The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-10-31
LAB0R'S ISSUE IS
TAFT'S MAIN TOPIC
Continued From Page One.

Continued From Page One
tions 1t is a struggle for political
existence on the part of Mr. Gompers,
and he is willing to resort to every eX-
treme, method possible to secure sue
cess.'
After asserting that the protective
system was decidedly the most import
ant consideration for the American
workman, Mr.. Taft said;
Attack on Gompers.
"Mr. Gompers. however. has so com.
mitted himself on one subject with ref.
ercnce to labor that he is willing to
sacrifice every other consideration,
however important and material to tho
welfare of tho wage earners. He is
willing to have q return of the condi-
tions that existed in 1896, so eloquently
described by him at that time, if only
he can secure what he regards as the
proper legislation concerning injunc'
tiops. He proposes TO abolish injunc
tions in industrial disputes where the
injunction is issued to protect per
son whose business is injured by the
lawlcss acts of workingmen, and this by
stntntc. He also proposes to legalize
the secondary boycott, although many
trades unions have distinctly renounced
its use as an jnstrumentality In indus
trial disputes, which is unrepublican
and un-American and which is certain
TO react upon the users as a boomerang
with disastrous effect.
"PTesident Roosevelt, in a letter TO
Mr.. Bryan, has inquired Of him whether
the Democratic platform is to be taken
as faroring this plan of Mr.. Gompers,
which Mr.. Gompers asserts to be the
fact, saying that il was agreed between
Mr.. Gompers and Mr.. Bryan that the
labor interests should be part of the
nn, IL L.
refused to answer Mr.. Roosevelt IS
questions, and therefore we may take
it he is committed to Mr.. Gompers IS
programme, -
Denies Charges Made.
legislation which Mr.. Gompers pro-
posed would be unconstitutional, Judge
Taft concluded
'The charge that 7 ever sentenced a
man without full hearing is alto.
gether unfounded and false.
81 wish here TO say that, no matter
what labor may do under the pernicious
influence of Samuel Gompers and those
associated with him in this campaign.
If ] am successful the political position
of labor organizations will not deter me
in the slightest from doing what I can
to aid proper labor legislation IN the
future, and will not in any way di.
minlsh my constant interest In securing
to those who earn their livelihood by
equal opportunity for progress toward
better things as human society can af.
ford them. / am confident that many
of the wage earning class will support
the Republican ticket, because ! know
their intelligence, and / am sure that
they are able to determine their real
interests and will not be led astray by
= ft. f,,z
peals as those which Mr.. Gompers is
now making TO his supposed followers
Refers to Oil Trust.
AT the Convention hall meeting Mr.. |
Taft took up the Standard Oil subject:
Mr.. Bryan is greatly troubled,'
said he, 'about my attitude toward |
the trusts. and even more so by the an
nouncement that Mr.. Rockefeller is for |
me. If the Standard Oil company were
anxious TO bring about my elec rion / |
should take it that the last thing that |
would be done would be to advertise |
its support for me. Therefore, this pub
lcation which Mr.. Bryan is now max.
ing so much of. IL seems to me, has but |
ittle significance in attempting to
show that the Standard Oil or any other
rust, because it hopes for immunity,
IS supporting me. That is not the way
,hings are done.
"There is a gentleman from your city
with a very lively magination-erow-
ng even more lively as the RESPONSE
1ility of the campaign grows upon him.
lie has conceived the idea that the
Oil company contributed
arge amount to the Republican cam
,aign fund. I am in position to state
With great emphasis that neither The
standard Oil company nor any one con-
,ected with its management has con-
ributed single cent"
In comparing the remedies for evils
n trusts proposed by the Democratic
oarty with Republican policies, Judge
Taft said:
"The administration is prosecuting
he Standard Oil company. and it in
ends to continue the prosecution until
hat part which may be evil is stamped
ut.