The San Francisco call., 1909-09-17
TAFTD|SCUSSES
TRADES UNIONS
ANDTH[COURTS
President in Speech at Chicago
Considers Organized Labor,
Civil and Criminal Law
Deprecates Difficulty of Punish
ing Rich Malefactors and In
Justice Done Poor Litigants

lawful manner was the feature OF an
address by President Taft in Orchestra
hail here tonight. The president also
said that he would recommend TO the
congress the legislation on the injunc-
ton, as promised by the republican
platform. He insisted that the rights
Of the nonunion laborer be fully pro-
tected. saying nobody should be al
lowed to force him into unions.
President Taft devoted the second
section Of his address to the courts He
declared no question before the Amer
lean people is more important than the
improvement of the administration of
justice. He said he would recommend
TO congress the appointment of a com
mission 10 take UP the question Of the
laws delay in the federal courts and
ne hoped the report of this commission
would serve as a guide TO the states in
eTecting remedial legislation.
THE CRIMINAL LAW
The president asserted that the ad-
ministration of criminal law is a dis
grace TO American civilization, as the
poor man has not an equal opportu-
nifty with the rich litigant He said he
would discuss the tariff later upon his
journey.
Tafts address was the principal
event OF his visit TO Chicago. Before
speaking he rode through the south
park system and reviewed $50 600
school children assembled to do him
honor. took luncheon with the Com
mercial club and attended a ball game
in which the New York Nationals de-
feated Chicago.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
Taft's address. in part, follows:
II is just about q year ago tonight
that made speech in this hall to
some 1890 members of the railroad
labor organizations in which ! attempt
ed 10 convince them that there was
nothing IN my decisions as circuit
Judge IN labor injunction cases which
ought 10 make them vote against me
for the presidency. That was critical
time in the campaign. II was critical
question, and as I review that whole
controversy there was hardly another
speech in my campaign of greater i'm
portance 10 me than that one: and in
view OF the result of the election 1
look back upon II now with especial
interest
REMEMBERS HIS PROMISES
Now that the election has come and
gone / want TO take this opportunity
Of saying that / have not forgotten my
own promises or those OF the platform
nd I propose in the next session of
congress to recommend the legislation
on the subject OF Injunction which
was promised in the republican plat
form and TO see whether by such legis-
iation il is not possible TO avoid q few
cases Of abuses that can be cited
against the federal courts in the exer-
else OF their jurisdiction
SCORES SOME EMPLOYERS
] know there is an element among
employers and investors which is ut
terly opposed TO the organization of
labor. I can not sympathize with this
element in the Slightest degree I
think il fs a wise course for laborers
TO unite TO defend their interests. 1t
IS 2 wise course for them to provide a
and str-keS or lockouts follow, those
who lose their places may be sup
ported pending an adjustment OF the
l think the employer who declines
10 deal with organized labor and to
settlement Of wage controversies is
behind the times.
There Is not the slightest doubt that
II labor had remained unorganized
wages would be very much lower. 1t
is true that in the end they would
proba bly, be fixed by the law of supply
and demand. but generally before this
law msnifests itself there is a period
IN which labor, II organized and acting
together, can compel the employer
promptly TO recognize the change OF
conditions ano advance wages TO meet
4 rising market and an increase in
profits and on the other hand can delay
the too quick impulse OF the employer
facing a less prosperous future 10 econ
omize by reducing wages.
STANDARD OF LIVING
There is 4 higher standard Of living
among American laborers than in any
country in the world and while there
f.et tccc Arr~
sons for this. certainly the effect of the
organization of labor has been to main
tain a steady and high rate of wages,
making such 2 standard OF living pos
sible-
THE NONUNION LABORER
Nothing / have said or shall say
should be construed into an attitude
Of criticism against or unfriendly 10
do not join unions. Their right TO
labor for such wages as they choose
10 accept is sound, and any lawIess in
vasion Of that right cen not be too
severely condemned All advantages
of trades unionism. great a they are
can not weigh a feather in the scale
against the right of any man lawfully
seeking employment 10 work for whom
and st what price he will. And I say
this with all the emphasis possible
even though were 1 a workingman i
should probably deem II wise TO join
a union for the reasons given.
ABUSES CORRECTED
The effect Of organized labor upon
such abuses as the employment of child
labor. the exposure OF laborers to un-
due risk in dangerous employments
the continuance Of unjust rules of law
exemptfng employers from liability for
accidents 20 iaborers. has been direct
immediate and useful. and such reforms
in these matters as have taken place
would probably be long delayed but
for the energetic agitation OF the oues-
1ions by the representatives of organ
lied labor.
or course when organized labor per-
raits itself to sympathize with violent
methods, with breaches of the law. with
boycotts and other methods of undue
duress, IL is not entitled TO our sym
pafhy But IL is not TO be expected
that such organizations shall be per-
feet and that they may not at all times
and in particular cases show defective
tendencies that ought to be corrected.
The president deprecated the dis
position Of majority members in labor
unions TO reduce the compensation of
I'll men engaged in a particular trade
60 a dead level and to fail to recognize
the difference between the highly
skilled anc very industrious workman
New Train 10 stockton via Southern
Pacific