New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-16
NP. TAFTS CANVASS.

The success Of Mr. Tafts speaking tour has
disproved the assertion that public interest in
the Presidential campaign is at low ehb the
voters being grossly Indifferent to the issues
which the two leading candidates for the
Presidency are presenting. The Republican
nominee is finding everywhere warm wei
come and what he says is received, even by
supposedly hostile audiences, with the respect
due TO the candid utterances Of a thoroughly
candid and outspOken statesman. Mr.. Tafts
personality. engaging and natural, reinforces
the impression which be makes as a sincere
and downright speaker. He has won his hear
ers by plain honest talk, appealing to their
intelligence instead of to their cupidity or their
prejudice.
1t is gratifying to note that the voters whom
Mr. Taft has been addressing are willing and
anxious to consider political questions on the
basis OF common sense. In his speeches TO
representatives Of the labor unions he has not
in the least shirked defending his decisions as
a judge which have been attacked as I'M
friendly to labor AS he has justly said, the
real point is not whether they were or were
not unfriendly to labor. but whether they car
ried out the laws which q Judge he was
sworn to obey and interpret That was per
haps novel view to labor unionists who have
been led by inSincere and demagosic po1t-
clans to believe that they have interests quite
above and beyond the laws. Mr.. Taft merely
recalls the truth that every one must stand on
al equality before the law. and that the po-
litical programme of the labor unions like that
OF any other body of citizens, can be carried
out BY wholly lawful means. since the ballot
offers an effective and ample remedy for any
evils complained of. Mr.. Taft is not opposed
to the demands of labor as whole, but is OPP
posed to them in so far as they seek 10 abridge
the necessary powers of the courts or to over
ride the statutes instead of amending them.
tt Is refreshing to find a Presidential candi-
date talking thus frankly to the voters, espe-
cially when bis opponent IS going about the
country promising things quite beyond his
power-and perhaps even his intention-to &C
complish. When Mr.. Bryan talks to represen-
tatives Of union labor he tries to excite their
prejudice and discomfort by saying that the
rewards of labor are unequally distributed, and
suggesting fiat II be is elected President
everybody will be allowed to nominate what
he considers an equitable return for his ser
vices and TO get that return by virtue Of
legislative edict. Mr.. Bryan knows, of course,
that his promise IS impossible of redemption,
since TO redeem it would require the com
plete reorganization of our political and eco
nomic system and the abolition Of such basic
economic principles as competition and the law
OF supply and demand. Yet he does not hest
tate to insult the intelligence of his audiences
by pledgng himself to set up new and. non
competitive standards of rewards
Mr.. Taft does not treat his hearers as Chi
dren and promise them imaginary candy. He
treats them as nte gent men. capable of dis
cussng and settling public questions, and the
fatterlng response he has met with his
present trip indicates that that is the footing
on which the great majority Of Americans
prefer 70 be dealt with