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

WOnCEO lEh, MASS, April 4.-EISo-
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 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 necess7 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'
tion 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
4 Trainmens unions in opposing the
boycott and sympathetic strike.
He admitted TIA. he did not know
whether or not congress will enact us
anti-iniunction bill, but he added there
are two good reasons why it rkould he
passed One was that it was promis-
ed by the republican party In its last
national platform, and the other was
that the measure was a step in the
right direction.
n Mr.. Taft took a 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
!, speech. He said, in part:
Il am mighty glad to be here. Our
, distinguished governor has referred to
criticism. ! am sorry If they criticise
the governor of Massachusetts They
, never criticise the president of the
t United States. Gaughter)
, 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
while ago, when ! thought a good
deal about the train organizations o.
the United States, and wondered 6
, good deal what their members were
:, going to do. found in dealing Will
them that the best course /!
: to talk right out, and if they de
: not agree with you they will a
. least, if you talk right out ant
tell them what you believe to BIZ
the truth, accord you the compliment
: of sincerity and desire to reach the
truth.
IL believe in labor organizations, ant
| if we're skilled enough to become {
\ member, should apply for member
\ ship. The fact is, believe, | am al
\ honorary member of the Steam SHOW
elers' union. But in spite of that, ant
\ in spite of my sympathy with organ
h lied labor I put above them, above
everything, the right of every man t.
\ labor as he will, and if he chooses, t.
\ stay out of labor organizations. Tina
H is the standpoint that the president 0
\ the United States must occupy in dc
4 ing equality to every citizen of TIL
n United States
NJ Now, the reason why 1 am in fayo
II of organized labor is that labor mus
II organize to be on en- equality with it
HI employers and the capital that its en-
III ployers have. 1t has shown in tb
Ill past that by such organization and b
III the proper methods it can secure tn
NJ wages to which it is entitled. It can So
N cure an increase when the market i
III going up and earnings are increasing
IN and it can prevent the too hasty ri
Nj auctions whom earnings are falling o
NJ and the business is becoming light.
III 1t is at the hands of intelligent o
III ganization that the cause of labor
HI to triumph 1t Is when labor organi
III ations are not guided by intelligene
III and conservatism that the cause
VI labor suffers, and with the sufferin
of 20 ho,. c,,fFare ~. a,,tiro oo,,, H., ~