The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-28

tContinued from Page One.)
and that is that we shall enforce the
law against everyone, high and low,
and whether it be trust or a labor
junior, the law shall be enforced Then
! if the law works inequity the law can
/ be changed, but as long as the law is
on the statute books, let's enforce it
/ against everyone and trust it to no
ones discretion.
I L have always advocated the exist
fence 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 en-
ployer the greater capital and force
and power of his employer; and, there
fore, it is essential to have an organi-
zation among them. and to have what
We call trade unions
The president pointed out the sue
cess that has attended the efforts of
labor to secure legislation that will
protect the workingman and will work
for the benefit also OF the employer.
He referred to the safety appliance
act and to the investigation of the
wCrkmen's compensation commission.
He said that the difficulty with pre-
ViOus systems of workmen'S compensa-
ticn had been in the lack of uniform
ity for those injured
Dependent upon circumstances. upon
juries and judges ana law, in particular
places, because the law differed" SAID
Mr.. Taft. zone man for an injury that
was not at all severe might get a YER
dict of SO, 600, while another whose
life was ruined, might be thrown out of
court = he ambulance chasers and the
lawyers thrived on the business
Although he was speaking to a crowd
composed largely of employees. and
his points against labor unions were
frequent, Mr.. Taft was applauded Wig
orouslY.
Your chairman extended his sym
pathy to me because the prospect was
so full of darkness and trial. said the
president Sometimes I think SO my
self. but a good digestion a fair reiiee
from conscience and some philosophy.
accompanies much in the meeting of
difficulties of that sort. But whenever
I get entirely troubled and look for
ward with very little hope, I think of
the condition of our country in 1861,
when Abraham Lincoln took the tiller.
Think of what he had to face! Think
how small our difficulties are COM
pared with thote of that great mani"
Continuing, Mr.. Taft said:
Trades unions, I doubt not, have
brought higher wages and better con-
ditlons, because they have stood up IN
those times when the interests of the |
employer and employee were opposed, |
and they have fought out the fight, /
they have increased the rate of wages |
and improved the general conditions |
of their employment; but, on the other /
hand we must not fail to recognize |
that such organizations have promoted /
at times, violations of law, violence, the |
secondary boycott and other means Of /
seeking to compel their employers IL |
legally to respond to their demands: /
under those conditions there has been /
nothing to do but TO enforce the law, I
and the first lesson I would impart >
both employers and employees is the I
absolute necessity, if We are going L,
have permanent industrial peace, Of
the closest adherence to the law
strikes are legal. Men have the
right to leave the employment for the
purpose OF lettering their conditions
and to leave it altogether. That has
been decided. But a strike used for
secondary boycott, or for other illegal
purposes, may become Illegal and courts
should have the courage so to declare
I'VE are all in the same boat. InJus-
tice to one class cannot be done with
out ultimately effectinS the entire COM
Unjust legislation against cor
porations and men of capital affects not
only tnem-indeed. they are affected
less than the persons whom they EN-
ploy, because if you make the cond.-
tons such that they cannot carry on
profitable business they are under no
obligation to do so, and they viii not
do so, and then the wage fund will be
diminished to that extent, and their ON
ployees will go without employment.
we are all in favor of DrQSD6rity.