Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1908-09-18

highest to the lowest, must all be condi-
toned upon this fact. On the other
hand, in public service corporation we
have no right to allow such excessive
profits as will necessltate rates being
unduly high and wages unduly low.
Again, while in all proper ways rates
must be kept low, we must always re-
member that we have right and no
justification to reduce them when the
result is the reduction OF the wages Of
the great army of railroad men, A fair
working arrangement must be devised
according to the needs of the several
cases, so that profits, wages and rates
shall each be reasonable with reference
to the other two-and in wages ! include
the properly large amounts which should
always be paid to those whose MASTER
ful ability is required for the success
full direction of great enterprises.
II there is one body of men more than
another whose support 1 feel I have a
right to challenge on behalf of Secre-
tary Taft it is the body of wage work.
ers of the country. stauncher friend,
a fairer and truer representative, they
cannot find within the borders OF the
United States. He will do everything in
his power for them except to do that
which is wrong; he will do wrong for no
man, and therefore can be trusted by all
men,
MIR. Taft has been attacked because
of the injunctions he delivered while
OH lfe DenCn. L am content TO rest Ills
case on these very injunctions; / MAIN
tain that they show why all our people
should be grateful to him and should feel
1t safe to intrust their dearest interests
to him. Most assuredly he never has
yielded and never will yield to threat o.
pressure of any sort as little IL II comes
from labor IL 1t comes from capital;
he will no more tolerate the violence Of
mob than the corruption and oppres-
sion and arrogance of corporation or
of a wealthy man. He will not consent
to limit the power of the courts to put
stop to wrongdoing wherever found.
This very fact should make the labor
people feel IL peculiar confidence in him.
His record a judge makes the whole
country his debtor His actions and de-
cisions are part Of the great traditions
of the bench. They guaranteed and set
forth in striking fashion the rights of
the general public against the selfish
interests of any class whether of capi-
tallsts or of laborers They set forth and
stand by the rights of the wage-workerS
to organize and to strike, as unequvocal-
ly as they set forth and stand by the
doctrine that no conduct will be tolerated
that would spell destruction to the ma
tion as n whole. AS for the attack upon
his injunctions in labor disputes. made
while he was on the bench, 1 ask that
the injunctions be carefully examined. I
ask that every responsible and fair
minded labor leader, every responsible
and fair-minded member of a labor or
ganization. read these injunctions for
himself II he will do So instead of con-
demning them he will heartily approve OF
them and will recognize this further as
tonishng fact that the principles laid
down by Judge Taft in these very in
functions. which laboring people are asked
to condemn, are themselves the very prin-
ciples which are now embodied in the
laws or practices of every responsible la
Dor organization. Judge Taft on the
bench-as since in the Philippines, in
Panama, in Cuba, in the war depart
ment-showed himself to be u wise, a
fearless and ar upright servant of the
whole people, whose services to the whole
people were beyond all price.
Let all fairminded men, wage-workers
and capitalists alike, consider yet an
other fact In one of his decisions upon
the bench Judge Taft upheld in the
| strongest fashion, and for the first time
| gave fun vitality to. the principle of the
| employers liability for injuries done
| workmen. This was before any national
| law on the subject was enacted. Judge
| Tafts sense of right his indignation
against oppression in any form, against
| any attitude that is not fair and just,
| drove him TO take n position which was
violently condemned by short-sighted
| capitalists and employers of labor, which
was so far in advance of the time that
It was not generally upheld by the state
| courts but which we are now embodying
| in the law of the land. Judge Taft was
| leader pioneer, while on the bench,
| In the effort to get justice for the wage
worker, in jealous championship of his
| rights: and all upright and farsighted
! laboriug men should hold 1t to his credit
| that at the same time he fearessly stood
against the abuses of labor, just as he
! fearlessly stood against the abuses of
! capital If elected, he has shown by his
! deeds that he will be president of no
| class, but of the people as a whole; he
| can be trusted to stand stoutly against
! the two real enemies of our democracy
| against the man who to please one class
| would undermine the whole foundation
| of orderly liberty, and against the man
| who in the interest of another class
| would secure business prosperity by
| sacrificing every right of the working
| people.
| would for no consideration advise the
| wage worker to do what l thought was
against his interest. ] ask his support for
| Mr. Taft exactly as l ask such support
| from every farsighted and riGht-thinking
| American citizen; because ] believe with
| all my heart that nowhere WITHIN the
| borders of our great country can there be
| found another man who will as vigilantly
| and efficiently as Mr.. Taft support the
| rights of the working man as he will the
| rights OF every man who in good faith
| strives to do his duty as an American
| citizen. He will protect the just rights
| of both rich and poor. and he VIII war
| relentlessly against lawlessness and in
| Justice whether exercised on behalf OF
! property or of labor.
on the bench Judge Taft showed the
| two qualities which make great judge:
! wisdom and moral courage. They are al
so the two qualities which make a great
| president.
Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.