The Washington times., 1908-01-11

FaVorS Stricter Rules for
Issuing lnjunctionS
in Strike Cases.
Power Enough in Wash.
ington Without Add
ing to 1t.

In an address last night at Cooper
Union. New York, Secretary Taft struck
straight out from the shoulder on i'm
portant questions that now concern the
labor world as well as the public. Sec
rotary TAFT was given a remarkable
reception. and his speech was received
with every evidence Of approval and
enthusiasm.
The speech Is looked on in Washington
and in political circles generally as one
or the greatest moment In the Taft
campaign. In all his speeches hitherto.
the Secretary has devoted his attention
! largely to a defense OF the Administra-
ton. He has apparently concluded that
| the time has come when the Admins
tration does not need defending. and
that what the public is concerned about
is what Taft If elected as President will
do, and what policies he will carry out
Mr.. Taft's more cautious friends were
fearful that he would make a mistake
| II he undertook TO deal with the labor
question, but others OF his supporters
advised him to speak out frankly. He
took the latter ADVICE. and IN his Cooper
Union speech grappled squarely with
| labor problems.
The effect of the speech. It is too early
| to forecast. II can be said that Mr..
| Taft's friends here believe IL is the be-
/ ginning Of the end Of the misunder-
standing Of labor with the Secretary OF
| War. They also believe that from now
/ on Mr.. Tart is TO be an extremely ViEOT-
| Gus and aggressive candidate.
MI TAFT gave many reasons why la
Dor ana capital should cooperate. He
declared there were times when a strike
was labOr's only effective and legitimate
weapon. and averred that the manu-
/ facturer who wouldn't deal with organ
| lied labor was practically behind the
times. The Secretary asserted that
| the blacklist was as equally wrong and
cruel es tha boycott.
Outlines His Stand Toward Labor.
| The Secretary put himself on record
| as believing that the injunction should
/ be so safeguarded that, IN labor cases.
/ at least, no restraining order should is
| sue until after notice and a hearing had
| been given. He said that since some
| distrust existed in the minds Of labor
/ ing men or judges who sat at hearings
/ on injunctions issued by themselves
4 IL might be we'll 10 allow defendants
| in Injunction cases TO nave the pTiVi-
( lege OF demanding that the hearings b.
/ heli before other judges
/ he furthermore feared that Compul-
/ sorry arbitration vas too much like in
4 voluntary servitu1e 10 be constitutional
/ Perhaps the most significant observation
was his reply to an inquirer who wanted
/ 20 know II he didn't think Government
| ownership OF mines and railroads would
/ make easier the settlement OF labor dis
! putes. He said he dsd not think so and
/ then he added:
| Have you ever thought OF the ire
/ mendous power that YOU put in the
| hands OF a few men in Washington at
! present. Lord knows, there 5 enough
L lower there now. but II you put still
] more power in the hands Of one man
| or a small group Of men you will create
| a force that may we'll make you trem-
/ bic for the future Of your republic
Labor Unions Necessary.
| It was absolutely necessary, he ar
| gued for labor TO unite 10 maintain it
self against the organization Of capital.
! The peCUniaTy question Of wages was
not the only one involved. Conditions
/ and hours OF work also entered in. The
effect of the organization Of labor had
| been highly beneficial IN securing bet
ter terms for employment tor the whole
The Capitalist Mr.. Taft said, must
face the fact that the labor union mad
come TO stay. The wise manager OF
I corporate enterprise should receive tie
leaders of labor unions with courtesy
a. respect and listen to their claims and
arguments as he would to the managers
of any other corporate enterprise There
was frequently too much arrogance on
each side.
Although everything should be done
( to avert Strikes there were times when
nothing but a strike would accomplish
the legitimate purpose OF the laboTer.
lie said:
and now. what is the right of the
labor union with respect TO the strike?
I know that there has been al times a
suggestion IN the law that no strike can
| be lagal 7 deny this, Men have the
right to leave the employ Of their en-
plOyer in body in order TO impose on
him as great an inconvience as possible
10 induce hi INTO come 10 their terms
|They have the right in their labor unions
TO delegate to their leaders the power TO
say when to strike. They have the right
! IN advance to accumulate by contrlbu-
lions from all members of the labor IN.
ion fund which shall enable them TO
live during the tendency Of the strike
They have the right to use persuasion
to take their places, in order TO con-
| vince them OF gthe advantage to labor
OF united action. g.
ct is the business OF courts and of
the police to respect these rights with
the same degree OF care that they re
spect the rights OF owners OF capital
to the protection OF their property and
| business"
Mr.. Taft next turned his attention to
corporate evils and abuses as they az
feet labor. Industrial corporations by
sitting competition and railroad cor
porations by means OF the rebate kept
up the prices Of the necessities. Of life.
and thereby reduced the purchasing
power OF wages.
Taft and New Englanders
May Confer In New York