Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-22

merits ana SIlOulQ reCeiNe tiC P"
ment due to such a crime"
The commission further states that
, this boycott can be carried to an eX-
! tent (which was condemned by Mr..
Mitchell, president of the United Mine
| Workers OF America, in his testimony
! before the commission, and when GER
tainly deserves the rcprobation of all
thoughtful and law-abiding citizens
| Does Mr.. Bryan agree with MI.
| Gompers that all existing legal re-
straint on the enforcement of every de-
gree of the boycott should be With
drawn; that the industrial excommunl-
cation of the innocent merchant VINO
| refuses to render unquestlOned obedl-
erce to the orders of Mr. Gompers
should he legalized and encouraged; or
| does he believe with us, and with Mr..
| Mitchell and other labor leaders who
differ with Mr. Gompers in this matter,
that this form of the boycott is NOR
allv wrong. that labor at war should
| fight with its enemies and respect the
rights of neutrals, that innocent third
| rartios should not be coerced into TAX
ing sides in industrial disputes to which
they are in no sense parties, under pen
altv Of having their business attacked
and destroyed?
Mr.. Taft is perfectly definite on this
proposition.
Where does Mr. Bryan stand:
! The citizen who votes for or against
Mr.. Taft on this proposition. do so
with his eyes open and with a clear
understanding from Mr.. Taft himself
of lis position. He has frankly dis
cussed this subject time and again,
with workingnen themselves. both in
this campaign and prior to his nom
nation. He has been willing to express
his position clearly and to assure
workingmen that to protect them II
their rights he is willing to go to the
limits of what he considers justice. but
that he will not go farther. His def
milton of justice to labor does not. as
we understand it, include either of the
principles contained in Mr.. Gompers
program, as set forth officially in this
bill.
Does Mr.. Bryan disagree with Mr.
Taft on these propositions?
Will he state publicly. definitely
categorically, whether he accepts the
program outlined in this bill. as Mr.
Gompers in his letter has assured thu
public that he does?
!. Mr.. Bryan's party platform paid
high tribute to our courts of justice
1t stated: 1--WE resent the attempt O.
the Republican party to raise false
issue respecting the judiciary. 1t IS ar
unjust reflection upon a great body
of our citizens to assume that they lacl
respect for the courts"
The great body of our citizens" t.
whom this platform refers, is admitted
lv Mr. Gompers' and his followers.
Mr.. Gompers, now Mr.. Bryar's oper
and avowed ally, has, in the letter here
quoted, attacked the federal courts ir
unmea sured terms of reproach because
by a long line Of decisions. the equft!
courts have refused to make an OUTLAW
of the business man, because the Law
has been protected by the process Of
Injunction, because in a word, one Of
the most vital and most Fundamental
right of of the business world. the right
of a business man to carry on his bus
mess, has been sutained and not denied
by the processes of the courts of equity
This sweeping attack of Mr.. Gompers
upon the judiciary has been made in g
frank and open effort to secure votes
for Mr. BRYAN.
| Are these attacks made with Mr.. Bry-
ans consert? Do they meet with his ap.
prevail? Does he endorse them OF does he
repudiate them?
Mr.. Bryan has frankly questioned Mr.
Taft during the progress of this cam
paign, and very properly so. and has ask
ed him to make clear his personal stanc
, on public matters upon which the public
, were entitled to be enlightened.
/, In turn with equal frankness and will
eqlla! prorriety, Mr. Bryan should be
asked to break long continued silence
and make definite and certain his own
position in regard to a matter which con,
Germs not only business men and every
decent lawabiding citizen, whether a
: wage-worker or not, just as much as il
: concerns Mr.. Gompers and that part o.
Z organized labor that stands with him.
There is no need of generalities. OF
vague expressions of sympathy for labor
Let Mr.. Bryan simply confne himself t.
the anti-njunction plank of his own plat
form and tell lis publicly definitely anc
clearly. whether he accepts or rejects The
statement of Mr.. Gompers that this planl
pledges him to the principles of the bill
for which Mr. Gompers stands: an6
whether if elected he will endeavor tc
have this proposal enacted into law. This
is asked honestly. in the interest of that
large voting public which believes sincere
ly in the promotion of every Legitimate
right and interest of labor but which
believes also that, from the standpoint
of the best interest of labor. it neither
requires nor is entitled to more than jus
ticc. and that the right to destroy bust
ness should not be formally recognized il
the law of the land.
4 | feel that I have the right to speak
frankly in this matter because through
out my term as President it has been my
constant object to do everything in my
power. both by administrative action anC
by endeavOring to secure legislative ac-
ton. to advance the cause of labor, pro-
tect it from unjust aggression, and Sc
cure to it it's legitimate rights. I have
accomplished something; I hope to ac-
comElish something more before I leave
Office; and 1 have taken special and pc
culiar interest in Mr.. Taft's candidacy
because I believe that of all the men in
h &c. fba