La Junta tribune., 1908-10-31
TAF'S ELECTION
MEANS GOOD VASES
Protective Policy Of the Repsbiican
Party Means General Pros.
perity and Steady Work.
Republicans Are Opposed to Redue-
ing the American Laborer to the
Level OF Pauper Labor Of Europe
Scale Of Wages.

In addressing himself to organized
labor at Zanesyille, Ohio, the other day.
the Hon. William Howard Taft said:
II laid down the law and l laid down
the principles upon which the labor or
ganizations In this country have since
built up their prosperity and their use
fuIness, and instead OF saying that l
am an enemy, recognize that l am one
of the greatest benefaciors labor has
had l decided the case against the
Brotherhood of Engineers and the
Brotherhood condemned me. In -FOUR
years they got into court in st. Louis
and they had To cite my case to induce
the court To withdraw the injunction
there because had laid down the prin-
ciples upon which they could organize
could have their officers. could raise
their funds could go on and conduct
strikes under advice OF the officers,
and that case they induced. on the
authority of my decision. the judge to
withdraw his injunction and they went
ahead and won the strike. That same
thing occurred in n court In Cincinnati,
and in decision rendered in Chicago
II you will examine the cases you Will
lind that instead OF being an orpressor
OF labor. am Its benefactor."
Taft's Labor Policy.
III Mr.. Taft is elected President he
will carry out the Republican policies
and give every man square deal.
The protective tariff OF the Republican
party restored general prosperity to the
country, taking the place of the de
preston and rnin that was brought
on by Democratic Free Trade. The
tariff has protected our people against
81, Ian nf m tInLprnuiI and
underfed workmen of foreign countries.
The condition of these people Is such
that no friend Of humanity can wish to
see 1t duplicated on this continent.
The laborcr earns about twice rs
much in America as he does in England
or continental Europe, and the purchas-
ing power OF dollar is very nearly
equal. This has been made possible
through the Republican protective tar
ill.,
Dsnesrncy VS.. Organized Labor.
The principles OF organized labor
championed BY Judge Taft are frrecon-
cilable to the free trade policy OF the
Democratic party. The country can
have one. or the other, but not both
Organized labor OF this country is pro-
tected from the sweating and under
paid laborers of Europe only by pro-
tective tariff. Labor unions exist. as
Judge Taft says. to enable working
men, by union and combination among
themselves to meet employers on equal
terms, and to bargain with them.
II there were no labor unions and no
combination, capital would be too
strong and labor would be at the mercy
of capital. Another object is TO secure
the highest wages which are consistent
with the conditions OF each trade, TO
raise the standard of living and pre-
vent unfair competition. Every one Of
these measures Is opposed to Demo-
cratic free trade. which would mean
the degradation Of American labor to
the level OF the pauper labor OF the Old
World.
what Gompcrs said.
In 1897 at the time general prosperity
5as returning, after three millions of
men had gone out OF employment on
account of the Democratic free trade
policy, President Gompers OF The Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor In bis report
used these words: "It is agreed by oil
that the wage earDers are the principal
consumers OF American products. 1t
necessarily follows that n reduction in
wages involves a diminutfon IN the power
Of consumption, and consequently pro-
portionate decrease in production and
naturally also In the force OF labor re-
auired for the production. A reduction
OF wages, therefore, results in an in
crease in the army Of the unemployed"
Great Labor Record.
The Democratic padty las never
done anything for labor. Al the Ia
Dor laws on the federal statute books
have been placed there by Republicans.
Some OF these laws are:
The eight-hour law, the f-st OF its
kind In this country. since intended to
include employees on public works; pro-
hIbition OF Importation OF contract la
borers; restriction of immigration; ex-
clusion OF Chinese; abolition Of peon-
age; prohibition OF involuntary servi-
tude OF kidnapped foreigners. added re-
strlctions upon Importation Of cheap
foreign labor; creation OF Department
Of Labor. all votes against 1t being
Democratic: compulsory use OF auto
matte couplers and car brakes for In
tsrstnte trafiic; protection of seamen
inspection OF steam vessels; inspection
Of coal mines; compulsory monthly re-
PORTS OF accidents by common carriers
provision for boards OF arbitration;
provision for incorporation OF national
trade unions; child labor law for Dis
tfiet Of Columbia; appropriation to In
vestigata working conditions OF teie-
phone and telegraph employees whose
companies do Interstate business; pro-
vision to compensate lnborers injured
In government work. This IL the rec
ord OF the Republican party In federal
labor legislation and against the long