, 1908-10-26
ROOSEVELT WHITE E
4 LETTER TO GRACE

that one of the troubles Of the labor
unions was that 80 often they did moi
get the best type Of counsel. SO that
their cases were not properly present
ed, and that in his judgment Mr Jud'
son would be sure to present this
case Alright.
TAFT Favored Unions.
He stated that the decision Of the
court ought certainly to be in theil
favor. The case was argued before
the United States circuit court Of ap-
peals by Mr.. Judson and Mr.. Rubin
of Milwaukee, for the union. and by
Mr.. James M. Beck, counsel for the
National Manufacturers association,
for the company.
Court Agres With Taft.
The decision Of the court was
handed down in Chicago on the 9Th
day of this month, and it justifies
Judge Taft's wisdom. for it sustains
the most important contentious Of the
labor unions. The court holds that
while under the facts of the case
the company vas entitled to some in
junction relief, the decree went far
beyond the proper limits. 1t struck
out Of the decree all of the provisions
which prevented peaceful picketing
or the exercise Of the right of per-
suasion in inducing employees to join
the strike and also all reference to
~boycotting on the ground that there
was no boycott, AZ the members Of
the union had q right to refuse to
handle Struck" work-that Is, the
work from a factory wher they we're
on q strike-wherever they found 1t.
Important Opinion.
The opinion Ia important especial
1y in showing that much can now be
accomplished in getting the courts to
correct abuses against employees in
the exercise Of tho power of In
junction, II such abuses are in effec-
tive form brought to their attention,
as, thanks to the advice Of Judge Taft,
they were brought in this case.
The Right to Picket.
"The right Of peaceful picketing
and persuasion, 70 that employees may
BY peaceful means induce other en-
ployes to join them ID forcibly set
forth in THE opinion. and 1t bas>s Its
'decision largely upon Judge Taft's
ds6tsion and upon the decisfon In the
wabash 4njlnction case, which itself
vas largely based upon Judge Tafts
decision; " that Judge Taft's deci-
sion d declared by the court to have
settled the lay ~ to the substantial
rights Of the parties, leaving only
the application Of the principles so de-
clared - new cases rose.
Injunction Abuses Corrected.
The great Importance of this opin
ion Is that it ~corr3cts abuses that
have crept into injunctions. and labor
disputes In the federal as we'll as the
state courts. This decision goes far
to protect the rights of working men,
and 1t does so because it is explicitly
based upon the labor decisions OF
Judge Taft; and this decision was Sc
cured only in consequence OF follow
ing the advice given by Judge Taft
as to the proper course Of procedure.
The President Knows.
II speak from first-hand knowledge,
as I was personally cognixant Of all
the facts. A more striking instance
could not be imagined Of the Jealous
effort Of a public servant, which Judge
Taft then was, to secure Justice for
workingmen to whom he thought In
justice had been done, although the
matter vas not within his immediate
control at that time.
Rendered Practical Service.
IN this n instance Mr.. Taft rem
dered to labor a great and signal ser
vice; a practical service, which
shared the popularity Of Mr.. Taft's
other services. for his services take
the form of deeds rather than of mere
words.'
Bad Times for Business.
III Mr.. Taft is not elected. a period
Of industrial chaos and business bad
times will ensue In which the working
men will suffer far more than any 9TH
er class. They are the 'eople who,
more than any other, will pay the PEN
atty. Because of their own material
interests / believe that they should
support Mr.. Taft; and, furthermore, /
believe that they should support him
because he has by his actions over and
over again proved himself to be a
s~ingularly fearless and effective cham
pion Of the rights Of labor; and, above
all. l feel that they should support him
a. good American citizens, because
he embodies what is best and highest
~ orp ApaoAaow clff~o~h{o