New-York tribune., 1909-09-17
MR.. TAFT DEN0UNCES
THE LAWS DELAYS
DEMANDS EQUAL JUSTICE
FOR RICH IND POOR.
VII Recommend appointment Of
Commission to DeUise Remedies
Pledges to Labor Renezced.

nestness at mass meeting in Orchestra Hall to-
night. President Taft declared that no question
before the American people to-day is more I'M
portant than the Improvement of the admin
istration Of justice. and he announced his inten-
tion of recommending to Congress the appoint
ment of a commission to take UP the question OF
the laws delays in the federal courts. He said
ne hoped that the report of this commission
would also serve guide to the states enact
Ing remedial legislation
The President. at the end of day Of sight
seeing Of baseball. OF receptions and dining re-
eeived an uproariOus greIxing when he arrived
at Orchestra Hall to make the only set speech
OF MS stay in Chicago. Recalling that 1t was in
the same hall in the campaign of a year ago
1nat he faced an audience of more than eighteen
hundred workingmen and made one Of the prin-
clpaI addresses of his campaign. he assured his
hearers that he had not forgotten his promises
and the platform declarations OF his party.
MT Taft devoted the first part Of his speech TO
the subject of labor. and said he intended TO
recommend to Congress in his first message leg
isation to carry out the platform promise that
no injunction or restraining order should be
issued without notice except where irreparabIs
injury would result from delay, in which case a
speedy hearing should be granted He again
declared anew his belief in organized labor and
congratulated the leaders of the movement on
the fact that, as he said. they have set their
faces like flint against the doctrines OF social
ism"
Taking up the subject Of the courts next the
President declared with emphasis that the adj
ninistration of criminal law to-day is disgrace
to American civilization. Ashamed of the fact
as Americans might well be. he declared thar
the poor man now does not have an equal oppor-
tunity with the rich Htigant. and said il was his
purpose to do what he could to place the poor
man on more equal footing with the rich
The President frequently was interrupted by
| cheers. He spoke as follows:
1t is Just about year ago tonight that
made a speech in this hall TO some eighteen
hundred members Of the railroad labor organiza-
| tions. in which ! attempted to convince them
that there was nothing in my decisions as a
circuit judge in labor injunction cases which
| ought 10 make them vote against me for the
Presidency. 1t a critical time In the cam
pa1gn It was critical question in the cam
paisn. and, as review that whole controversy.
there was hardly another speech in my cam
paign of greater Importance to me than that
one; and in view of the result Of the election
look back upon il now with especial interest.
This hail. therefore suggests one OF the subjects
\ upon which shall speak to YOU
fou viii remember, perhaps, that the head oe
Y the Federation of Labor. Who had declared foE
| my opponent anxious TO carry the whole
union labor vote against me- and as the ground
1 for his action was my decisions as a Judge. I
i was put under the burden. which I think no
/ other candidate for the Presidency ever had 10
bear. of explaining and defending in political
4
| judge upon the bench
LOST FEW LABOR VOTES
II was assumed by manv who thought them
selves familiar with the situation that / would
lose a large part of the labor vote which had
/ heretofore been evenly divided between the Re
publicans and the Democrats. The result showed
that this assumption was incorrect and that
| labor men-uniOn labor as well as non-uniou
1 labor men-thought for themselves. voted ac-
cording to their own judgment and declined to
4 he bod
and, on the whole do not think that in that
election suffered materially from the loss OF
labor votes.
In the discussions asserted that / was az
much interested as any one in maintaining the
cause Of labor, when labor, organized or Unor-
ganized, by proper methods sought TO better it's
conditions by legislation or otherwise. said
that expected TO recommend to Congress. If 7
were elected. that interstate railroads be re-
ouired To aIoDt anv additional devices found
useful for the purpose of saving from loss OF life
or limb employees engaged in the dangerous busi-
ness OF railroading l also said that favored
the adoption of legislation looking 20 proper
definition OF the cases in which preliminary in
functions might issue without notice and de-
hntng the proper procedure in such matters
Now that the election has come and gone.
want to take this opportunity OF saying that
have not forgotten my own promises OF those
of the platform. and purpose in the next seS-
sion of Congress to recommend the legislation on
the subject of injunctions which was promised IN
the Republican platform and to see whether by
such legislation il is not possible TO avoid even
few cases of abuses that can be cited against
dictiOn.
do not think trade uniOnism was greatly
aided by the attempt to drag all organized labor
into politics and TO induce II to vote one way.
but that does not prevent my placing proper
estimate upon the immense good for labor in
general which it's organization and its efforts 60
secure higher wages have accomplished
FRIEND OF ORGANIZED LABOR.
know there is an element among employers
of labor and investors of capital which Is utterly
opposed to the organization of labor. cannot
sympathize with this element in the slightest
degree. I think Ii is wise course for laborers
To unite defend their interests 10 Is wise
course for them to provide tund BY which,
should occasion arise and strikes lOckouts fol-
low those who lose their places may be sup
ported pending an adjustment OF the difficulties
I think the employer who declines to deal with
organized labor and TO recognize IL proper
element in the 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. IL is true
that in the end they would probably be fixed by
the law of supply and demand, but generally be-
fore this law manifests itself there Is a period
in which labor. if organized and acting together.
can compel the employer promptly to recognize
the change OF conditions and advance wages to
meet rising market and an increase in profits.
and. the other hand. can delay the too quick
impulse of the employer facing a less prosperous
future to ecOnOmize by reducing wages.
There is a higher standard Of living among
American labOrers than in any country in the
world, and while there have doubtless been a
good many other reasons FOR this. certainly the
effect of the organization of labor has been TO
maintain a steady and high rate of wages. maxi
ing such a standard of living possible.
FRIEND OF NON-UNION MEN. TOO.
Nothing have said or shall say should be con.
unfriendlness TO those WOrkingmen who for any
reason do not Join unions Their right TO labor
for such wages as they choose TO accept is
sacred. and any lawless invasion of that right
A adj