The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-09-01

Man Should Have Equal Rights
Under the Law-Diseusses His At.r
tude On lniune. ems and Declare
When He Was Judge he Oseidea
Cases According to Law. ana Has No
Apologies to mske-Denies He Iste
Father Of Labor Injunetions.
Toledo. o.. Aug Si.-NIr. and Mr..
Tart arrived here Saturday night al
Immediately boarded a boat FOR Md.
dlebass island
The candidate delivered three pol.t.-
cal speeches in Ohio-at Gauipoi
Athens and Columbus. He delivered
thiId address OF a non-political char
| actcr before the veterans OF the Civ
anu Spanish Wars at Athens.
His most important speech or the
day was before the Tart Repuhiic,,
club OF Athens. The candidate had cx-
pected when he accepted an invitatlas
10 20 10 Athens that the speech beio--
the war veterans would be the on
one required Of him. but when d.
learned that the local Republican clu
composed largely OF union laborers
wanted TO hear him he accepted tic
invitation at once as an opportunity a.
give his views on labor issues Fa
talked with an enthusiasm and dircc-
ness that caught the labor mca from
the start answering amonE Ctnc-
things the charges that he when
Judge had besn against labor. IL was
by far the most forceful speech Mr..
Taft has delivered.
i am asked, he said. What is thu
relation OF the Republican party q
labor I want 10 make one statemen
hrst: that never in the history OF hi.
country has there been an administra-
ton that has passed more mcasur
directly in the interest Of the laborirc
classes than the present Republic.
administration"
Mr.. Taft enumerated among II
things which the Republican party has /
done for labor the passage OF the err /
pioyers liability bill. the safety april /
ance bills. the government employee. /
compensation bin and the bill FOR a,
INVESTIGATION Of mine disasters NJ 4
TAFT went on.
Now l come 10 the question OF r.
functions. In the first place 1 under
stand that my own personal attitude
toward labor has been represented as q
man who thinks and SAYS thar a dollar
day is enough FOR any man. Well
there IS one short way OF meeting that I
statement and that Is that &c is a lie
never said so and I don't think thar 81
argues intcllgenco in any man who
believes the statement. for what under
heaven would induce me OF anv one
else 20 say sog
In thc second case they say ar
the father OF injuncuons in labor case.
have issued injunctions in labo
cases; there is no doubt about th.-
and 1 have done IL because the rights
OF the plaintiff entitled him 10 an IN
junction. and when am on the bench
and enforcing tho law enforce il. m
/ don't make any apologies for IT, Z.
has been my lot 20 sit in labor case.
and 60 81, in anu-trust cases. When : !
am judge OF the bench in so far a.
! can I decide cases according 20 the
law and the facts no matter whom lt
hurts. because I helieve that 10 - mr.
sworn duty
Now il has been my lot TO lay down |
the rules with respect 70 the rights Of
labor In two OF three cases. and Ia
fer 20 these cases as a fun statement
OF what believe the rights OF labor O.
be with reference 20 its employment.
Labor has the right 20 unite In organ
cations for the purpose Of looking ait.
the united interests of labor in il
controversy with capital: because II 80
did not unite and was not permitted 90
unite then II would be helpless Labo-
ers have the right not only o. uni-o
but 70 contribute funds which in tin
when they wish 70 leave the cmpio-
of their employer. when they did uo.
Ike his terms. may support their fcl |
low members. They have the right ta
appoint officers who shall control their
actions if they choose. They have IA
right TO invite all other laborcrs 20
unite with them in their conrrove.sy
and to withdraw if they choose from /
association with their employers. bu-
they have not the right to iniure their
employers property: they have not the
right by what is called a 'secondarv
boycott to invite a third person into
the controversy who wishes TO keen
out by threatening boycott with HIN
unless he assists them in the fight.
1T is said I introduced the injunc.
ton first In labor cases That gives M
too much credit for ingenuity and too
great honor as an inventor OF judicial
proceeding. II you will examine an
thorities you will find that there are q
number Of cases before I issued an
Injunction at al and that merely fol
lowed precedent in doing so. / am not
apologizing for that; I am merely tell
ing you the fact
What l believe. gentlemen, Is that
there ought 10 be no favored class IN
litigation at all: that a man who has
property and man who has labor %
sell shall stand on an equality in court.
and that every man should be entitled
20 be protected by all the writs and
remedies that the law affords, by an
Impartial judiciary, and that whether
he be laborer or a capitalist"