The San Francisco call., 1909-03-05


labor and capital in the United States. The
sane and conservative sentiment of the Ameri-
can people in favor OF rationalism has been
concertedly indicated
The great laboring class of the country,
refusing 10 be led into the paths of isfns and
popular idol and unprejudiced by the Utopian
dreams or Missionaries, sought the polls on the
Sd of November with the dominant idea Of the
conservative advancement OF the nation s
prosperity.
That hysterieal impulse, formerly an at
tribute OF the American people, which rushes
blindly TO embrace any wild scheme which
with its glitJering generaIities offers apparent
improvement Of conditions has given way TO
unpreiudiced study of cause and effect, ana 20
cool and deliberate Judgment, was plainly
demonstrated. The history of the past has
almost invariably shown that business depres-
sion. with the hard times incident TO such a
condition, has resulted in the discrediting or
the party in power. and headlong rush OF
the MASSES TO accept the dogmas of the most
radical Of the opposition, regardless OF the
causes OF the depression.
At the beginning of the campaign OF l90S
the country was still in the grasp OF one or
the worst economic tumults In Its career
Financial depression and monetary stringency
had produced a most disastrous pare. II was
attempted TO lay this at the door OF the repub-
There lay in the hands OF the democratic
party its most notable opportunity for sue
cess In years. 1t held the mighty weapon or
popular discomfort Instead of selecting its
standard bearer man of the type OF Johnson
or Gray, belonging to the more conservative
of the people. it selected Bryan. an opportun-
fst. twice repudiated leader, TO run on
platform teeming with radical and untried
theories. and strongly ut variance with those
on which he had previously staked his chances
of success. The principles promulgated by the
democratic party were as whole 1nlmlcal 10
harmonious relations between labor and cap
ital.
The idol of great numbers of the people be-
Heved by the majority to be honest in his con-
vietions, without internal dissensions IN his
party, Bryan came before the people prepared
10 stand fail, according to their belief in the
Soundness OF his doctrines.
The platform on which Taft was nominated
was highly conservative. 1t advocated the
harmonious cooperation of labor and capital.
1t demanded progress and not retrogression. 1t
stood for the greatest possible aggrandlzement
of the toiler but it did not advocate the de-
struction repression of capital. 1t recog-
nized that the rich as well as the poor have
their rights and in the destruction of those Of
the one those of the other are jeopardzed.
Taft as a man was the embodiment of the
principles of his platform. He was recognized
an honest and fearless friend Of labor, but
not one who would be unjust toward those
who employ that labor.
A factor heretofore in the background en-
tered into the campaign. This the open
and aggressive effort of the leaders Of organ
iZed labor, whether honest or otherwise, TO in
huence the union vote. That the men of the
unions are asserting the prerogative Of every
free American. the privilege and right to act
according TO the dictates OF their reason
and conscience. and not at the behest and die
tatlon OF others, became patent when the votes
were counted.
Probably nothing has done more than the re-
suits Of the campaign to convince capital that
labor has come to realize that their interests
are one and the same and that irrational at
tscks on capital VIII cease. ACapital believes
in the honesty and fairness of the laboring
class and of the unions II its members are not
swayed by irresponsible leaders
With conditions existing as they did, the
American people weighed carefully the claims
of the parties. There is vast vote pledged
from election to election TO both the republf-
and tfa Mn fnAa don't
vote. the larger portion of which comes from
the members Of The laboring class. turned to
solve the economic problems, the greatest OF
which is TO strike a fair. just and equitable
balance between capital and labor.
The results of the election of Taft al
ready manifest. Wheels OF industry all over
the country, which have long rusted in idle
ness. are beginning to turn. Every line of hu-
man activity has been accelerated to al
most unprecedented degree. Notices are posted
everywhere announcing the starting of mills at
full time which have been entirely shut down
or running reduced hours Enormous orders
which have been placed for months contingent
upon the election OF Taft have been released.
The railroads of the United States have alone
released such orders aggregating one quarter of
a billion dollars for supplies and equipment.
Several months ago the great public service
. corporations notified the labor agents all over
the country TO be ready 10 snip. up TO the ex-
tent Of the supply, both skilled and unskilled
labor soon the election should be an
nounced a republican victory.
There two kinds of capital; on one side
there is that which represents value in itself
as real property, business and merchandise
This kind belongs to the district where it is
located. On the other side is the medium Of
exchange. by which business is conducted and
which. representing values, is necessary TO
prosperity. This is ready money. or cash In
the latter is the great power Of the capitalistic
class.
Money knows no country. no flag. no home
1t goes wherever it is called by business condi-
tions. 1t is said that Wall street dominates
America, but Wall street is dominated by the
Bank of England and the great money lcaners
of the continent. They send out or recall their
funds as the demand flows and ebbs.
Confidence is the keynote of business. When
the money kings Of Europe have confidence in
the stability OF financial conditions in any
country, then the volume of gold exported
there becomes immense.
The inanciers abroad have the greatest con-
fdence in Taft and the republican party.
Their Golfers stand open to aid in the promo
tion Of the vast enterprises OF this country
Their money is at our command, not for stock
manipulation, but for the actual development
of the almost unbounded resources OF the
United States.
And all this means work-work for every
man, work at constantly increasing wage.
1t means the rise of the American workman
TO heights OF prosperity never before at
tanned. 1t means that the causes of discomfort
viii vanish That union labor will stand in
the eyes of the world on a higher pedestal
than 1t has ever been in history. 1t means
that the warfare between labor and capital
VIII cease. and that both viii work together
for the prosperity of ALL
Taft has the confidence OF the people OF all
classes. His overwhelming defeat OF his oppo-
nents has conclusively proved this. The fnan-
cial world believes In Taft and fndorscs his
principles. He is looked to By all to lead the
people of America into an era OF prosperity
which has never been equaled.
He sees and fully realizes the great work
that lies before him. He is not a man of
prediction promises and post-eiection fail
ures. His true stand upon the question Of
capital and labor is as follows:
II intend 10 carry out TO the best of my
ability the Roosevelt policies that work for
the correction of evils in business without
running the business itself on which the liyelf-
hood and happiness OF millions of men and
women who have not furnished the capital de-
pend
my record on labor and my attitude toward
labor were misrepresented from the beginning
of the campaign l believe that / convinced
the Intelligent labormen that l had been mis-
represented / want 10 continue the course
of President Roosevelt's administration in
doing everything possible to put labor on an
equality with capital and to give labor an
equality OF opportunity in the negotiations
between them; to give labor that which we
like to give to every American citizen-eoual-
ily Of opportunity, but no particular priv
fege.
Il believe in the revision of the tariff and
shall do what ] within the jurisdiction of
the executive office to bring it about The
republican party is pledged now 10 give a
thorough and genuine re-examination and re-
vision to the tariff. but it has not specified
exactly the plan Il proposes TO pursue. 1t
will take the difference between the cost OF
production and the cost of production abroad
in the making of the product, whether of the
farm. the factory the mine, and Will impose
customs duty equal to that difference in the
cost OF production. That cost of production