The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-26

ed If the employe was allowed by any form of contract to exempt the rail- road company from the consequences of it's failure to observe the law.
 Taft's Decision an Authority.
 This case has been cited all over the United States by counsel for workmen in- jured through the failure of their employ CTS to furnish the protection required by statute for their safety. Judge Tafts de- cision was that when law is made ap- plying to a dangerous business in which 4000 men are killed and 65,000 men are injured every year. the intention Is that the railroads shall obey the law and that it shall not be nullified by judicial con- struction. Very many judges, unfortunate ly, have failed to follow his reasoning, but other judges, and the law-making bodies as well have followed it. and this great decision marks one of the longest strides taken in the effort to secure for wage workers full protection against, and full compensation for, injuries received by them in the line of their duty. Here again Judge Taft rendered one of the greatest services that has ever been rendered to the cause of labor.
 The two cases to which have referred have a further importance when it is re- membered that the President now to be chosen will probably himself choose majority of the justices of the supreme court during the next four years It would be a dreadful calamity to have these justices chosen by a man of less than MT. Taft's high purpose, great knowledge of the needs of the people and firm resolution to do justice to every h. dividual and every interest. This is one of the vital questions now before the American people
 Labor on Panama Canal.
 Furthermore, I ask you to consider what MT. Taft has actually done as an administrator The Panama canal has come specially under the direction and control of MT. Taft as Secretary of War. He has taken a peculiar interest in the men who are digging that canal. He has made a special study of all that con- fronts them. He has made it his busi- ness to see that their interests are in every way amply protected; that they have ample reward; that they are well housed well fed, and, so far as In his power lies, that they receive compensa- tion for injuries incurred in the line of their duty. special committee which I have appointed to look into the condi- tions of labor on the isthmus, which in- cluded upon it MT. Samuel B. Donnelly, a labor representative, formerly the pres- ident of the International Typographical union, has reported to me in effect that Uncle Sam has shown himself to be model employer on the isthmus, so that thanks to MT. Taft and the care and su- peryision which he has exercised. the men who work for the government on the isthmus are on the whole better paid. better protected, better cared for than in any private industrial enterprise in the United States. MT. T. J. Dolan, the sec retary- treasurer of the International i Brotherhood of Steam Shovel and Dredge men, who has most carefully investigated this subject because of the large num- Der of the men of his organization em- ployed on the isthmus, has come to the same conclusion, and largely because Of this fact he is ardently supporting MT. Taft.
 Bryan Vague; Taft Explicit.
 As opposed to the entire vagueness of MT Bryan's proposals, Mir Taft stands pledged to continue the definite and con- structive programme of social reorgan- ization outlined and already entered upon by the present administration, which has never hesitated in specific cases of suffi- cient importance to interfere for the pur- pose of securing an adjustment of labor troubles at the same time conserving the rights of the wage-earner. conspicuous instance was the settlement Of the an thracite coal strike In April, 1907, when a strike was imminent on the western railroads which would have tied up A lines with half a million employees and put half the country in g. state of siege, neeotators were sent by the administra- ton who demanded and secured in the name of the people settlement or the difficulty by arbitration; and last spring the administration by it's vigorous action prevented a general reduction of wages on the railroads of the country which would have caused great suffering and far-reaching disturbance; but if MT. Bryan were elected I have little doubt that the ensuing industrial chaos necessitating great reductions of wages and widespread non-employment, would be beyond the reach of such action as that which avert ed the threatened disaster last spring
 When the public coal lands were falling under monopolistic control the administration withdrew millions of acres from entry, insisting to the ex- tent of its power that the coal and oil under these lands shall remain fed eral possession. For the first time In our history the administration has se- cured the enforcement of the eight hour law in the government depart ments and Is trying to secure Its ex- tension by legislation. Tn the District of Columbia 1t has enacted a federal child labor law which stands as model law for state governments and their department of Legislation.
 Administration Aid to Labor.
 Beyond these remedial enactments and arbitrations achieved by this ad- ministration stands a constructive and organic programme of federal activity in the way of social and industrial re- form Toward this end through the years I have been in office l have con- suited with all classes and conditions of men. We have been able on the whole to arrive at a remarkably close agreement among ourselves so long as all parties, representatives of labor and capital alike, kept in view their obli- gations to the commonwealth as joint workers toward this social reform. We are all agreed that free play shall be permitted only so long as 1t means fair play. We are endeavoring stead fly to secure a more equitable adjust ment of taxation toward the ideal of a distribution of the several costs of government in ratio to the benefits derived. There is nothing in this of class or caste from our programme doctrinaires, individualist and socialist alike are barred Sociology comes not to breed a new class warfare it knows man only as man. This admin istration has bent a large part of it's efforts toward social advancement. The question has been asked, Why has not the national government, through its bureau of labor, done for the wage earner what through the department of ortc,,ltr1re has done for the