Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-24

as their enemy, because he refuses,
merely upon their perefnptory order,
to excommunicate some other employ
er, by ceasing all business relations
with him? The blacklist and the sec
ondary boycott are two of the most
cruel forms of oppression ever devised
by the wit of man for the infection
OF suffering on his weaker fellows.
Wants Despotic Power, He Says.
mo court could possibly exercise
any more brutal, unfeeling or despot-
lc power than Mr.. Gompers claims for
himself and his followers in this leg
islation, which would permit them,
without let or hindrance of any kind,
to carry on every form and degree of
the secondary boycott
The anthracite strike commission,
as fair minded and distinguished a
body of men as ever passed judgment
on an industrial question, thus refers
to the secondary form Of boycott
that is, the boycott of innocent third
persons for refusing to take an aggres-
sive part in a controversy when they
have no concern:
"'To say this Is not to deny the le-
gal right Of any man or set of men
4
tercourse or business relations with
any persons whom he or they, with or
without good reason dislike. This
may sometimes be unchristian, but it
Is not illegal. But when it is a con-
certed purpose of a number Of persons
not only to abstain themselves from
such intercourse but to render the
| life of their victim miserable by per-
suading and intimidating others to
refrain, such purpose is malicious
one and the concerted attempt to ac-
complish it is conspiracy at COM
mon law and merits and should re-
ceive the punishment due to such
crime
"The commission further states
that this boycott can be carried to
an extent which was condemned by
Mr. Mitchell, president Of the United
Mineworkers of America, in his testi
mony before the commission, and
which certainly deserves the reproba-
ton of all thoughtful and law abiding
citizens.
TAFT Definite; Is Bryan7
Does Mr.. Bryan agree with Mr..
Gompers that all existing legal re-
straint on the enforcement Of every
degree of the boycott should be with
drawn, that the industrial excommuni-
cation of the innocent merchant who
refuses to render unquestioned obedi-
ence to the orders of Mr.. Gompers
should be legalized and encouraged;
or does he believe with us, and with
Mr.. Mitchell and other labor leaders
who differ from Mr.. Gompers in this
matter, that this form of the boycott
is morally wrong, that labor at war
should fight with it's enemies and re-
spect the rights of neutrals, that in
nocent third parties should not hr
coerced into taking sides in industrial
disputes to which they are in no sense
parties, under penalty of having their
business attacked and destroyed?
"Mr. Taft is perfectly definite on
this proposition.
Where does Mr.. Bryan stand?
"The citizen who votes for or
against Mr.. Taft on this proposition
does so with his eyes open and with
a clear understanding from Mr.. Taft
himself of his position. He has frank
ly discussed this subject time and
again. with workingmen themselves,
both in this campaign and prior to
his nomination. He has been willing
to express his position clearly and to
assure workingmen that to protect
them in their rights he is willing to go
to the limits Of what he considers JUS
tice, but that he will not go further.
His definition of justice to labor does
not, as we understand it, include
either Of the principles contained in
Mr.. Gompers' program as set forth
officially in this bill.
Quotes Democratic Platform.
Does Mr.. Bryan disagree with Mr..
Taft on these propositions? Will he
state publicly, definitely, categorically
whether he accepts the program out
lined in this bill. as Mr.. Gompers in
his letters has assured the public that
he does? Mr.. Bryan's party platform
paid a high tribute to the courts of
justice. 1t stated:
owe resent the attempt Of the Re
publican party to raise false issue
respecting the Judiciary. 1t is an I'M
just reflection upon a great body of
our citizens to assume that they lack
respect for the courts
"The great body Of our citizens to
whom this platform refers is admit
teddy Mr. Gompers and his followers.
Mr. Gompers, now Mr. Bryan's open
and avowed ally, has, in the letters
herein quoted, attacked the federal
courts in unmeasured terms Of re-
proach because, by long line of de-
cisions. the equity courts have refused
to make an outlaw of the business
man; because his right to carry on
lawful business under the peace of the
law has been protected by the pro-
cess of the injunction; because, in a
word, one of the most vital and funda-
mental rights Of the business world
the right Of business 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.. Com
pers upon the Judiciary has been
made in a frank and open effort to
secure votes for Mr.. Bryan: Are
those attacks made with Mr. Bryan's
consent? Do they meet with his ap
proval? Does he indorse them, or
does he repudiate them?