New-York tribune., 1908-09-14

reduction OF the wages OF the great army Of
railroad men. A fair working arrangement
must De 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 De PAID 10
those whose nasterful ability is required for
the successful direction or great enter lseS-
Combinations which favor such an equitable ar :
rangement should themselves be favored ana
not forbidden by law; although they snould oe
strictly supervised by the goverpment through
the Interstate Commerce Commission. whlcn
should have the power OF passing summary
upon not only the question OF the EeuucIIOh
but the raising Of rates
The railroad problem is itself one OF the
phases Of one Of the greatest and most lntrl-
cate problems OF our civilization; for It's proper
solution we reed not merely honesty and cour-
age but Judgment, good sense and entlre 1alr-
rnindedness Demagogy in such matter Is as
certain to work evil corruption itself The
man who promises TO raise the wages or railroad
employees to the highest point and at the same
time to reduce rates 10 the lowest poIt Is PIoIlI
Using what neither he nor any one else can per
form; and II the effort TO perform II were at
tenn. Il disaster would result 10 both shipper
and wage worker and ruin 70 the business inter
ests Of the country The man to trust in such
a matter as this is the man who. like Judge
Taft. does not promise too much. but VINO couId
not be swayed from the path OF duty by any
argument by any consideration; who Will wage
relentless war on the successful wrongdoer
among railroad men as among all other men
who will do all that can be done TO secure Iegtt-
imately low rates to shippers and absolute even
ness among the rates thus secured; but VINO
will neither pro Use nor attempt to secure rates
co low, that the vags Garner would lose his earn
inss and the shareholder. whose money built
the road his profits He will not favor a rum
ous experiment liz, government ownership or
RAILWAYS: he will stand against any kind OF con-
hscation of honestly acquired property; but ne
will work effectively for the most efficient type
OF government supervision and control Of rail
ways so as to secure just and fair treatment or
the people whole.
What is here said TO his attitude on the
~ba -Fflia FTFTa
Of the trusts He will promise nothing on this
subject unless he firmly believes he can make
his promise good He will go into no chimerical
movement to destroy all great business Combi-
nations for this can only be done by destroying
all modern business: but he Will in practical
fashion do everything possible TO secure such
ef7cient control on behalf OF the people as a
whole. over these great combinations as VII
deprive them of the power TO work eviL MI
Taft's decision in the Addystone Pipe Line case
while the bench is proof, by DEEDS not oy
words of the farsighted wisdom with which ne
serves the interests OF the whole people even
when those of the most powerful CofpoTdtioI''
are hostile thereto.
II there is one body of men more than an
other Y hose support ! feel have right 10
challenge on behalf of Secretary Taft fl is the
body of wage workers OF the country. A
stancher friend, fairer and truer representa-
tive, they cannot find within the borders or the
United States. He will do every thlnS IN MS
mower for them except to do that which IS
wrong: he will do wrong for no man. and there
fore can be trusted by all men. During the ten
wears of my intimate acquaintance with MIN.
since 1 have myself as Governor and President,
been Obliged 10 deal practically with labor
problems he has been one of the men upon
whose Judgment and aid could always rely IN
doing everything possible for the cause OF the
wage worker Of the man who works with MS
hands or with both hands and head
Mr. Taft has been attacked because OF the in
functions he delivered while on the bench L
am content to rest his case on these very IN
functions: / maintain that they show why all
0ur people should be grateful to him and should
feel il safe TO intrust their dearest interests TO
him Most assuredly he never has yielded and
never will yield to threat or pressure OF any
sort as little If it from labor as II 1t
comes from capital he will no more tolerate
the violence of a mob than the corruption and
oppression and arrogance of a corporation or or
a wealthy man He will not consent 10 limit
the power of the courts TO put stop 10
wrongdoing wherever found This very fact
should make the labor people feel peculiar
coincidence in him. He has incurred the bitter
hostility of foolish and bigOted reactionar1es by
his frank criticism of the abuse OF the power
of Injunction in labor disputes, and he Is
nIedeed 10 do all he can to put a stop TO the
abuses i'm the exercise Of the power OF inJunc-
tion He will never promise anything that he
will not do all In his power TO perform. He can
alwavs he trusted TO do little better than his
word and the fact that before election he will
not promise the impossible Is IN itself guaran-