Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-04-07
PRESIDENT TAFT
MEETS UNION men
Delivered Address Before Railroad
Workers Convention.
VISITS HOME OF COLLEGE DAYS
He Approved Labor Organizations BUS
Sustained Right Of Every Man
to Belong or Not az He
Chooses.

Worcester, Mass, April president
Taft has been and gone, and has left
the best kind of an impression on the
minds of the thousands Of delegates
to the great railroad workers conven'
ton, whom he addressed for about 40
minutes yesterday afternoon.
The president left Washington Sat
urday evening in his private car, and
arrived yesterday morning at Mill
bury. That town was his home during
his school and college days, and he
spent the morning there as the guest
of Miss Della Torrey, a sister Of the
presidents mother. who died there
Three years ago while he was in the
Philippines. At 1880 o'clock Mr..
Taft entered an automobile and start
ed for this city, escorted by a large
party of railroad men also in motor
cars. Five companies Of the local
militia met the chief executive at the
city limits and escorted him to Me
chanics' hall, where the convention Is
being held. Mayor James Logan
greeted Mr. Taft to the city and Gov
Eben S. Draper delivered the address
Of welcome on behalf Of the state. Tha
presidents speech followed, and was
listened to with the utmost interest
In his address the president said in
part:
81 am mighty glad to be here. There
was time while ago when thought
o good deal about the train organiza'
lions of the United States and wonder.
ed 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 II they do not agree
with you they will at least, II you talk
right out and tell them what you be-
lieve to be the truth, accord you the
compliment of sincerity and desire to
reach the truth.
81 believe in labor organization and
If l were skilled enough to become
member, l should apply for member
ship. The fact is, / believe, l am an
honorary member Of the Steam Shovel
ers union. But in spite Of that and in
spite Of my sympalAy with organized
labor, / put above them, above everT
thing the right of every man to labor
as he will to earn the wages that he :
will and If he chooses, To stay out Of
labor organizations. That is the stand
points that the president Of the United
States must occupy in doing equality
to every citizen of the United States.
"Now, the reason why ! 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-
ployers have. It has shown In the past
that by such organization and by prop
er methods 1t can secure the wages to
which It Is entitled. 1t can secure an
Increase when the market is going up
and earnings are increasing and 1t can
prevent the too hasty reduction when
earnings are falling of and business ID
At a standstill.
Then Rev. DR.. John Mccoy spokeNon
The Church and Labor" and talks
we're made by Presidents Brown OF
he New York Central, Mellen Of the
New York, New Hoven G. Hartford,
md Tuttle of the Boston & Maine.
President Taft left at eight O'Clock
asst night. At the evening session Of
he convention the speakers were W.
3. Stone Of Cleveland, Grand chief en-
sineer of the Brotherhood Of LocomO-
i've Engineers; A. B. Garretson Of
Cedar Rapids, Ia, Grand president Of
he Order of Railway Conductors; W.
). Carter Of Peoria, ILL.,, international
president of the Brotherhood of Lo,
,omotive Firemen and Enginemen;
W. G. Lee Of Cleveland, grand master
II the Brotherhood of Railroad Train.
men, and P. H. Morrissey, president Of
he American Railway Employees In.
Testment association.