Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-09-20
Ashton and finch TAFTTALKS
PRESIDENT DEFENDS right OF
LABOR TO ORGANIZE.
Praises Attitude of Unions en- SoCi-
aliSm. Says Organization Has
Raised Standard of Living Among
American LabOrers. He Opposes
putting All WOrkmen on Level.

putting All WOrkmen on Level.
In speech at Chicago last We'd
nesday President Taft devoted most
of his talk to union labor He said,
in part:
! Il know there is an element among
employers and investors which is
utterly opposed to the organization
of labor. | cannot sympathize with
this element in the slightest degree.
| think it is a wise course for the
terests. 1t is a wise course for them
TO provide a fund by which, should
occasion arise, and strikes or lock-
outs follow those who lose their
places may be supported pending an
adjustment of the difficulties.
think the employers who decline to
deal with organized labor and to re-
cognize it as proper element in
the settlement of wage controver
not the slightest doubt that if labor
had remained unorganiZed wages
would be very much lower. 1t is
true that in the end they would prob
ably be fixed by the laws Of supply
and demand, but generally before this
law manifests itself there is a period
in which labor is organized and act
ing together can compel the employer
promptly to recognize the change of
meet a rising market and an increase
in profits. and on the other had can
delay the too quick impulse of the
employer facing a less prosperous fu-
ture to economize by reducing wages.
There is n higher standard of
/ living among American laborers than
! in any country in the world and while
there doubtless have been a good
many other reasons for this, certain
ly the effect of the organization of
labor has been to maintain a steady
and high rate of wages, making such
a standard of living possible.
Nothing | have said or shall say
should be construed into an attitude
Iof criticism against or unfriendly to
the working men who for any reason
do not join unions. Their right to
labor for such wages as they choose
to accept is sound and any lawless
invasion of that right cannot be too
severely condemned. All advantages
of trades unionism, great as they are,
cannot weigh feather in the scale
against the right of any man lawfully
,seeking employment to work for
whom and at what price he will. And
| say this with all emphasis possible,
even though were | a working man. l
should probably deem it wise to join
a union for the reasons given.
The effect of organized labor
upon such abuses as the employment
of child labor. the exposure of labor
pigments. the continuance of unjust
rules of law eXempting employers
from liability for accidents to labor
ers, has been direct immediate and
useful, and such reform in these mat
ters as have taken place would prob
ably be long delayed but for the ener-
gtic agitation of the questions by the
representatives of organized labor or
course. when organized labor permits
itself to sympathiZe with violent
metho,/, with breaches of the law,
with boycotts and other methods of
undue duress, it lis not entitled to
our sympathy. But it is not to be eX-
pected that such organizations shall
be perfect and that they may not at
all times, and in particular cases,
show defective tendencies that ought
TO be corrected.
"One defect which has been point
ed out has been the disposition of a
majority of members in labor unions
to reduce the compensation of all
men engaged in particular trade
to a dead level and to fail to recog-
niZe the difference between the high
ly skilled and very Industrious work
man and the one less skilled and less
industrious. l think there is move
lment among trades unions themselves
to correct this leyelling tendency and
nothing could strengthen the move
ment more than the adoption of some
plan by which there should remain
among union workmen the impetus
, :, ~. L. l. L. f..,,.1 l., .r,.nt. -. L.