Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-26
Taft Originator Of Injunction Against Strikes;
Decisions From Federal Bench Show His Record

yuOW LIS NCNOlu
national. one can very readily imagine
now many papers and how many Ger
mans will come to the support OF De.
mocracy In the pending campaign.
Mr.. kern's Speech of Acceptance.
Long before this time the speech of
acceptance of the Democratic candi-
date for the presidency has been print
ed i'm all the newspapers of the land
Mr. Bryan's speech was characteristic
of the man. 1t was ethical rather than
political 1t dealt with broad prinei-
pies of popular rule rather than with
distinct issues. all of which had been
covered by the platform on which he
stands. and finally It pronounced for
such fundamental principles as the
rule of the government by the people
and the assertion that the Democracy
believed In equal rights to all and spe-
cial privileges TO none. Mr.. Kern is
yet to issue his letter of acceptance,
but my understanding IS that 1t Will
follow very much the same line. He
Is clear thinker and one who can
express his views concerning public
questions with absolute and convinc-
ing frankness. People have been say
ing that John W. Kern was not known
widely outside of his own state. That
is probably true, but l venture to ex-
press the belief that before this cam
paign is over he will be one of the
most widely known men in the United
| States. His style of oratory Is rather
restrained than fforid. But he talks
convineingly, argumentativeiy AMI
| quietly, and perhaps sometimes a quiet
| talk does more to influence an audi
ence than the fireworks OF the fire.
brand orator Moreover, Mr.. Kern will
make a close and dear friend of ey-
| cry man whom he meets. This will
not perhaps influence the election very
| greatly, for this year, according TO the
figures that l have seen complied,
| there Will be not less than 1S.000,0 600
votes cast, and no man can personally
| meet even q modicum of these voters
But those who meet him will admire
him ard, in my Judgment, will vote FOR
him.
! Newspaper Men In the Campaign.
| The Democratic national headquar
tiers here were invaded two. or three
| days ago by delegation of owners
and editors of newspapers whose homes
ranged all the way from Portland. Ore.
| to Lexington, y. G. There were repre-
sentatives of papers from Belle Plain
Kan; from New Roads, La; from
| Greenwood, Miss: from Tallassee
Ala; from Legansport, Ind. and from
| Hope. Ark This is mere selection
Of the various towns and states repre-
| scented. But all, with one accord
| though there were one or two Repub
licans in the gathering. declared thai
their people We're going to support thu
| Democratic ticket this year and tina
| their belief was that Mr. Bryan woul(
have an Overwhelming victory. Per
haps this information coming from Ala
bama or Arkansas might not have beer
astonishing. but when it came from
| Indiana and Oregon It is worth atten
ton.
Taft and Injunction.
When the Republican party goes t.
the voters of this nation, and particu
larly If it asks anything from tn,
workingmen, It viii find the fact tina
its candidate, William II. Taft. wa
the head and almost the originator o
the injunction against labor movement
| will rise up TO curse 1t. 1t was Taf
who when on the bench Joined wit
the somewhat notorious Judge Rick
in issuing the first sweeping injunction
against the right of laboring men t
either strike or to agitate. 1t was
Taft convention which voted down an
resolution that meant action on thl
particular evil What Taft may sa
now Is immaterial. What he did whe
he sat on the bench was to issue
sweeping injunction against the RICH
to carry on strike because 1t prt
hibited men engaged in labor disput
from inviting others to join them ]
prohibited them from agitating the II
sues involved In the strike and eve
declared that they should not be a
lowed to gather on the streets, ITO az
cumulate by contributions from men
bers of the labor union a fund whic
shall enable them to live during tn
tendency Of the strike" or, in brie
to conduct the strike In any way tha
would make 1t effective. The member
Of the American Federation of Labc
are cognfZant of these facts. The men
bers Of the Switchmen's union, one
the strongest labor organizations, kno-
| about 1t. The reason that every labe
paper in the United States is printin
articles hostile to Taft, the reason til;
every labor leader in the country
fighting him, is simply because {
X that original injunction and becaus
" of tho fact that a convention which \