The Washington times., 1908-01-10
TAFT FACES LABOR
IN SPEECH TONIGHT
At COOPER UNION

Secretary William H. Taft departed
this morning for New York, where he
will deliver an address at Cooper Union
tonight Widespread political interest
attaches to this speech, because OF the
bearing Il promises TO have both on the
New York situation and on the national
situation with reference to the Presi-
dental nomination next summer.
II IS predicted in welI-infOrmed quar-
ters that Nr. Tafts speech tonight viii
be his most important one Of the cam
palgn. He is expected to take up the
labor question and to deal with vital
problems affecting capital and labor in
outspoken fashion. BY reason of the
fact that Secretary Taft is looked on
in many quarters as a foe 10 organized
Ia bor. anything he may have TO say on
this subject viii attract keen attention.
Sensation Is Expected.
Mr.. Taft was engaged all day yes
terday preparing his speech. He is so
busily occupied with his official duties
that he found It necessary to leave
his once and go to his house where,
after his usual manner when getting
Up an address, he walked the floor and
dictated rapidly to a stenographer. he
generally dictates a speech in two or
three hours, but in this instance devoted
most Of the day 10 1t. For this reason.
il is thought he has something Of
moment to say and that he has weighed
his words with unusual care.
The Secretary Of War has been ad-
vised 10 talk one thing and another in
his Cooper UuioE. speech. Some wanted
him to talk on the Philippines. soms
on China. and some on other topicsJ But
il was indicated TO him with force by
certain of his advisers and friends that
the country wanted to hear from him
on the livest issues and that he could
do nothing better than to look the
labor question sqIarely in the face and
tell the public just what he thinks
about it.
To Meet Issue Squarely.
OF course, such d plan has not been
looked on with favor by some OF the
Secretary Of wars more timid friends.
but ne is understood to have con-
cluded that his Cooper Union speech will
be the hest possible time to deal square
" with labor matters. His views on
iniunctions viii be set forth in this con
necticn it is expected.
Mr.. Tafts friends who want him 10
speak out assert that he has been
done an injustice on the labor question
and that il will be TO his advantage 10
=alk out straight from the shoulder.
They hold that he has nothing to fear
from a frank exposition of his views
en- this subject and that the better he
and the leaders of organized labor un-
derstand each other the less he viii be
opposed from this source.
The Secretary was at the T|hite House
but left early this morning. He did not
go to the war Department, however,
but had a short conference with the
President before the Cabinet meeting.
Mr.. Taft left on the 90 O'Clock train
for New York, over the Baltimore and
Ohio. He will arrive IN New York at
4:25 O'Clock this afternoon, and will drive
Immediately to the home of his broth
er Harry Taft, at 36 West Forty
eighth street. where he will stay until
Sunday morning. He will meet a small
party Of men at dinner, and will de-
liver his address this evening on Labor
and Capital"
The Secretary will have a conference
with the officials of the Philippine Rail
road Company concerning the affairs OF
that road.