The Washington herald., 1908-08-13
TAFTS HANDS OFF
IN STATE FIGHTS
Continued from Page one.

here. He has come to talk over with
Mr. Taft plans for the National League
Of Republican Clubs Mr. Hammond Is
Interested in this organization; has. IN
fact, got II up, and he will probably be
the president He wants 70 devise some
method by which the various clubs in
the league may work harmoniously with
the State committees. Mr. Hammond
thought, after hts talk with Mr. Taft and
Chairman Hitchcock. that he had accom-
plished this. but he was not ready 70
discuss the plan for publication He is a
close friend OF Mr.. Taft, and viii remain
here for several days.
Bricklayer AssafIs GOmPers.
Further evidence Of the dissatisfaction
Of organized labor with Gompers' attempt
10 deliver the vote is contained in a let
ter which has been forwarded 10 Mr..
Taft. with permission to make It public
The letter in question was written by
William T. Keirle. president Of the Brick
layers Union OF Baltimore. 20 John r
| King. president Of the Grand Army Club
OF Maryland. Mr. King wrote 70 Presi-
dent Keirle. asking for his opinion rela-
J tive 10 the attitude OF Gompers; whether
/ his pledges could be taken 10 include the
! bricklayers- union. 70 what extent they
would influence the labor vote. and
whether conditions under Republican rule
] promises better return 10 the laboring
man than under Democratic rule Mr..
! Keirle's reply follows;
The attitude Of Gompers. Duncan. and
a few others OF that Hk toward the great
political parties has awakened a feeling
Of resentment among the wage-earners Of
] Of these
gentlemen Mr- Gompers when he 9p-
lpeared before the Republican committee
on resolutions at Chicago and made a
Iveilcd threat. did not represent the views
OF the great body OF American working
men who utterly repudiate even a sugges-
tion OF. a resort 10 violent methods 70 en-
force their demands
You ask II Gompers' pledge 10 deliver
the vote Of labor UnionisJs covers the
bricklayers' union I answer no. as we
are not AFFILIATED with the. American Fed
Grafton Of Labor
Can't Deliver Labor Vote.
You ask also #. in my opinion. Mr..
IGompers can make good his pledge OF
the labor union vote TO Bryan / answer
mo. a thousand times no. There is one
characteristic OF the American working
man. and that is his inaIienable right tC
vote as he pIeases. without dictauon from
any one
Labor IS organized and made up oi
members OF all political parties. and they
won't allow Mr.. Gon1pers or any one elst
10 tell them how they shall vote; and
think this viii be made quite apparent q
tGompers for his unwarrantsd and iupu
dent assumption that ne carries the vot'
Of the labor unionis- ia his vest pocket
Ny active membership in labor orgauiza
tons for nearly forty years throws ms
into intimate association with The wage
earners Of this state and think I Re
fleet their views n the opinion above eX
lpressed.
You finally ask as a general prOpOsi
- ton # the conditions IN this country un
Z der Republican rule co not promise bet
ter returns for the wage-earner thar
they do under Democratic rule IN reQl,
I % this I can only voice ny inGivldua
opinion. as the question OF politics is no
allowed 10 enter the bricklayers union
Personally. then. 7 unhesiJatingly eXpres
the opinion that the wage-earne- has
: far better return for his labor under Re
publican than under Democratic rule
We had a taste If that during the Cleve
p land administration. and OF which Il'
silent smokestacks OF that period spok
J 50 eloquentIy. and fearing lest we Eav0
a return Of those hard times. I viii d
all in my power 10 aid in the election O
the Hon William H Taft