Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-09-18

/
ed his intention of recommending the
appointment Of congressional COM
mission to take up the question of the
laws delay In the federal courts. The
president said he hoped the enact
ment of such federal reform would
serve also as a guide to the states in
effecting remedial legislation.
The president was uproariously
greeted when he reached the hall He
assured his hearers he had not for
gotten his campaign promises to the
workingman made on the same spot
year ago. The speech was frequently
interrupted by cheers.
Taft recalled his speech to theh rail
road labor organizations made In the
same hall year ago, wherein he
argued that there was nothing in his
decisions as Judge in the labor in
junction cases which ought to cause
them to vote against him, and added
that the assumption that he would lose
a part of the labor vote proved incor-
rect, as both the union and non-union
labor men declined to be delivered as
body to any party.
Address Workingmen.
II have not" said the president,
forgotten my own or platform prom
| lses to recommend legislation on the
subject of injunction promised in the
Republican platform, and see whether
it Is not possible to avoid the few
cases of abuse cited against the fed
eral courts.
Il cannot sympathize with the ele-
ment among the employers and inves-
| tors, which is opposed to the organ
ization of labor for the defense of its
| interests. The employer who declines
to deal with organized labor is behind
the times. There is not the slightest
doubt that if labor had remained I'M
| organized, wages and the conditions of
living of the American workingmen
| would have been much lower. But
| nothing | have said or shall say
| should be construed into critism
against or unfriendless to those work
ingmen who do not join the unions.
| Their right to labor at such wages as
they choose to accept is sacred and
any lawless invasion of that right can
not be too severely condemned
"All advantages of trades unionism,
| great as they are, cannot. weigh a
feather against the right of any man
to work for whom and what price he
will. I say this even though the fact
| is II | were workingman, | probably
would join a union for the reasons
given.
THE effect of organized labor upon
child labor, the exposure to undue risk
the continuance of unjust exemp-
tons of employers from liability for
accidents, have been direct immediate,
and useful. One notable defect has
been the disposition of the majority of
the members of labor unions to reduce
the compensation of all men engaged
| In particular trade to a level. think
the trades unions are beginning to cor
rect this tendency. Nothing could
strengthen the movement more than
the retention among union workmen
of the impetus and motive found in a
greater reward for greater skill and
greater industry.
American Unions Broadening.
In France the trades unions are in
tensely socialistic. The tendency to-
ward socialism in England's trade un-
ions is growing. but those in control of
the American Federation of Labor ana
all the great railroad organizations set
their faces against the propaganda of
socialism. They favor the rights of
property and of our present institu-
tons. modified by remedial legislation
putting Workingmen on an equality
with their opponents in the trade con-
troyersies and stamping out the mo-
nopolistic abuses, and all of us should
give credit to these men as champions
of cause which commands sympathy,
respect and support.
Our union friends complain some
times of our courts, especially in refer
ence to the injunction decisions, but
this suggests large field for reform
in which all citizens are Interested. a
reform in the administration of both
civil and criminal law. The difficulty
in both is undue delay. The admin
istration of criminal law in this coun-
try d1sgraces our civilization. The
prevalence of crime and fraud is great
ly in excess of that in European coun-
tries, due largely to the failure to bring
criminals to justice.
I'VE have inherited system of
criminal prosecutions and also our
jury trial from England. These sys-
TENS in England haven't interfered
with the prompt and effective prosecu-
ton of criminals. but in this country
there seems to have been on the part
of the state legislators fear of judge,
not of jury, mad the power he exer-
SA''St'
islation been reduced until now, espe-
cially in the western states, he hardly
has more power than a moderator In
a religious assembly. The tendency of
legislation is to throw the reins on the
back of the jury, and let them follow
their will. Influenced by all arts Of
counsel in leading them from the real
points at issue, and awakening their
emotions of pity for the defendant in
forgetfulness of the wrongs of the
prosecuting witness, and of the rights
Of society. These defects are empha
sized in delays. A murder case in
| England will be disposed of in a day
or two which here would take a month
In England they have enlarged the
procedure allowing appeal of a Grim
inal case, but this appeal usually al
lowed only few questions promptly
| decided. Counsel is not permitted TIC
develop slight errors into great injus-
tees. In our procedure no criminal is
content with the judgment of the court
below because record of reversals il
so great as to encourage appeals, and
hang UP judgments for years.
Reform Is Needed.
II do not know when such reforms
will be brought about in this country
Until our people in some concrete way