Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-07
FEEhEYS WORK IN CAMPAIGN
UPHELD REPUBLICAN PROTEC-
TIVE TARIFF POLICY.
Close Interest in the Discussion
Manifested at the Labor Meet
ings He Addressed.

binders Union, spent the closing weeks
of the campai-n in New York stumping
for the republican party. and he is not at
all surprised at the large vote Taft re-
ceived in strong labor districts. He says:
Union workmen are, as rule, tntelil-
gent men, and the, read and think for
themselves, and they H. upon their
right of suffrage as a sacred priviie.e 3.
Ninety-fve per cent of them vote as their
consciences dictate and not on the advice
or request Of any man or organization.
Upheld Protective Tariff.
Il was selected to address labor meet
ings in different parts of the city, and in
every instance the audience was an intel
ligent body of men and the speakers were
accorded the best attention and good or
der at all times prevailed. l compared
the records of the two political parties.
and especially upheld the protective tafir
policy of the republican party. My or
ganlZation of bookbinders is now seeking
an increase in the duty on bound books.
as a large number of American publishers
now have their binding done in England
and Germany, while American bookbind-
ers walk the streets of New York and
other cities looking for work Not only
in the bookbndlng trade. but in every
protected industry. reduction Of the
tariff would put thousands of workmen
out Of employment, and the hard times
we had under the Wilson tariff would
again prevail. / had the pleasure OF
speaking at the big labor meeting In
Cooper Union Hall October -. To re-
serve the seats for union men no one
was admitted unless he could show a
paid-up union card. The hall was crowd
ed and hundreds stood. All the speakers,
with the exception of Judge Taft and
Gov. Hughes. were prominent labor men,
Judge Taft was much impressed when he
tirely Of union workmen, and although his
time was limited he spoke for forty min
utes, giving a full explanation of his In
junction decisions and combining his
speech to labor matters. Representatives
Parsons and Bennett and Chairman Hitch
cock tried several times to have Judge
Taft cut his remarks short, as he had
several meetings to attend that evening,
including the big Madison Square Gar
den meeting, but he told them to let him
alone, as he had an audience that he
wanted to meet, and If necessary ne
would cut out some other engagements.
l have stenographic copy of the speech,
which was convincing and effective.
Defended Gompers' Course.
AT meeting in the Amsterdam Opera
House I was compelled to take issue with
the Attorney General of the United States.
Mr.. Bonaparte, in his remarks, gave the
audience to understand that in case Bryan
was elected Samuel Gompers would be
the labor member of the cabinet. I was
introduced Immediately after the Attorney
General. and informed the audience that
from my knowledge of Mr.. Gompers did
not believe he would accept any position
from Bryan or any other official. Mr..
Gompers is too old in the labor movement
to leave it for any political appointment.
and although he may be criticised for the
stand he has taken, still believe he had
but one object in view and that was his
belief that the election of the democratic
party would benefit labor. The votes cast
show how many thousands Of
differ with him.
Regarding the published report that I
was p. evented from delivering a speech
in Camden, N. j., desire to say ] was
not in Camden or any -otner New Jersey
city. Frank Feeney of the Central Labor
Union of Philadelphia was the speaker in
Camden and not myself.
II have been informed that there 10 Q
on foot in the Central Labor
Union to question my right as q citizen
and Union man to support the republican
ticket. I thoroughly believe I have aided
and benefited labor by my advocacy of the
election of Judge Taft, and especially q
republican Congress-. and I will be on the
floor Of the Central Labor Union next
evening to defend, If necessary,
the position l have taken"