Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-11
MUST RECOGNIZE
Employers Foolish to Combat
Union Idea, Declares Sec
retary Taft
TALKING AT NEW YORK CITY
Favors Organization but Would Elim-
mate Radicaism That Leads to
Perpetual Strife.

New York, Jan. 11.-For the first
time since he became a recognized
candidate for the republican presiden-
tial nomination Secretary of War
William H. Taft last night faced 4
New York audience and set forth in
detail his stand on the pertinent Ques-
ton OF the relative interests and
rights of labor and capital. The sec
retary was given a noisy ovation when
he appeared on the platform and the
demonstration was repeated when he
was introduced by the chairman.
Charles Sprague Smith.
Partial Advocate of Unionism.
In his prepared address the secre.
tary pointed out the dependence of
one upon the other of capital and
labor. He declared that great asgre-
cations of wealth properly employed
IWidaned the field OF labor aud We're
| to be welcomed while wealth improp
| erly used was TO be condemned. He
advocated unionism in so far as sym
pathy and the resultant cooperation
made for the common good.
Arguing that the effect of the or
iganization of labor has been beneficial
| in securing better times for the whole
laboring community and brought about
an ~amelioration of the condition OF
laborers in another way, Secretary
Taft declared that the attention given
by labor unions to remedial leSisla
| ton has been of more direct Interest
than even that of the philanthropist
Organization is Permanent.
| What The capitalist. who is the EN-
ployer of labor, must face he contin
ued. lis that the organization of labor
the labor union, is permanent con
dtion in the industrial world. 1t ha;
come to stay. If the employers woult
lconsult their own interests they mus
admit this and act on it. Under exist
Iing conditions the~blindest course tha
an employer of labor can pursue is Il
ldecline to recognize labor unions a
the controlling influence in the labo
market and 10 insist upon dealing onl
with his particular men and employees
The time has passed i'll which tha
:, | dllliuuC Culi bC Will til
hope of successfully maintaining i
r What the wise manager of corporal
enterprise employing large numbers c
II laborers will do is TO receive the leat
iers of labor unions with courtesy an
respect and listen to their claims an
, arguments as they would to the MAJ
: ayers of any other corporation or el
. terprise with whom they were to max
y an important contract affecting tn
business between Them
II Favors Arbitration.
n Secretary Taft argued in favor {
: the settlement of labor difficulties b
J. arbitration and cited instances
l. President .f,oosevelt's success in brin
S ing about such settlements. z He d
lclared men have a right to strike an
h to put employers TO great inconve
+. lience in order to induce them to con
:. Ito their terms. but he said resort
J. lawlessness is not to be countenance
e He admitted that the injunction hs
+ been abused in labor disputes al
A. favored the amendment of the law
d provide that on temporary restraint
If order should issue until after noti
1t and hearing: also requiring difft
Of ent judge in contempt proceedin;
from the judge issuing the injunctio
In closing Secretary Taft urged
lmore conservative and conciliatory
n ltitude on both sides and thus ave
y destructive struggles of the past