The Detroit times., 1908-10-26
PRESIDENT TRIES
To SHOW TAFT IS
FOR LABOR
IN LETTER TO MEMBER OF BRO
THERHooD OF TRAINMEN
CITES MISUNDERSTANDING WON
IRON MoLpERs' CASE.

WASHlNGTON, OCT. zo.-fresiuei
In a letter to p. II. Grac'
a member OF the Brotherhood of Trail
men. who had inquired about Nj
rafts injunction and labor recor'
said tnat Mr.. Taft has rendered grei
and signal service OF a practical ma
IRE 90 workingmen. The president r.
viewed a number OF cases afiectin
labor and said certain judges agai
and again have used the injuncuo
against labor.
The president In his letter says:
I do not believe the wage work.
ers OF this country have ever had
better friend In the White House
than Mr.. TAFT will prove 10 be. lie
has already shown his faith by his
deeds
In the matter OF the injunctions
he issued he was absolutely right
and the principles he laid down In
those inJunctions have since then
been accepted by every WORTHY
leader. OF labor. and they are en-
bodied In the principles OF prac-
tices OF all the railroad brother
hoods at the present day. The
abuses of Injunction have been
iisarlsssly exposed and attacked by
Abating Abuses.
He recognizes. as in my judg-
ment all fairminded men must
recognize. that again and again IN
the past this process has been used
TO the detriment OF wage workers
Will continue TO do away with
these abuses. lie will not make
vague promises impossibl- OF ful-
filiment. He will actually and in
foi - act AT
me give you an example OF what
he has just done.
A year OF 30 ago the editor or
the paper specially devoted to the
TO say that a decree had been en-
tered in the United States circuit
court at Milwaukee in the summer
of 1905, which he regarded as
as practically fatal to trades
unionism. The case was that. OF
the Iron holders union against
the Allis-Chalmers Co. OF Mil
waukee.
The members OF the union hav-
Ing made certain demands for the
betterment of their conditions OF
service, which were refused. went
on a strike. and an Injunction fol-
lowed In the United states circuit
court. The late employees were en-
Joined from alleged Illegal inter-
ference
A Far-Reaching InJunctios.
The final decree was OF the most
drastic aud far-reaching character
and besides enjoining the late en-
ployes from doing acts which were
clearly illegal. II also enjoined them
from any form OF picketing, from
inducing employees TO leave the SER
vice OF the Allls-Chalmers Co. by
persuasion or otherwise. and from
any kipd OF interference with the
company direct or indirect. SO
sweeping We're the terms or this In
junction that II practically forbade
no matter how peaceful and proper.
to maintain their position In this
trade dispute.
The editor of the Iron holders
Journal. j. p. Fry. brought the case
before me. stating that the union
did not know what to do; that It's
funds were limited; that he felt
that they were suffering from
gross Injustice which they were
.PoxeFless-te-f remedy I-ealled- In
Mr.. Tart and asked Mr.. Fry to lay
the case before him as, or course.
Mr. Taft was far more competent
than | was TO express Judgment as
TO the legality and propriety OF the
action taken.
Mr. Taft satisfied himself OF the
facts and at once became exceed
mgiy indignant at such an intunc-
ton having issued. He stated that
IN his opinion the position taken
by the court In issuing the injunc-
tion was clearly untenable. and
that what was needed was that the
union should get some frst-class
lawyer to represent them and
should bring the case before the
higher courts. He suggested. in re-
Spouse to Mr.. .Fry's request, that
the union retain r. y. Judson. OF
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Fire
men in the Wabash case In 1898.
and who. by the way, II the author
OF the review OF the labor decisions
OF Judge Taft published in the Re-
view OF Reviews In 1907.
Mr.. Taft explained that one OF
the troubles OF the labor unions
was that so often they did not get
the best type Of counsel. 80 that
scented. and that in his Judgment
Mr.. Judson would be sure to pre-
sent this case Alright. He stated
that the decision OF the court ought
case was argued before the United
states circuit court OF appeals by
Mr.. Judson and Mr.. Rubin, of MIL
waUkee. for the union. and by
James NJ. Beck. counsel for the Ma
for the company.
Court and Taft Agree.
The decision of the court was
handed down in Chicago Oct. s last,
and IL tustffes Judge Tafts wisdoT,
for IL sustains the most important
contentious OF the labor unions.
The court holds that while under
the facts of the case the company
WAS entitled to some Injunction re-
lief. the decree went far beyond
the proper limits. II struck out or
the decree all the provisions which
prevented peaceful picketing or the
exercise of the right OF persuasion
in inducing employees to join the
strike and also all reference to
boycooinR, on the ground that
there was no boycott, a. the men,
bers OF the union had right to
refuse to handle struck" work
that Is. the work from factory
where they were on q strike
wherever they found II.
The opinion In important espe-
ciaIiy I'm showing that much can
now be accomplished in getting the
courts to correct abuses against
employees In the exercise of the
power Of Injunction, II such abuses
are In effective form brought TO
their attention. as,Jthanks to tho
advice OF Judge Tart they were
brought In this case--TheArf8ht OF
peaceful picketing and persuasion.
50 that employees may by peaceful
means induce other employees to
join them. 10 forcibly set forth In
this opinion. and II bases its de-
cislon and upon the decision In the
Wabash injunction case. which 1t
self was largely based upon Judge
Tart's decision: so that Judge
TAfts decision Ia declared by the