New-York tribune., 1908-10-29
TAFT AT COOPER UNION
Tells audience of Peril to Courts in
Bryan-Gompers Plan.

William Howard Taft convinced an audience
of more than three thousand persons in Cooper
Union last night of his frankness in the dis
cussion OF his position on labor questions. and
there was unanimous approval when he finished
He laid bare before a critical audience just
what he had done as Judge, as Governor Of -he
Philippines and in the Panama Canal zone. Al
though the meeting was held under the au-
spices of the Republican Trade Union League,
the audience was largely composed of persons
of all parties. When Judge Taft arrived he was
greeted with whoIe-hearted cheer, which be-
came a prolonged roar. quietcd only after a
vigorous use of a gaveII as big as a sledse
hammer
Judge Taft's voice was rather husky when ne
began his speech. but as he proceeded he spoke
with less and less difficulty Step by step he
took his hearers through the Party's record.
drawing a sharp contrast with the record of the
opposition. He said he did not like the class
appeal of the Democratic party. Neither did
the audience. judging by its applause. He went
through his record Judge in labor cases, and
there the silence of profound attention
He had his hearers with him when ne summed
up, earnest. with stately precision giving the
That any er1plove NAV leave his employment
without question, whether he breaks a contract
or not No injunction will lie TO prevent That
he may associate with his fellow employees and
bring about what is called a strike. and no in
junction will issue to prevent That ne may
organize his fellow employees into associations,
who shall appoint officers. and they may refer
these industrial disputes to their off1cers. 10
abide by their decision. and may give to the
officers the power of exclusion from the assocla-
tion for disObedienCe That they may by assess
ment collect a fund to support strikers, if strikes
are tho ght to be necessary, That they may
withdraw from association with their employers,
and withdraw those who sympathize with them
from such association.
That brought out a ringing burst Of applause.
which duplicated when he added
Put they may not injure the property or un-
lawfully injure the business of their employers.
and they may not institute a secondary boycott
in such dispute"
Regarding the tariff. Judge Taft declared that
the Republican party was for just. honest and
thorough revision. He resented the attacks
against his sincerity. and so earnest was his
declaration that the audience showed its belief
in him by rising as one man and cheering
Judge Taft said
Fellow Citizens: I am glad 10 have an oppor-
tu1}ity TO come face to face with representatives
of labor unions. and TO discuss with them the
issues which have been raised in this cam
paign in respect TO the attitude that organized
labor should occupy toward the two leading po-
Htcal parties
In the first place MIR. Samuel Gompers. at the
head OF the American Federation of Labor
has attempted TO deliver the entire organized
union Ia Dor vote. and possibly the unOrgauized
labor vote. to Mr.. Bryan the leader of the
Democracy and If this grant and delivery were
complete perhaps il would be useless for me to
address YOU the subject.
But / venture assume that the labOring men
Of this country and especially those who are
organized. too intelligent and farsighted
and too independent and coura geous in thought
nIlr, ho dali ~
factors by any leader from one party TO another.
| assume that laborers. like other men, differ in
/ their political principles. that there Re
publican labor men and Democratic labor men,
and that il is not too late. even after Mr.. Com
pers's action. to argue out the question which
party should be supported upon grounds appeal
ing 10 reason.
The record OF the Republican party in Con
gress in its limited Jurisdiction has been most
remarkable in the number of valuable statutes
which have been enacted in the interest Of
! labOr-the eight hour law the sixteen hour law.
the model child la Dor law, the interstate rail-
way arbitration act. the interstate railway en-
ployers' liability act. the government employees
! compensation act the safety appliance acts
some two three In number; the aPpropria-
/ tion for investigating the cause of mining disas-
! ters-are all especially directed 10 the interest
| OF laborers employed either by the government
by the Interstate railways. or at work within the
/ District Of Columbia in the exclusive jurisdic-
| tion OF Congress,
This is a record of which any party may vel
| be proud. and IL is record in which the
! Democratic party has part. Not a single
! line of labor legislation was put upon tht
/ federal statute book during the incumoency OF
aAt~.H