The San Francisco call., 1908-10-22

MS promise to do wrong is given
knowingly that IL is wrong or because
OF levity or lack of consideration
which makes him willing TO promise
anything without counting the cost If
purchased
Just as / have fought hard and shall
continue to fight hard to bring about
IN the fullest way the recognition OF
the employe to be amply compensated
Tor injury received in the course of
his duty, so I have fought hard and
shall continue>to fight hard to do away
with all abuses I'm the use of the power
of injunction. 1 will do everything l
can TO see that the power of injunction
IS not used to oppress laboringmen.
VIII endeavor to secure them fun and
equal justice. Therefore in the inter-
est of all good citizens, be they labor
lngmen, businessmen, professional men.
farmers or members of any other oc-
cupation, so long as they have in their
souls the principles of sound American
citizenship, l denounce as wicked the
proposition to secure a law which. ac-
cording to the explicit statement of Mr..
effectively interfering with riotous vio-
lence when the object is to destroy a
business and which will legalize the
blacklist and the secondary boycott,
both of them the apt Instruments of
unmanly persecution.
DELUDED FOLLOWERS
WANT VICIOUS LAW
But there is another account against
Messrs- BRYAN and Gompers in this
matter. Ephraim feedeth on wind.
Their proposed remedy is an empty
sham They are seeking to delude their
followers by the promise of law
Whlch would damage this country sole
ly because of the vicious, immoral pur-
pose that would be shown by putting
IT upon the statute books but which
would be absolutely worthless to ac-
compllSh It's avowed purpose | have not
the slightest doubt that such a law as
that proposed by Mr.. Bryan, if enacted
by congress. would be declared uncon-
stitutlonal by unanimous supreme
court, unless. indeed, Mr.. Bryan were
able TO pack this court with men ap-
pointed Tor the special purpose of de-
claring such law constitutional.
happen TO know that certain great
trust magnates have announced within
the last few weeks in answer to the
question as TO why they were openly or
Bryan, that the laws that Mr. Bryan
proposed, including especially this law,
would be wholly ineffective because the
court would undoubtedly throw them
out and that the promises to enact
them would therefore safely be disre-
garded.
On July 2, last. the special counsel to
the central association of building
trades of New York, Edward ]. Gave
gan submitted to that association an
opinion on the matter of injunctions,
and approved the same day by the CEN
tral association of building trades of
New York. In this opinion. in discuss
ing proposals to do away with or mod
lfy the power of issuing injunctions in
industrial disputes, Mr.. Gavegan said
that the proposal TO favor defendants in
industrial disputes above all others
would be class legislation and in the
nature of special privilege. and special
privilege is the bane of the working
man. Special privilege is what creates
powerful special interests. What the
wage worker wants, and all he wants
Is equality before the law. 1t is play
Ing into the hands of the special inter
ests TO enact laws which are certain of
they are intended in good faith for the
betterment of the workingman. The
special interests would rather see a
thousand favorable but unenforcible
new laws enacted for the wage Garner
than TO have him learn the full power
of a single existing remedy. The rem
edies so far suggested and made public
can not In the very nature of our sys-
tenn furnish any needed relief
Labor represent tatives should concen-
trate and use their influence for the
enactment of general measures calcu-
lated to protect and not TO destroy the
remedy of Injunction
This is admirably sound common
sense; the opinion Of the counsel to a
as its own by that labor party 1t is a
scathing condemnation of the proposals.
vicious and chimerical, to which Messrs
Bryan and Gompers are committed
They promise what would be in the
highest degree detrimental to the in
terests OF the general public If it could
be performed, and what. as matter of
fact, could not be performed / believe
both in the patriotism and the intelli-
gence of the workingmen. the laboring
men Of Amerca- Therefore. l do not
believe they can be misled to their own
deep hurt as Messrs- Bryan and Com
pers seek to mislead them: l do not
believe that they will permit Mr. Com
pers TO deliver them like chattels to
Mr.. Bryan in exchange for sham
Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
P: G. Knox. United States Senator,
Valley Forge. Pa