The Washington times., 1908-10-26
TAFT LABOR'S FRIEND,
WRITES THE PRESIDENT
Roosevelt in Letter Makes Final Appeal for Support of
Workingmen-Thinks Bryans Election Would
Mean Business Depression.

, services take the form Of deeds rather
than Of mere words.
Furthermore. / ask you to consider
what Mr.. Taft has actually done as
an administrator. The Panama Canal
has come specially under the direction
and control OF Dir. Taft as Secretary Of
/ War. He has taken a peculiar interest
IN the men who are digging that canal
he has made special study Of all that
cOnfrOnts them. He mas made il his
business 10 see that their interests are
IN every way amply protected; that
they have ample reward. that they are
well housed, we'll FED, and, so far as IN
/ his power lies, that they receive COM
pensation for Injuries incurred in the
line OF their duty.
AS opposed to the entire vagueness
or Mr.. Bryan.s proposals, Mr.. TAN
! STANDS pledged 10 continue the definite
ana constructive program Of social re-
organization outlined and already en-
tered upon by the present administra-
4 ticsY which has never hesltated in spe-
cine cases OF sufficient Importance 10
interfere for the purpose Of securing an
adjustment OF labor troubles, at the
same time conserving the rights Of the
Wage-earner. A conspicuous instance
was the settlement Of the anthracite
coal strike.
Not to Breed Warfare.
Sociology comes not TO breed a new
class warfare; Il knows man only as
man. This administration has bent q
large part Of its efforts toward social
advancement. The question has been
asked Why has not the National Gov
eminent. through its Bureau Of Labor.
done for the wage-eaTuer what, through
the Department OF Agriculture. IL has
done for the farmer by placing at his
disposal through Federal research the
latest results Of scientific discovery
My answer is, the time had not yet
come when this was possible We have
advanced In each case Just as fast and
as far as was possible with the knowi-
edge and means at our command. Be-
tween pure science or speculative the
DRY and its practical application In The
hands OF a government lies of neces-
city a gap Of years. years of patient
investigation and experiment after
truth. Ten years ago organic eVOlu-
tiOu In agriculture was still speCula-
tive science. Today the firmer has
only TO specify that his wheat must
ripen by such and such a date stand
- under a certain wind velocity. bear
IN its seed a certain percentage OF
starch, etc. and our department can
help build him a plant 10 order.
Aerica Should Lead.
We believe that America should take
-he lead in this work Much OF 1T can
begin now. All OF 1t will have 10 be
done at some time, and the first place
IN the world will come to that country
which doss il first and best. The work
has already been begun under this ad-
miuistratiOu. II viii be continued and
aInpllEed under Mr.. Iafu. II viii be
brought To ruin il Ar. Bryan is elected.
The national government must help
toward this great reform by putting
the results of its extended researches
at the free disposal Of Ell citizens. vel
believe not merely in retaining but de
velopins 70 the utmost possible extent
individual initiative but we are not TO
be frightened by any OutCry OF pater-
ualsm or socialism from going into
any experiment which promises 10 BEN
eht either farmers OF Wage-eaTnsTs. for
VIC regard a lawless and IUPractiCatIc
individualism as IN itself quite as uE-
desirable as the most dCadtnlng CORN of
socialism.
Organism Means Depression.
It has been charged that Mr.. Taft,
and the Administration in which he has
borne SO prominent a part, have not
been sufficiently interested in economic /
and Industrial questions. The above is.
II seems 10 me. sufficient answer TO this
charge. Mr. Tafus election should be
adyQcated, by All VINO believe IN making
far-reaChing EFFORT toward the better
ment Of our scheme Of social and in
dustrial life. 1t should also be advo-
Gated by all who wish an immediate
advance IN these social and Industrial
conditions.
II Mr. Taft is not elected. a period
Of Industrial chaos and business bad
times viii ensue in which the working
men viii suffer far more than any ether
class. They are the people VINO, more
than any other, will pay the penalty
Because of their own material interests
I believe that they should support Mr.
Taft; and, furthermore 1 believe that
they should support him because he has /
by his actions over and over again
proved himself TO be a slugularIy fear
less and effective champion OF the rights
of labor; and, above all. I feel that they
should support him as good American
because he embOdies what is
best and highest In our American citi- !
zenship. Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
Mr.. =. II. Grace, Brotherhood of Rail-
road Trainmen, IS Clinton street, Bing- |
hamtOn, n. Y.