The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-09-04
SARGENT
MUST EAT
HIS WORDS.
--- =.
IF FORMER LABOR LEA
DER TAKES STUMP
FOR TAFT
SEVERELY DENOUNCED
FATHER OF INJUNCTION
When Head Of Brotherhood Of
Locomotive Flremen
in 1893

Chicago, Sept. 4.--Announcement
has been made that Frank 7. Sar-
gent, commissioner OF immigration, Will
take the stump for Judge Tafa and
that the Republican campaign man
ayers expect the former chief of the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Firemen
10 be their star campaigner with the
labor voters.
When MIR Sargent takes the stump
for Mr. Taft he wili doubtless be con
fronted with an article that he con.
trlbnted 10 the North American Re
view, of May, 1898 In which he se-
yerely arraigned Judge Taft and
scored the original labor Injunction
isaueG by him. The Democratic cam
naign text book, which Is so0n TO De
issued, derotes a chapter 10 what Mr..
Sargent really thought OF the action
OF Judge Taft in 1893 and what every
railroad man who opposes government
Injunction thinks Of him today.
In his article In the North American
Review, Mr.. Sargent. who was at that
time working for The interests Of the
laboring men In his capacity as chief
OF the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Flremen said In part:
TIE nli1At Un tIlt lOiNAbf fthi ~
bor a North Michigan railroad had
no extraordinary features, but the in
reference OF The dictum Of those
judges Is TO stand as the law, the dear
est rights OF the citizens are swept
away and an aut0oracy Is established.
This view of the situation Is not
strained, but is strictly In consonanee
with the avowals OF the press through
ont the country The questions Oi
law involved are fundamental and are
commanding, as they should command,
the best thought of the Nation. II has
hitherto been conceded that railroad
employees possessed all the rights as
citizens which attached to the employ.
ers; that Is to say. that II the EN-
pl0yers possessed the right to dis
chnrge employees, when 1t pleased then
10 exercise such authority, the EN-
ployes also possessed the right, un
challenged to quit work when they
elected TO exercise that right II .
judge OF the United States court ma.
abolish this right of an employe, hS
remands him, unequiyocally, to ;
servitude as degrading as the Spar
tens imposed upon their helots, ant
II is this phase OF the strike whiel
has aroused such intense concern ant
alarm.
1t will not be expected that ] shonlG
enter upon discussion of the lega
points involved; al best can onl.
voice the sentiments OF "A body OF
law-abiding men who have been train
ed BY their organizations to respes
laws and decisions of courts, and VIII
find themselves suddenly reduced 4
the condition OF peOnage by the dc
cision OF al United States judge. Tn
learned Judge treferring 10 Judg
Taft) IN his decision. finds Il convea
lent to omit all reference TO the du
ties OF railroad magnates and devote
all his attention 10 employees, intimai
Ing 70 them that having sought en-
ployment upon railroads, they haY
become, By some legal hocus-nocus.
part OF SIS machinery TO remain dni
ing the pleasure oi their employer,
"For myself, do not regret that
United states judge has forced upo
public attention questions Of such a,
knowledged gravity The time Ia
come for workingmen to know II the
have rights. which the courts ar
bound TO respect. or If these right
may be AT any time ahrOgated 10 NEE
the demands of corporations or On
combined capitalistie power Tn
United States judge az Toledo hl
started the controversy. and | desir
10 hav. 81 proceed until the unquei
toned rights OF railroad employees,
rights they have. are established q
also the rights OF their employers.
Such Is the newfangled logic relia
upon TO reduce railroad trainnen :
machines. 10 do Inc bidding of ma
iers with authority conferred by
United States Judge IN al least on
n0tsbie distance. United state
Judge has shown his utter conteml