Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-10-29
TAFT TALKS ON LABOR UNION
President Declares Intention to En-.
force Every Law.
WORKERS NEED ORGANIZATION
Men Have Right 20 Leave Their
Employment for Purpose Of net
tcring Their Condition nnd 20
Leave ~ Altogether.

MILWAUKEE,, wis, oct. 2S.-Declara-
| ing his intention TO enforce the law both
as TO labor unions and trusts President
Taft, before leaving Milwaukee for Chi
cago yesterday at n luncheon IN his honor,
spoke TO several thousand employers and
employees OF local factories on the rcla-
| tions OF capital and labor lie made a
plea for all the people 20 put their Shout
ders 10 the wheel 90 insure obedience to
the law aud 10 secure the prosperity that
he said must ensue from such obedience.
I'VE have our problems, Of course we
have" said the president. 'They are
going TO be a test doubtless OF American
Ingenuity, but ] think there Is one sou-
ton OF them-perhaps that IS because l
am a lawyer and a judge-there is one
solution OF them and that Is that we
shall enforce the law against everyone,
high and low and whether e be trust,
or trade union, the law shall be en-
forced. Then II the law works inequity,
the law can be changed; but as long as
the law II on the statute books let's en-
force II against everyone and trust & to
no ones discretion
FHvors Labor Unions.
IL have always advocated the exist
ence of labor unions without them the
individual would be at the mercy and
wholly unable to meet at those junctures
In his relations with his employer the
greater capital and force OF power OF his
employer, and therefore It Is essential to
have an organization among them and
to have what we call trade unions
Tho president pointed out the success
that has attended the efforts OF labor to
secure legislation that will protect the
worklngman and win work for the bene-
III also OF the employer. lie referred to
the safety appliance act and to the in
Yestigauon OF the workmens compensa-
ton commission. lie said that the diff
Guilty with previous systems OF work.
mems compensation had been in the lack
OF uniformity for those injured.
dependent upon circumstances, upon
iurles and judges and law In particular
places because the law differed" said Mr.
Taft, zone man for an injury that was
not at all severe might get verdict Of
$4,000 while another, whose life was
ruined. might be thrown out OF court.
The ambuance-chasers and the lawyers
thrived on the business.
AppIRuded vigorously.
Although he was speaking to a crowd
composed largely OF employees and his
points against labor unions were frequent,
Mr.. Taft was applauded vigorously.
Continuing, he said;
Trade unions, 1 doubt not. have
brought higher wages and better oond-
lions, because they have stood up in those
times when the interests of the employer
and employe were opposed and they have
fought out the fight, they have increased
the rate OF wages and improved the gen
eral conditions of their employment; but.
on the other hand, we must not fail TO
recognize that such organizations have
prompted. at times violations of law, ylo-
lenoe, the secondary boycott and other
means OF seeking TO compel their en-
ployers illegally to respond to their de-
mands; under those conditions there has
been nothing to do but TO enforce the
law, and the first lesson / would 'impart
TO both employers and employees Is the
absolute necessity, II we are going to have
permanent Industrial peace OF the closest
adherence to the law.
strikes Legal.
Strikes are legal. Men have the right
TO leave their employment for the purpose
of lettering their condition and TO leave
II altogether. That has been decided
But strike used for a secondary boycott
or for other Illegal purposes may become
Illegal. and courts should have the cour-
age so to declare. Indeed they have.
I'VE are all in the same boat. Injus-
tice TO one class cannot be done without
ultimately affecting the entire COM
munlty."