Evening journal., 1908-10-22
ROOSEVELT
WARNS LABOR
Those Who Advocate Wrong
doing Cannot be Trusted
by Them
ASKS BRYAN HOW he
STANDS WITH GOMPERS
BY United Press Leased Special wire.

BY United Press Leased Special Wire.
WASHINGTON oct. 22--"I solemn
" warn the laborlng men Of this coun-
try that any public man who advo-
Gates doing wrong in their interest
cannot be trusted by them"
This is President Roosevelts declar-
alton to William Jennings Bryan, and
is found in letter the President ad-
dressed TO Senator Philander c. Knox.
Of Pennsylvania. In it MI Roosevelt
analyses the legislation asked for by
Samuel Gompers. pointing out the
harm that would come to labor and to
the nation If such laws were adopted.
Prosecutions. he says, would follow
the. legalizing of the blacklist or the
secondary boycott. He asks Bryan
whether he stands with Gompers in
these matters.
To prevent the courts from issuing
injunctions against riotous violence
would be anarchy.
Mr.. Roosevelt charges that Bryan
and Gompers are allies and challenges
The Democratic candidate TO make his
position plain. The Republican party
would uplift labor says Mr.. Roosevelt
but the remedies proposed by the
Democrats are but an empty sham
He asserts that Mr.. Taft's position to-
ward labor is clearly defined and de-
mands to know where Bryan stands.
AS thick with political pitfalls as a
porcupine's back with spikes, the let
ter is bold and aggressive. Mr.. Comp
ers' schemes are ridiculed as policies
which will do labor more harm than
good. A score of questions are ad-
dressed to Mr.. Bryan which If answer
ed frankly will throw a food Of light
upon labor problems. One striking de-
r1and is that Mr. Bryan states whether
ne shares in Mr.. Gompers denuncia-
ton of the courts or repudiates il.
Has the Right to Speak
one part Of the letter says: L feel
that I have the right to speak .franSly
IN this matter because throughout my
term as President it has been my con-
stant object to do everything in my
power. both by Administrative action
and by endeavoring 10 secure legisla-
tive action, to advance the cause OF
labor protect il from unjust aggres-
sion and secure TO it its legitimate
rights have accomplished some
thing: 7 hope to accomplish some
thing more before leave Office; and
] have taken special and peculiar
interest in Mr.. Tafts candidacy
because believe that Of all the
men in this country he is the man best
qualified for continuing the work of
securing to the wageworkers Of thc
country their full rights. I Will do
everything in nv power for the wage
workers Of the country except TO do
what is wrong will do wrong fol
no man; ana with all the force in my
power I solemnlv warn the laborins
men Of this country that any public
man who advocates doing wrong in
their interest cannot be trusted by
them: and this whether his promise to
do wrong is given knowing that it i
wrong. or because Of levity and lack
of consideration which makes him will
ing to promise anything without count
ing the cost if thereby support at the
moment is to be purchased.
Does Mr.. Bryan believe with Mr..
Gompers tsat he and that part of ths
labor movement that agrees " IN him
has the right morally, and sh uld be
given the right legally, to paralyze or
10 destroy with impunity the business
of an innocent third person against
whom he or they have no direct griev-
ance. simply because this third per-
son rfuses 70 foin with them aggres-
sively in a labor controversy with tho
real merits OF which ne may be utterly
unacduainted. because he refuses "a
class as his enemy s.ay and every other
employer whom they point out as their
enemy. because he refuses, merely upon
their aeremptorv order. to eXcommuni.
cate scne other employer by ceasinG
all business relations with him? Tho
blacklist and the secondary boycott
are two of the most cruel forms ~
oppression ever devised by the wit OF
man for the inhiction Of suffering on
his weaker fellows
No court could possibly exercise any
more brutal. unfeelng or despotlc
power than Mr. Gompers claims foi
himself and his followers in this legis.
lation which would permit them. with.
out let or hinde-ance of any kind. u
carry on srerv form ana degree Of the
secondary bovcott.