New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-15
Mr.. TAFT RETURNS HERE
Continued from first page.

and made a speech to several thousand per-
sons. The speech was delivered to the tent,
biennial convention Of the Brotherhood OF
Railroad Men The President was intro
dLced by Governor Tener II was a straight
from the shoulder talk. but the delegates
seemed To like it,
The President kept close to his text He
spoke OF trades unions, their good and bad
points. but he wound up by defining his DO
sition in regard to the affiliation with the
American Federation Of Labor cr organiza-
tons Of government clerks The question.
he said. 10 most likely 10 come up in Con-
gress. II presents a serious problem which
the President declared demanded the at
tention OF the whole people. Mr.. Taft said
ir part:
think some persons have gone to the ex-
treme OF holding that there ought to be no
combinations OF government employees per
mitted. ! think, however. that in all gov
ernments--and | have given some exsmlna-
ton 10 the subject-the government en-
ployeS are permitted to combine and have
associations for their betterment, but the
proposition now is that such combinations
should be allowed to affiliate with trades
union organizations made up OF the en-
rloyes of private employers, and 10 use the
employment that are recognized as lawful
and justifable In the ordinary trade union
In other words. that II Is entirely proper for
combinations of postal employees and others
10 combine In an association to affiliate
with the American Federation of Labor,
and then 10 hold in reserve as an instru-
ment for enforcing their claims, presented
TO Congress for increased compensation or
the betterment Of terms in other respects.
tile boycott and the strike. which are in
struments recognized by the American Fed
Grafton o. Labor and supported and iust-
fed by II when used by the trades unions
AFFILIATED in such federation
This presents very serious question
and one which. IL decided in favor OF the
right Of government employees 10 strike ard
use the boycott. will be full of danger TO
the government and the republic
The government employees Of France re-
sorted 10 II and took the government by the
throat The executive was entirely de-
pendent upon these employees for its con-
t;nuance.
When those in executive authority re-
fused TO acquiesce in the demands the gov
eminent employees struck. and then. with
the helplessness Of the government and the
destruction Of all authority and the chok-
ing Of government activities. II was seen
that 10 allow government employees 10 use
such an instrument was 70 recognize revo-
luton as a lawful means of securing an IN:
crease in compensation for one class. and
that a privileged class. at the expense or
all the public.
trades union men who are fully alive 10 the
necessity for rigorous means 20 enforce
their rights i'm their controversies with cap
ital and with their employers will fail 70
see the broad difference that exists between
their case in which they are contending
for the betterment OF their livelihood
against the naturally selfish motives -
their employers. and that Of the class OF
government employees who are privileged
NOT only in the amount Of their compensa-
ton. the less number of hours Of their en-
ployment and the greater permanency Of
tenure and who serve the government OF
all the people. the very existence of which
will he threatened should they combine to-
gether TO quit the government service all
AT once and paralyze the benefit, and the
equal benefits. that that government IL
properly supposed and held TO confer upon
the people a large.
II Is likely that this question is going 70
be made an issue in Congress. and II calls
for the most earnest consideration.
The government employees are privileged
class whose work is necessary 20 carry on
the government and upon whose entry into
the government service II is entirely rea-
sonable TO impose conditions that should
not be and ought not 10 be imposed upon
those who serve private employers.