The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-09-12
ing. We live under the same moral
obligations, and are responsible to the
same supreme being.

A"o' WV 4NO uGASI liO odtNS ulOI dl
obligations, and are responsible to the
same supreme being.
lnterdependenee Of People.
On this day it is well to emphasize
the fact that we are linked together
by bonds which we could not break if
we would, and should not weaken if
We could. 1t ought to be easy to
learn this lesson in the United States,
for here, more than anywhere else,
people feel their interdependence.
A long step toward the elevation of
labor to its proper position in the ma
tion's deliberations is to be found in
the establishment Of Department of
Labor, with a Cabinet officer at it's
lead. The wage -earners deserve this
recognition, and the executive is en-
titled to the assistance which such an
official could render him. l regard the
Inauguration of this reform as the
opening of new era in which those
who toll will have voice in the de-
liberations of the Presidents council
chamber:
labor's Demand Just.
The labor organization has been Sc
riously handicapped by the fact that it
has been-and I am not sure that it
has not been done unwittingly-yoked
up with the industrial combinations
known as trusts. The proneness Of
trust defenders to use the labor or
ganization as an excuse for combfna-
tions in restraint of trade has aroused
the suspicion that they have been
classed together for the purpose of
shielding the combinations of capital.
AS the result of eighteen years of anti
trust legislation only one man has
been given a penal sentence for violat-
ing the federal law on this subject,
and that one man was a member of
| IL labor organization rather than a
trust magnate. The laboring man is
justified in his demand that distinc-
tion shall be drawn between the Iabo:
organization and the industrial mon.
opoly
I shtll not speak of the eight hour
day or Of the employers liability act.
because both or the leading parties
have indorsed these, reforms: the only
question to be considered is: Which
party can best be trusted to secure
these reforms? need hardly assure
you that / am heartily in favor of
poth.
There are two questions, however,
intimately connected with the labor
problem upor Saich the Democratic
and Republican parties do not agree,
and not only feel at liberty to dis
euss these, but, under the circum-
stances, have no right to ignore
them. One relates to the issue of in
functions. and the other to contempt
cases arising under injunctions.
The Republican convention did not
Geal candidly with the laboring man
en- the subject Of the writ of injunc-
tion. Secretary Taft has endeavored
to amend his platform in this respect
and to make some promises which are
not supported by his platform, but his
promises offer nothing substantial in
the way of reform, and are not bind
ing on Republican senators and men,
bers.
The Republican Congress has al
ready made a record on labor ques-
tions, and the Republican party can
rot escape from that record.
Mr.. Taft's speech may be considered
as binding upon him, but the conven-
/ tion which selected the Republican
candidates indorsed the Republican
platform-not Mr.. Taft's personal
views.
Reiterates the Law.
The Republican platform. while, pre-
tending to pledge some modification of
the law, contains an exception clause
which reiterates the very language of
the law. Whether this exception
clause was inserted by accident or de-
sign, the effect is the same. 1t merely
provides, in substance. that restrain
ing orders shall not issue without mo-
tice. The platform was a triumph for
those who have been opposing the la
boring man, and they have been boast
ing Of their victory.
The Democratic platform on this
subject copies the language which the
labor organizations submitted to the
Republican and Democratic conven-
tions. Mr.. Taft, in his notification
speech, objects to the language. He
charges that tho anti-injunction plank
was loosely drawn and framed for
1.-The especial purpose Of rendering 1t
susceptible to one Interpretation by
one set of men, and a Numerically