Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-01-16
TAET! IN NEW YORK.
Capital and Labor and Their Com
\ mon Interests, the Subject
Discussed.
The Dependence Of One Upon the
Other Was Pointed Out and . .4.
cenoliIAtlVe Policy eun-
geStedf to lBoth. \

New York, Jan. 1l.--EOr the frs
time since he became 3 recognize
candidate for the republican pres
Dental nomination, Secretary Of Wa
William H. Taft Friday night face
0 New York audience set forth in de
tail his stand on the pertinent ques
ton Of the relative interests and right
Of labor and capital, and In turn sub
mitted to q rapid fire attack from til,
audience which quizzed him keenly
and in q somewhat controversial
spirit, according to the practice Of thu
Peoples institute. whose guest he was
he.secretary proved equally effective
in attack and defense and his prompt
and forcible replies and occasional wit
ty sallies evoked the same demonstra
ton Of applause as greeted the salient
points ofhis address proper.
Not less than two thousand per
Sons. Its capacity had crowded into
Copper Union when police reserves
were summoned to clear the walks In
front OF the building where a thou.
sand or more, disappointed in not
having gained entrance. had congre-
gated.
In mis- prepared address the secre-
tary pointed out the. dependence, one
upon the other, Of capital and labor.
ne declared tnat great aggregations Of
wealth. properly employed widened the
ned OF laDor ana were TO be vel
coined while wealth improperly used
was 70 De condemned.
LABOR needs capital to secure the
pest proonction,H said Mr.. Taft,
while capital needs labor In produc.
ing anything. The share OF each
laDorer In the joint product is affect
Cd not exactly, but In a general way
by the amount Of capital In use as
compared with the number of those
who labor, The more capital in use,
the more work there Is to do, and the
more there Is to DO, the more laborers
are need. Manifestly, II Is in the di.
rect interest OF the laborcr that capl.
tai shall increase faster than the
number of those who work. Nothing
Is SO likely to make wealth idle as
Insecurity OF invested capital and
1t follows, as a necessary
conclusion that to destroy the guar
mites Of property is a direct blow at
he interest Of the working man.
"The capitalist, however wealthy,
Who is willing to devote his nights
md days to the investment of his
apital In profitable lawful business or
and who studies methods
reducing the cost Of production and
conomizing expenses therein, should
Q regarded with favor by the working
ian, because while his motive IL
lerely one Of accumulation he Is
Orking not only, for himself but for
Ibor and for society at large. The
lventors on the one hand and the
en- Of Judgment, courage and execu. {
We ability, who have conceived and
Lecuted the great lawful enterprises. /
| the other, have reaped princely
offs which the world may well ac-
I'D them for the general good they
we done. The wealth they accumu. T
ted IL not wrested from labor, but =
Is only d part Of that which has n
en- added to the general stock by !,
ingenuity, industry, judgment and h
ility Of those who enjoy Il. II, with Z
growth IN the population the con- Ii
ion Of man il to improve, new plans r,
the use Of capital to better ad- II
ntage must be devised, which shall G,
the same time increase capital g,
ire rapidly than the population and W
luce the cost of living. W
What has been said should not be W
understood. The men who have by
monte organization Of capital at -
, same time increased the amount i.
the counIry's capital, Increased n
J demand and price for labor and re- Y
ned the cost OF necessities ara NOT
Their snNe motive N
, been one Of gain and with the 90,
ltruckion Of nrivata nroI,ertv that al,
tive win disanpear and IN wonld OH
nror-o.. 40 .oo,o.r stu
- ne orast,or :, ,au., Itch. :. an
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