Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-09
The Vital Plank.

The Vital Plank.
The vital plank in the platform of
both political parties in the approach
ing national campaign is that which
relates TO the rights of labor and the
proper restriction of the federal courts
in the issuance of peremptory injunc-
tons designed TO tie the hands of labor
in it's conflicts with capital In Chi
cago the power of capital proved sufii-
cient to curb the action of the repub-
lioan national convention and a plank
sufficiently outspoken and significant
in its tone and meaning as to meet the
political views of even the father of
the federal injunction, Judge William
H. Taft, himself, was sidetracked.
Realizing that the spirit of the Ameri-
can people had become so aroused over
the abuses that had crept into the adj
ADMINISTRATION of the federal power, that
some positive position should be taken
in response to the demands of labor,
Judge Taft's friends and manag rs
asked for a plank in the Chicago plat
form, but il was refused, and mean
ingless makeshift came out in it's
stead. There is, however, no subter
fuge in the plank in the democratic
platform on this subject. Nor is it rad
ical, nor in the least involving and UNI
safe or disrespectful attitude toward
the bench 1t does not so so far as
to seek to abridge or assail
the rights and privileges OF
capital Perhaps Walter Well
republican paper, describes it as well
as any one. when he says, commenting
on yesterdays proceedings of the great
convention:
THE unparalleled display of Bryan
Ihero-worShip in the convention hall
That long confined passion could no
longer be restrained. 1t broke out in
such eyclonic fashion, and swept along
with it such large part of the great
lassemblage that all doubts of Bryan's
mastery of his party, if any there were,
are now scattered to the winds.
One of the surprising developments
| of the day was the harmony which ex-
listed in the committee on resolutions
where even the conservatives or So
called enti-Bryan minority earnestly
| and cheerfully cooperated with the
Bryan majority in an effort to secure
the best results.
| But the most important and endur-
| ing work of the day is the clever and
effective effort of the democrats to
frame an anti-injunction plank which
shall win the support of the represen-
ltatives of organized labor now here
and presumably the favor of organized
labor throughout the country. In this
Ithey have been successful, and tonight
the leaders of the party feel that they
have taken a long step toward landing
Bryan in the White house
THE anti-injunction plank of the
democratic platform was drawn by
George Fred Williams, the member O
the committee from Massachusetts
was approved by Mr.. Bryan, to whom
it was submitted by telegraph; wa:
approved also by Judge Alton B. Park
tSl vi 4NSW IOIh, W do
adopted by the committee on resolu
lions. and will in all probability b.
Unanimously accepted by the conven
: ton.
: when this labor plank was submit
ted to Mr.. Gompers, John Mitchell ant
: the other. Representatives of labor nov
in the city, they threw up theN hat
and cheered and declared their entir
satisfaction with it.
'The skill with which the plank i
drawn will be apparent to all who ar
familiar with the subject. 1t was tn
hope of Mr.. Williams, its author, t
satisfy labor without unnecessarily o.
Tending capital, and above all to avoi
raising a class discrimination; rather
to prevent such discrimination. II
. deity disarms criticism from the pr
litical enemy by basing a part of hi
declaration upon bill which passe
the republican senate ~ years ago, an
> for which Senator Hoar of Massachl
! sets, along with most of the republ
o cans of that day, voted. 1t was
, stroke of strategy for Mr.. Williams
, secure for his plank the indorsemer
6 lof Bryan, Parker and Gompers."
s The labor plank in the democrat
I platform means what it says, is plea
+ ling and gratifying to the represent
l. tives of organized labor, yet meets ii
h ideas and views of the most conserv
s tive party members. 1t is sensibl
t lsafe, and sane.
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