The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-22

HERALD, THURSDAY, OCT( latlons with him? The black list and
 the secondary boycott are two of the most
 cruel forms of oppression ever devised
 by the wit of man for the inhicton of
 suffering on his weaker fellows.
 Despotic Power Claimed.
 "No court could possibly exercise any |
 more brutal, unfeeling or despotic power | than MT. Gompers claims for himself and |
 his followers in this legislation, which
 would permit them, without let or hin-
 dranee of any kind to carry on every form |
 and degree of the secondary boycott
 "The anthracite strike commission, as | far-minded and distinguished a body of |
 men as ever passed judgment on an in- |
 dustrial question, thus refers to the sec- ondary form of boycott-that Is the boy l colt of innocent third persons for refus- | ing to take an aggressive part in con troversy where they have no concern:
 l" "To say this is not to deny the legal | right of any man or set of men, volun- | tarily to refrain from social intercourse | or business relations with any persons |
 whom he or they with or without good | ! reason dislikes. This may some times |
 be un-Christlan, but it is not illegal. But |
 when it is concerted purpose of num- 1 Der of persons not only to abstain them 1 selves from such intercourse, but to rem | der the life of their victims miserable by persuading and intimidating others to refrain, such purpose is a malicious one
 and the concerted attempt to accomplish | it is a conspiracy at common law, and | l merits and should receive the punish | ment due to such a crime.
 "The commission further states that this | I boycott can be carried to an extent which |
 was condemned by MT. Mitchell, presi- | 1 dent of the United Mine Workers of l
 America, in his testimony before the com
 mission and which certainly deserves the l reproduction of all thoughtful and law 1 abiding citizens
 Degree of Boycott.
 1 Does MT. Bryan agree with MT. Com pers that all existing legal restraint on 1 the enforcement of every degree of the
 boycott should be withdrawn; that the l industrial communication of the inno- cent merchants who refuses to render un- :, questioned obedience to the orders of MT. 1 Gompers should be legalized and encour- l aged, or does he believe with us, and with MT. Mitchell and other labor leaders l who differ from MT. Gompers in this mat 1 ter, that this form of boycott Is morally
 wrong, that labor at war should fight with l it's enemies and respect the rights of neu- l trals, that innocent third parties should | not be coerced into taking sides in in- l dustrial disputes to which they are in no i sense parties, under penalty of having
 their business attacked and destroyed?
 MT. Taft is perfectly definite on this prop l osition.
 Where does MT. Bryan standP
 "The citizen who votes for or against 1 Mr. Taft on this proposition does so with ! his eyes open and with a clear under i standing from MT. Taft himself of his
 position. He has frankly discussed this | 11f 1 themselves, both in this campaign and prior to his nomination. He has been
 willing to express his position clearly and | to assure workingmen that to protect 1 them in their rights he Is willing to go | to the limits of what he considers jus tice, but that he will not go farther. His
 definition of justice to labor does not as
 we understand it. include either of the
 principles contained in Mir Gompers' pro-
 gramme as set forth officially In this | bill.
 VIII Bryan Disagree? Does Mir. Bryan disa gree with MT. Taft i | on these propositions?
 will he state publicly, definitely, cate l goricaly, whether he accepts the pro- |
 gramme outlined in this bill as MT. Com
 pers in his letters has assured the pub i
 lie that he does?
 MT. Bryans party platform paid a |
 high tribute to our courts of justice It 1 stated.
 "'we resent the attempt of the re-
 publican party to raise a false issue |
 respecting the judiciary. It is an un- l just reflection upon a great body of 1 l our citizens to assume that they have no respect for the courts The great body of our citizens to whom this platform refers is admitted l ly MT. Gompers and his followers. MT. Gompers now MT. Bryans open
 and avowed ally, has, in the letter
 herein quoted, attacked the federal | courts in unmeasured terms of reproach l because, by @ long line of decisions, the equity courts have refused to make an | outlaw of the business man, because
 his right to carry on a lawful business
 under the peace of the law has been protected by process of injunctions, be- l cause. in word, one of the most vital
 and most fundamental rights of the l business man to carry on his business 1 has been sustained and not denied by l the processes of the courts of equity. This sweeping attack of MT. Gompers | upon the judiciary has been made in
 a frank and open effort to secure votes
 for MT. Bryan. Are these attacks made 1 with MT. Bryan's consent? l DO they meet with his approval? 1 "Does he indorse them or does he repudate them? Frank Statement "Mr. Bryan has frankly questioned | MT. Taft during the progress of this | campaign and very properly so asking 1 him to make clear his stand on public
 matters on which the public were en- titled to be enlightened. In turn, with | equal frankness and with equal pro- l priety, MT. Bryan should be asked to 1 break a long continued silence and l make definite and certain his own posi- l ton in regard to matter which con- | cerns not only business men but every | decent law-abiding citizen, whether a | wage worker or not, just as much as | 1t concerns MT Gompers and that part 1 of organized labor that stands with | him. 1 There is no need of generalities, of | l vague expressions of sympathy for la- bor. Let MT. Bryan simply confne himself to the anti-injunction plank or | his platform and tell us publicly, | definitely and clearly wh hether he ac- l cepts or rejects the statements of MT. | Gompers that this plank pledges him to 1 the principles of the bill for which MT. 1 Gompers stands, and whether if eletced, 1 he will endeavor to have this proposal enacted into law. This Is asked hon. 1 estly, in the interest of that large l voting public which believes sincerely | in the promotion of every legitimate l | ,f<.1. txxko ~1ak Af l.le