The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-04-04

WoIbSISo NldSS.. "A pi ~ iCo-
ident Taft defined his railroad legisla-
ton policies in speech in Mechanics
hall here before an audience of several
thousand railway trainmen who were
attending a joint convention of the
brotherhood in the train service, which
has been in session for several days.
Mr.. Taft spoke for about an hour
and discussed freely the union labor
situation and the pending legislation
in congress affecting railroad men.
Labor organizationh, he said, were
necessary and he was in favor of them.
Organization is necessS y, he contin-
ued, among railroad en- loyes, in or
der that they may be upon an equality
with their employees.
Mr. Taft, also, defended the injunc
ton as an equitable rem ,dy against
unlawful injury, but he added that not
only he but his predecessor, Theodore
Roosevelt, both believed that the pow.
er to issue Injunction should be limit
ed SO that injuactions should not be
issued except upon proper grounds.
The administrations injunction bill
now pending in congress, Mr.. Taft said
is good bill and should be enacted.
The president declared that he stood
with the members of the Railway
Trainmen's unions in opposing the
boycott and sympathetic strike.
He admitted thas he did not know
whether or not congress will enact AS
anti-injunction bill, but he added there
are two good reasons why it chould be
passed One was that 1t was promis-
ed by the republican party in its last
national platform, and the other was
that the measure was q step in the
right direction.
Mr.. Taft took shot at the insurg
ents in congress who are opposing his
program of meetinp railroaod presi.
dents before framing the measures.
Mr.. Taft reached Mechanic Hall
shortly after two o'clock. The audi
ence broke out into loud cheers when
the president walked cut upon the rost-
rum. After addresses of welcome
were made by Governor Draper and
| Mayor Logan, the president began his
I SpG6cn, lie SAID, III part.
81 am mighty glad to be here. Our
distinguished governor has referred to
criticism. I am sorry if they criticise
the governor of Massachusetts They
never criticise the president of the
| United States (Laughter)
| When the opportunity was offered
to me to come UP here and meet the
/ railway organizations of the United
/ States I seized it. There was time,
a while ago, when | thought a good
| deaf about the train organizations of
the United States. and wondered a
good deal what their members were
| going to do. found in dealing with
! them that the best course is
to talk right out, and if they do
not agree with you they will at
least, if you talk right out and
tell them what you believe to be
the truth, accord you the compliment
j of sincerity and desire to reach the
| truth.
II believe in labor organizations, and
4 il were skilled enough to become a
member, l should apply for member
| ship. The fact is, believe, l am an
honorary member of the Steam Shov-
elers' union. But in spite of that, and
in spite of my sympathy with organ
lied labor put above them, above
everything, the right of every man to
labor as he will, and if he chooses, to
/ stay ont of labor organizations. That
1 is the standpoint that the president of
/ the United States must occupy in do,
/ ing equality to every citizen of the
4 United States.
Now, the reason why I am in favor
of organized labor is that labor must
/ organize to be on an equality with its
( employers and the capital that its en-
4 ployers have. 1t has shown in the
1 past that by such organization and by
4 the proper methods it can secure the
wages to which it is entitled 1t can Sc
cure an increase when the market is
< going up and earnings are increasing.
and it can prevent the too hasty re-
ductions when earnings are falling off
and the business is becoming light.
1t is at the hands of intelligent or.
ganlzation that the cause of labor is
to triumph. 1t is when labor organic.
ations are not guided by intelligence
and conservatism that the cause ol
labor suffers, and with the suffering