New-York tribune., 1908-10-26
LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT.
Brotherhood Of Railroad Trainmel
BinEhanfon- Y Y Ocfnhar Ls i
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.

THE PRESIDENTS REPLY
October 19. 1908
Ny Dear Nj. Grace:
thank YOU for your letter I need hardly say
that take peculiar interest in the men who
work o- The railroads in this country. and I
rri7e as one Of the honors Of which I most
r-ru6 the fact that l am honorary member
~ re brotherhood of Locomotive Firernen.
throughout my whole term as President. now
y rs eighth year. l have devoted myself with
esrecial interest n the questions affecting labor
TIE lasting prosperity Of this country rests upon
The welfare Of the wage worker and the welfare
of the t{ller Of The soil Ny greatest aim and
desire have been 70 do all that in me lies 10 ad-
vance -ieir interest I wish 70 help them TO get
The best Out Of their present positions; wish
70 hep them make those positions permanently
better. Of permanently greater Importance ana
reward No consideration of party fealty or
personal friendship would induce me 10 advise
either farmer or workingn1an 10 do anEthlng @
-hz- zaS not for his permanent benefit Win
+he <ar- keenlv before ne. I earnestly advise all
work zrErnen in their own interest as working
rnen. bit above all as American citizens con
oer1ed n the honor and the prosperity OF TINS
great free Republic 70 support Mr.. Taft for
President. just as I advise all farmers. business
rner and men Of the professions
TAFT ANb INJUNCTIONs-
60 not believe the wage workers of this
White House than Air- Taft will prove TO be
He has already shown his faith by his DEEDS
Il .he matter Of the injunctIons he issued ne
was absolutely right and the principles ne lalu
down in nose injunctions have since then been
sccepre5 bv every worthy leader Of labor, and
thev are embodied in the principles ana pracuces
~ al -ha Taslrrsa6 brotherhoods at the present
dav The abuses OF injunction have been Tear
lesslv exposed and attacked by Mr.. Taft He
recognizes as in my judgment all fair-nlnded
rper must recognize. that again and again IN the
rset This process has been used 70 the detr1Inert
Of wage workers by certain judges He Is dolng
ar6 viii continue 70 do everything that can be
done u DO away with these abuses He VII nor
MAKE vague promises Impossible OF fulllIheltL
Ee ve5n actually and in good faith Try 70 secure
7 ma rTSy-p 4
has lUsr done.
CASE OF IRON NOULDERS UNION
var OF 50 ago the editor Of the paper spe-
cfaIIZ devoted 70 the Iron Moulders Union calie9
upon re - say that a decree had oeeh eiilt en-
In The United States Circuit Court al MI"
kre III the summer of 1906. which he regarded
Is grossly unjust and improper and as prac-
ti~sf1z fatal 10 trades unionism- The case was
that of the Iron Moulders' Union against the
Alis-C Chalners COMPANY. Of AdllWaukee. Inc
members ~ the union, having n1aoe ce5talll ue
rrarFs Tor the betterment Of their conditions OF
service which were refused, went on strike
ard IN Injunction suit followed in the Cnlted
States Circuit Court. The late eInployes 49, ~
en1oired from alleged Illegal interference ne
fnaI decree was Of the most drastic ana far-
reaching character. and besides enJolhlng lhe
late employees from doing acts "hIch were
clearly illegal II also enjoined them from any
for-l n pickering from inducing employees 10
leave the service Of the Allis- Chalmers COM
PAW F7x- persuasion or otherwise. and from any
kind II Interference with the company, clrect
Indirect So sweeping were the terms OF
this Injunction that II pTactcailE 1oTDaoe IIS
union from making any EFFORT, no nla1ter no"
peaceful and proper 70 maintain their position
= this trade dispute. The editor OF 'Ihe iron
Eoulders' Journal" Mr. J P Fry. brought the
case before me stating that the union did not
know what 70 do that its funds were limited;
thar he fer that they were suffering from gross
Injustice which they were powerless 10 remedy
! called in Mr. Taft and asked Mr. Fry TO lay
The case before him, as Of course, Mr. Iaft was
far more competent than was 10 express his
judgment as to the legality and propriety OF
the action taken.
TAFT RECOMMENDED COUNSEL
NJ Taft satisfied himself of the facts and at
orce became exceedingly indignant at such an
Injunction having issued. He stated that IN ms
opinion the position taken by the court IN lssu-
Ing -he Injunction was clearly untenable ai.9
that u-ra- Was needed that the union should
get some first class lawyer TO represent them
and should bring the case before the hlgher
courts He suggested. n response TO Mr. Fry S
regrsae- rhat the union retain Mr.. F. y. Jud-
son II ST Louis who had represented the
Brotherhood OF locomotive Firernen IN Ihe " "a d
bssh -ase n 1893 and who. by the way IS the
author q the review Of the labor decisions OF
Judge Taft. published in the Review OF he.
views" IN 1907. Mr.. Taft explained tnat one u u
the troubles of the labor unions was that SO
often they did not get the best type OF counsel
e. that their cases were not properly Peseluep
and that in his judgment Mt Juosoh WoLid pe
sgra - resent mis- case Alright He stated that
the decision OF the court ought certain 10 re
n their favor The case was afgueo nei3ie @ NJ NJ
United states Circuit Court Of Appeals by MT
JuSson an6 Nr Rubin, Of Milwaukee Tor the
union and BY Mr.. James II. Beck couhseI IoI
company
COURT AGREES WITH TAFT
The decision Of the court was HANDED down
tn Chicago on the sth day Of this month ana II
1ustifies Judge Taft's wisdom, Tor IL suStdliIs 1
most important contentious Of the labor uhioI7e
The court holds that while under the facts oi
the case the company was entitlsd 70 some some m m
Junction relief the decree went Nr beyond the
proper limits II struck OUT of the decree aIl 81
the provisions which prevented peaceful DICK
etine or the exercise OF the right Of persuasion
n inducing employees 10 join the strike ana aIo
al reference 10 boycotting. on the srouhd tInt
there was no boycott. the members OF tii1
union had right 10 refuse TO handle STRUCK
work-thaf is the work from q factory Wheie
they were on q strike-whereveT they founo u
The opinion is important especially IN showing
that much can now be accomplished IN getting
the courts TO correct abuses against ernployes
IN the exercise of the power OF injunction, II
such abuses are in effective form brought 10
their attention as thanks 10 the ADVICE OF Judge
Taft they were brought in this case. The right
q peaceful ricketing and persuasion so that
enpIo,es may by peaceful means lndnce oihef
EMPLOYEES 70 Join them. is foTcibN set forth IN
this opinion and II bases its decision iarge-y
upon Judge Taft's decision ahG ap"h iie decision