Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-22

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third parties should not be coerced into
taking sides in industrial disputes to which
they are In no sense parties. under PEN
atty of having their business attacked and
destroyed7
MIR. Taft is perfectly definite on this
proposition.
Where does Mr.. Bryan stand? The citi-
zen who votes for or against Mr.. Taft on
this proposition does so with his eyes open
and with a clear understanding from Mr..
Taft himself Of his position. He has
frankly discussed this subject time and
again with workingmen themselves, both
in this campaign and prior to his nomi-
nation. He has been willing to express
his position clearly and TO assure work
lngmen that to protect them in their rights
he is willing to go to the limits of what
he considers justice, but that he will not
go farther.
His definition of justice to labor, as we
understand II, includes either Of the princi-
pies Of Mr.. Gompers, as set forth Off
cially in this program.
Does Mr.. Bryan disagree with Mr.. Taft
on these propositions7
"win he state publicly, definitely, cRte-
gorically, whether he accepts the program
outlined in this bill, as Mr.. Gompers in his
letters has assured the public that he does?
Gompers' Attack on Courts.
"Mr. Bryan's party platform paid a high
tribute 10 our courts of justice. 1t stated;
1--WE resent the attempt OF the repub-
lican party to raise a false issue respect
ing the judiciary. 1t is an unjust reflec-
ton upon a great body Of our citizens to
assume that they lack respect for the
court
THE great body of our citizens to whom
this platform refers is admittedly Mr..
Gompers and his followers.
"Mr. Gompers, now Mr.. Bryanfs open and
avowed ally, has, in the letter herein
quoted, attacked the federal courts in un-
measured terms of reproach, because, by
a long line Of decisions, the equity courts
have refused to make an outlaw Of the
business man, because his right to carry
on a lawful business under the peace Of
the law has been protected by the process
Of injunction, because, in a word, one Of
the most vital and most dam rights
Of the business world, the right of a bust
nessman to carry on his business, has been
sustained and not denied by the processes
of the courts Of equity. This sweeping at
tack of Mr.. Gompers upon the judiciary
had been made in a frank and open effort
to secure votes for Mr.. Bryan. Are these
attacks made with Mr., Bryan's consent?
Do they meet with his %approval2 Does he
endorse or does he repudiatc them? Mr..
Bryan has frankly questioned Mr.. Taft
during the progress Of the campaign, and
very properly so, asking him to make clear
his stand on public matters. on which the
public are entitled to be Informed. with
equal frankness and with equal propriety
Mr.. Bryan should be asked to break a long
continued silence and make definite and
certain his own position in regard to a
matter which concerns rot only business
men and every decent law abiding citizen,
whether a wage worker or not. just as
much as it concerns Mr.. Gompers and that
part of organized labor that stands with
him.
Let Mr.. Bryan Answer.
There is no need of generalities of
vague expressions for labor. Let Mr..
Bryan confine himself to the anti-injunc-
tion plank of his own platform and tell us
publicly and clearly whether he accepts
or rejects the statement of Mr.. Gompers
that this plank pledges him to the princi.
pies of the bill for which Mr.. Gompers
stands; and whether II elected he will en-
deavor to have this proposal enacted into
aNFs AAD 10 N hOllColly III ne 1IllSEGSl
Of that large voting public which believes
sincerely in the promotion Of every legit.
innate right and interest of labor, but
which believes from the standpoint of labor
1t neither requires nor is entitled to more
than justice and that the right to destroy
business should not be incorporated. in the
law of the land.
Il feel my right to speak frankly in this
matter because throughout my term a.
president 1t has been my constant obiec.
to do everything in my power, both in ad
ministrative action and by endeavoring Il
secure executive legislation to advanc,
the cause of labor, protect 1t from unjus
aggression and secure 1t to its Legitimate
rights. I have accomplished something.
hope to accomplish something more befor,
I leave office; and I have taken special an,
peculiar interest in Mr.. Taft's candidac,
because 1 believe that of all the men II
this country he is the best qualified To-
continuing the work Of securing the work
ers their rights.
Pledge By n President.
"I will do everything in my power 70
the wage workers Of the country excep
to do what is wrong0;I will do wrong 70
no man, and with thN force in my poSye
l solemnly warn the laboring men of thI
country that any public man who advo
Gates doing wrong in their interest canno
be trusted by them, and whether thi
promise TO do wrong is given, knowingl
, that 1t is wrong, or because Of levity o
lack OF consideration which makes hin
willing to promise anything without count
ing the cost If thereby support at thi
moment is to be purchased.
Just as l have fought hard and shaI
continue to fight hard to bring about 1
the fullest way the recognition Of the RICH
Of the employe to be amply compensate
for injury received in the course of hi
duty, so have I fought hard and shall con
tinue to fight hard to do away with a
abuses of the power of injunction. I wi
do everything I can to see that the powe
a OF injunction is not used to Cypress labor
ing men. I will endeavor TO secure 10
: them fun and equal justice. Therefore {
, the interest of all good citizens, be the
, good laboring men, business men, profes
sional men, farmers or members of an
other occupation, so long as they have i
their souls the principles OF sound Amer
can citizenship / d%enounce as wicked III
proposition to secure legislation that, az
cording to the explicit statement of NJ.
Gompers, is to prevent the courts froI
effectively interfering with riotous vioIenc
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