The sun., 1908-12-16
TAFT TDEPBHDS SHHRHAHLAH
AND TALKS OF TWO MEASURE s
HE WILL FAVOR.
Tells the Civic Federation Thst he WElslz|
an Employers Liability IAw e.
Measure to Quicken JasiieeTsE
gals Provoked Q Reply Rrem Ezisaz


gals Provoked . Reply Rrem St.
William II. Taft. 'President-dszI
nate" as Seth Low introduced hir4 -
night at the ninth annual dinner eg -
National Civic Federation ct the H
Astor, champtoned the Shermau e4lIs
trust law against the attacks OF MelFIIIa
e. ingalls, and others who were on -
programme.
MIR. Taft. who spoke eKtemporanepus.9
took occasion to mention two Of Che aaaz
ures in which he will be especially fnls
ested as President and which will ool19 -
for consideration in the next Conska
These are an employers liability act -
legislation to do away with delays II ~
administration of justice. civil and csiI'|lz
nal, zone of the greatest dangers e -
republic. Mr.. Taft put it last night
The guest OF honor Of the Natinasl
Civic Federation did not begin 20 spea
until II o'clock. largely because salAgz'
Gompers, August Belmont. Melville =
Ingalls,. John Mitchell and others he'd T.
cay columns of sweet things about es1h
other. Also Mr.. Low, the president nz
the National Civic Federation. who PEE
sided. made a number Of interesting
speeches himself.
Mr.. Taft as rosy, jolly and anilabie 3
figure as ever rose to toast at any punlse
dinner, glanced first toward MIR. CaSneeie.
who was sitting Immediately behin4 Jetn
Mitchell. Mr.. Gompers and other labor
leaders. f I,
Carnegie" said Mr.. Taft. .hRs bees
described as a captain Of industry. but
never knew him under that designatiop,
/ think he belongs to my class -itineral1f
preachers. tApplauee and laughteF.
have spoken with him twice behind tl,f
Methodist pulpit in the last few days
Mr.. Taft said it was q great pic1eqTQ
for him to be at the dinner. Locking
about, he said, he saw number os par
sons with whom it would not hays bes4
right for him TO be associated before The
election. Laughter, led by Samual Gpf1s
pers.l But Mr.. Taft thought 1t was pet-
fectly safe now.
He spent few minutes discussing fiI6
work Of the Civic Federation. particularly
its work in adjusting differences betNe4B
employers and employees.
Usually he said, 1the parties at dr.
ference in the Civic Federation hay8
found that their points Of agreesrG1t
outnumbered their points Of difefr
eace. have noticed tonight the ia'I4tt
of the presence Of ladies and tbs eo5a
nwl nwi, at,S z<sNM Ms4t&
agreement.
"The tinneha passed away NJ. zeEs
continued. when an orginizaticn q
labor is regarded as a mensce. Men who
mold these views belong 70 the last eesi-
tury.' s.,
He hoped and believed that the efeo{
of union labor organizations upon i1e
adherents would be- a "levelline up
rather than "levelllng down. tsndenqf
He spoke briefly &.'the uses OF tho trads
agreement, which he Characterised a
wise and making for industrial peacs
"The time haS oome..' said Mr.. TAFT.
when the employer who says I desI
alone with my labor and recognise 20
general interest is far behind the times
Smiling toward Mr.. Ingalls,, who ha4
hit at the Sherman law. Mr.. Taft eeid
that some. OF the subjects Of discltAald1
were rather embarrassing. but ssH!s=. s!s=.. - -
was about to be sworn to defend tlle
Constitution. and he thought that maybo
he ought to say q word for that poor
instrument.
we have gotten along pretty well with
that Constitution he said. "and I think
We can depend On the learning ard na-
triotism OF the Supreme Court to con.
strue 1t so that the Government viii be
given power to meet great questions as
they come up and at the same time have
q proper regard for the rights Of the
States. I don't mean that the Constit1-
ton is to be perverted. When you en-
anime that wonderful instrument yop
will find that the men who drew itiun
made it short, comprehensive and sifnpis.
90 that it would cover pretty nearly what
ever the future held in its womb. Zap
plause.
Now, I'm not quite ready to part with
the antitrust law. the Sherman act ZAP
plause.l Probably 1t does need arnend.
ment, but even the amendments need
not be extensive. It lie moro importAnt
to enforce it than to repeal it. One of
the difficulties In dealing with this prcfs
lem is the loose statements and eketci$
pictures that are presented
by those who haven't carefully studied
the law. who haven't full understandinf
Of the question. IApplalse,I II u
work for lawyers who have q knowIsd&s
Of business conditions and Of the eslM
that have come out Of combinations ~
capital. These combinations ara a4otz@
sary to the progress OF business tapplaueN{
but they may be used or abused 10 O.
detriment Of the public. and We must have
to use 10 puntth these abusp<
Mr.. Taft paused, looked at his notes.
which had become exhausted. ard
laughed. The guests laughed with hiin.
There 10 tradition at Yale, he fsIz,
(which has to do with those who erssk
In the chapel, It says No sov,s H3*
saved after twenty minutes raanab%
teri don't intend to 60 into Q dlseas
sion Of this or other questions. it tis v.gS
agreeable to me TO meet Mr.. Mltchell
Mr.. Gompers and other labor Leaders
here tonight ! trust they know thAt
what happened bsfore tho electioA, 50
Tar as am concerned. In respect % any
citizen Of the United States is wiped oul
now that am about 10 become Presidents
u the United states II ID an U u never