The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-30
In Ringing Speech in Azh-
ems, Ohio, He Outlines
Views on Labor.
ADDRESS WAS MADE
TO 800 WORKINGMEN
His Frank Admissions and State
ments Are Cheered Repeatedly
by His Hearers.
By JAMES HAY, Jr.

4
Ohio. Aug. 2s.-In "a little nall on the
third floor OF a dingy stone building ia
Athens. Ohio. William Howard Taft
this afternoon HtAda a speech that viii
live long in the history # this campaign.
He bade good-by 10 the 5udicidI calm.
the cold deIiberaton, which has marked
all his uuerauces since he was nomi-
mated for the Presidency, snd spoke
strongly and passionately,. as only "a
man can speak when he has beer arous-
ed by the Misrepresentation of ais
views and beliefs. ~
This speech was delivers to the LF7f
ems Taft club. which is composed mo- e
Iy of organized labor men. It was pure
ly extempOraneous and was made few
minutes after his prepared speech to
the war veterans and d crowd OF 5000.
The audience. numbering lr~ than 800
sturdy, bronzed laborers. before
him in breathless ntereg, .- ne told
them frankly of his attiuuJ o- The labor
question and other issues.
"It's a Lie"
1T has been reported. he said. that
/ have declared THAI dollar a day is
enough for any man There is a short
way of answering that. It's "a lie"
The applause which greeted this en-
pEatic remark had hardly died away
when II was aroused again by his say
ing. AS for my labor decisions while
] was on the bench I enforced the law
as il was written because l knew that
10 be my sworn duty, and for that 1
have no apologies to make TO any man."
All through the speech, which lasted
forty minutes, there ran this same
strong, indomitable note Of frankness,
ana it electrified his hearers. Their
cheers went through the windows of the
crowded, stUhy little room to the wait
ing hundreds in the streets below, and
when tne candidate hurried from the
building - his carriage to catch the
train, he wa cbeered to the echo by the
men ana Wam6g outside 1t seemed that
an the town IVES aware that he had
sad great and mo>tug things, sentences
which proved him a Viend of labor and
the enemy of no particular class.
Arthur l. Norys, his personal manager
introduced HIM TO the Taft Club after q
quick dash from the Ohio state Uni
versity grounds where the address TO
the veterans was delivered.
In spite of the national committee,
am trying him out as cmpaigner,'
said Vorys joIlyingly, and if he makes
good he may do more of this sort Of
thing
Candidate makes Good"
Taft more than made good Tie effort
came after d trying day. He had been
awakened at o'clock IN the morning
bv the crowds calling for him at way
stations all along tie line; he had been
delayed by a detour made necessary by
o. wreck on the Ohio Central, and he
had hurried through a formal luncheon
at the residence of Gen. Charles eros
Yenor TO be in time for his address
10 the Veterans OF Athens
Following the brilliant speech Of this
afternoon, il is peculiarly appropriate
10 announce that Taft and his advisers
have definitely decided that he viii
make a speaking tour of the douctful
States. This work WI begin a week
or ten days after his arrival in Gin
cinnau from Middle Bass Islard,
whittier he is bound tonight. He is que
in Cincinnati September =, and viii be
gun his tour about September 10 o. 20.
Some OF the States lac mas already de
e-ided 10 visit are Illinois. Missouri. ana
kansas This is in direct opposition
20 his original plan of making all his
speeches in Cincinnati
Teft's Speech.
In his speech 10 the Athens Taft Club
he candidate said:
Il am asked, What is the relation OF
the Republican party 10 labor ! want
10 make one statement first: that never
IN the history OF this country has there
been an Administration that has passed
more measures directly in the interests
Il the laboring classes than the pres
4 ent Republican Administration.
Injunction Question
'Now. 1 come TO the question of in
ApcJion. In the first place. / under
ID that my own personal attitude to-
labor has been represented as a
who thinks and says that a dollar
is enough for any man. Well.
one short way of meeting that
IL II is a lie. I never said so,
5nt think it argues Intelligence
man 10 believe the statement
under heavens would induce
lny one else TO say so.
second place, they say ] am the
of injunctiOns IN labor cases.
issued injunctions in labor cases.
no doubt about that. and / have
s0he fSoecause the rights of the plain
tin entitled him 40 an injunction. and
when ] am on tbs bench and enforcing
the law. I enforce II. ard I don't make
any apologies for il. II has been my lot
10 sit IN labor cases. to sit in antitrust
cases. When I am a Judge on the
bench. i'm so far as / can, decide cases
according to the law and the facts. no
matter whom it hurts. because / believe
fl TO be my sworn duty. Now. it has
been my lot 10 lay down the rules with
respect 10 the rights of labor in two or
three cases
Labor has the right to unite in or
ganizations for the purpose of looking