Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-24

chicago, sept. Z0.-W imam ri. Iaft,
in forceful address to the Railway
Mems Independent Taft Club. refuted
the statements circulated by his politi-
cal opponents regarding his attitude
towards organized labor. Mr.. Taft
said that his course in the injunction
cases over which he was called to pre-
side while on the bench was the only
cause he could pursue under the law
He also took occasion to brand as
misstatements some of the things Bry-
an has said while trying to advance his
personal political interests in his third
attempt to capture the Presidency of
the United States
large crowd, forming an overflow
meeting surrounded Mr.. Taft as ne
reached Orchestra hall. and standing
in his automobile, Mr.. Taft delivered
an informal address. He said he Oe-
lieved that no judge had ever had The
interest of the labOring man at heart
more than he had now and had had
when a judge. He was proud to say
that he frequently had been called in
consultation with President Roosevelt
on labor questions and that his own
and the Presidents views We're in &C
cord. He referred to Mr.. Bryan and
Samuel Gompers as among those peo-
pie who are always full of enthusiasm
tor union labor when they are running
for Office"
But" continued Mr.. Taft, you've
got to get men like Theodore Roose-
welt when you want them to do things.
At the Orchestra hall meeting Mr..
Taft said:
II am glad to see so many members
of organized railroad labor. l have ;tc
cepted this opportunity to address an
audience of members of the Brother
hood in order that / may take up
question which has been given great
prominence in this campaign.
I'm the first place, I wish to affirm.
without fear of contradiction, that the
Republican party has done vastly more
than the Democratic party. both on
state and national legislation. for the
protection and in the interest of Ia
Dor"
In this connection Mr. Taft mentioned
the eight hour law, the safety appliance
acts. the act for the promotion OF ar
bitratlOn between the railways ana
their employees and the law limiting the
hours of labor Of Interstate railway
employees.
AN issue, however. has arisen. CON
tinued Nh. TAFT, "as to the attitude of
the two parties On the subject of i'll
junctiors in labor disputes.
Il propose row to take up first my
personal relation to this question. 1t
!ell to my lot to be a judge of the SD
EeriOr court of Cincinnati and judge
of the United States circuit court Tor
the Sixth district, and during thai
time | had to consider number OF I'M
Iortant cases involving the rights of
labor and the rights of the employer,
as well as the practice in equity with
reference to the issuing of lnjunctions
In such cases. The first case was not
an Injunction suit at all. "a boss brick
layer quarrelled with the union and
their members who were in his employ
struck. In order to embarrass him the
union notified all the local dealers III
materials that they would boycott any
firm which furnished him with ma
terial. MUores a. Co. had contract 10
deliver To this boss bricklayer lot of
lime. In order to avoid trouble they Sc
cured from him release from the con-
tract! but he sent his wagons to the
freight station and bought lime out OF
the car. where Moores & Co. sold lime
to any one who applied. The walking
delegate of the union discovered 1t and
boycott was begun. Moores & Co SUI
fered a severe financial loss to their
business. They sued for damages and
the case was tried before jury. Thc
jury returned a verdict for $500. Now,
gentlemen, in that case l held and de-
cided with two colleagues that sec
ondary boycott was an unlawful injury
and whether it was perpetuated by Ia
boring men or otherwise. That is the
law today, and my friends, 1t ought to
be the law.
The Toledo & Ann Arbor Railway
was in a dispute with its employees. who
We're members of the Brotherhood of
locomotive Engineers. and strike by
the engineers followed 1t was under
stood by the Toledo & Ann ArbCr Road
mat the Brotherhood of Engineers on
the Lake Shore We're going to rcsufe
10 haul their cars and that the Lake
Shore for that reason would acuuiesce
In this action
Accordingly the Toledo & Ann Arhor
Road applied to Judge Kicks TO enjoin
the Lake Shore Railroad Co. its Off
GERS and employees, from refusing to
maui Toledo & Ann Arbor cars He did
SC In accordance with the interstate
commerce law. After this. Mr. Arthur.
the head of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers. issued notice to