not organized into unions. Their rights
before the law are exactly the same as
tnose OF the union men. and are to be
protected with the same care and
watchfulness.
In order to induce their employer
into compliance with their request
for changed terms OF employment.
workmen have the right to strike In
body
They have right to use such per-
suasion as they may. provided 1t does
not reach the point OF duress. to lead
their reluctant co-laborers to join them
In their union against their employer,
and they have right, If they choose.
to accumulate funds to support those
engaged In a strike, to delegate to of
ficers the power to direct the action of
the union. and to Withdraw themselves
and their associates frep dealings with
or giving custom to those with whom
they are in controversy.