The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-05-30
Tiff: IS ENEMY OF So.
THE COMMON 0! N PEOPLE. {
While in Philippines he Denied
American Citizens Constitutions
al Right of Trial by jury.
INTER ISLAND NEWS :
PUBLISHES RECORD
Under "Bills'' Administration
Soldiers Were Given Rights
Refused to Civilians. :"


Refused to Civilians.
People who have studied the record
Of William H. Taft, who wishes to be-
come president Of the United States,
know that he is not entitled to any
such honor. He was the enemy Of the
laboring man while on the federal
bench and while secretary Of the navy
did all In his power to prevent the
eight hour law from applying to men
in the navy yards It was only when
Roosevelt insisted upon 1t, and when
Taft stood good chance Of losing his
job that he allowed it to be enforced.
He was also the inventor Of the in
junction against labor unions.
The article published below is taken
from the Inter-Island News, published
at Zamboansa, Mindanao, Philippine
Islands. It gives a part Of his record
while encouragement Of the islands,
and goes to show that he was the
enemy OF the common people there, as
he is in the United States. The article
is reproduced In full:
Taft is responsible for the unparal-
leled situation which exists in the
rights Of our people before the law,
where all citizens are supposed to be
equal.
But they are not.
SHOULD some soldier be charged
with killing or robbing q civilian, he
would be entitled to trial by jury.
Should some civilian be charged with
killing or robbing a soldier he would
be denied trial by jury.
Trial by jury is a right an Ameri-
can soldier has under the constitution
and it cannot be denied him.
mot so with an American civilian.
He has no rights which Taft is bound
to respect.
I'VE have, therefore, two classes Of
American citizens in these islands,
one which the constitution, protects.
and one which Taft will not permit
the conatftution to- protect. =:
9TH reason for: Taft's :: denial 81
these constitutional rights to Ameri+4
can civilians, is quite apparent His
absolute and despotic sway In these
islands would come to an end the mo-
ment trial by jury was instituted here.
ARTICLE ", amendatory Of the con-
stitution Of the United States, is as
follows:
"'No person shall be held to answer
for a. capital, or otherwise Infamous
crime, unless on presentment or in
dictment Of a grand jury, except in
cases arising in the land or naval
forces or in the militia when in actual
service in time Of war or public dan
ger; nor shall any person be subject
for the same offence to be twice put in
|: jeopardy Of life and limb; nor shall be-
compelled In any criminal case to be a
witness against himself. nor be de-
prived Of life, liberty or property
| without due process Of law; nor shall
private property be taken for public
Use, without just compensation
Under Taft's government In these
islands grand jury was forbidden
until the supreme court ruled other
wise, many citizens were put twice in
jeopardy by Taft; and to this day
those forced into the courts are being
deprived of life, liberty and property
been previously ascertained by law,
This is conclusively proven by
| Article vi, anendatory of the consti-
tuition Of the United States, which is
| as follows:
In all criminal prosecutions, the
accused shall enjoy the right to
speedy and public trial, by an impair
tial jury Of the state and district
| wherein the crime shall have been
| committed, which district shall have
| been previously ascertained by law,
and to be informed Of the nature and
cause of the accusations; to be con-
fronted with the witnesses against
him.; to have compulsory process for
obtaining the assistance of counsel for
his defense.'
! In other words, the supreme law
OF the land demands trial by Jury for
all alike, yet Taft denies it to all citi-
zens in the Philippines except sol.
diers.
Hon. John Sharp Williams minor
ity leader of the house of representa-
tives, recently requested to be in
formed as to whether free speech and
freedom Of the press were in any wav
abridged in these islands. Taft doubt
less answered to the effect that no
abrldgement> Of free speech or freedom
OF the press existed here. On paper
| Tafts reply would be true, but in re-
aHty, no. The first bar to free speech
and a free press exists in the absence
OF trial by jury; second, in the sub
ordination Of the Judiciary to the exc
cutive; third in the power conferred
upon appellate courts to increase sen.
tences Of courts of original turisdfc-
tion; and, fourth, in the severity Of
libel and sedetion laws. Combined.
these things are as potent as a CEN
sorship." s&.z5s>,~s 80:
10000 MINERS AFFECTED.
SP11.IsBURd. May PA wage scale
operative until March 81, 1900. affect
ing. about 10000 miners in the Pitts.