Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1912-04-11

uphsId-Labor Recognized on Com.
missions
From the day three years ago when
Il placed It's interests In the keeping Of
Wiliinm Howard Taft 10 this hour In
Dor has critically scanned his every
act. and with discriminating mind II IL
Judging him M one who. without clam.
or or demonstration. has Kept the faith
On Sept - l9OS. Theodore Roosevelt
then president OF the United States.
wrote a letter to Conrnd kOhrs on the
issues OF the campaign and. addressing
himself To the laboring men. said:
"If there Is one body Of men more
than another whose support ] feel ]
have "A right 10 challenge on behalf OF
Secretary Taft 1t is the body Of wage
workers of the country A stancher
friend. fairer and truer represent
alive they cannot 6nd within the Dor
ders Of the United States He will do
everything In mis- power for them ex'
cept to do that which Is wrong He
| will do wrong for no man and there
fore can he trusted by all men,
Mr.. Taft Iabor's Friend.
The workingmen Of the country
| judged Mr. Taft In 1903 by record Of
twenty seven years as a statesman. ad-
ministrator Of national affairs and pres
idential adviser. and they helped to
give him the magnificent majority
which put him In the White House
During the three years he has been
president his excellent record has been
maintained so spIendidly that the la
boring men have been confirmed In the
belief that they never had better
friend In the White House.
The establishment Of the postal saw
ings banks. which was recommended
by President Taft, was one Of the
things that organized labor favored
The $l6.OOO.OOO now on deposit In these
repositories represents the savings Of
the wage earners.
Taft's Personal Interest
President Taft approved a law on
May 80. 1908. to compensate workmen
for injuries received while In the en-
ploy Of the United States After the
passage Of this act number Of work.
men In the employ of the federal gov
eminent were killed. and their fam
lies. not being familiar with the pro-
visions VI the law. failed 10 file afflda-
Wits within the specified time. The Sec
rotary Of commerce and labor had no
power TO sci aside the provision Of the
law and was therefore obliged TO dis
approve the claims.
The matter was taken up by the pres
ident, and be satisfied himself that JUS
tice was not being done TO the families
Of the men who had been killed. He
sent a special message To congress rec
ommending that general act be pass
ed allowing all such claimants compen
sation " their claims were otherwise
meritorious. This was an instance that
proved the president to be broadmind.
ed and anxious TO aid the workingmen
In any way that he could.
An employers liability act approved
June IL, 1905. was on January 8. 1908
held to be unconstitutional. Another
Of this sort was passed on April %.
1908, which as yet has not been tested
In the courts Through the efforts Of
the president commission was ap
pointed to make an investigation OF
the subject Of employers liability
and workmen's compensation"
Labor Men Appointed.
The report Of the commission, the
evidence taken before II and the draft
Of the bill prepared as a result Of the
findings of said commission have been
transmitted to congress-. accompanied
by special message by President;
Taft. in which he recommends the
passage Of the proposed measure In
their deliberations the members Of
the commission had the benefit Of fire.
Quent consultations with the president
II Ia believed the act will stand the
test Of constitutionality
In order that the commission might
have the benefit Of the experience OF
Il
pointed as one of Its members Daniel
L. Cease. the editor OF the Railroad
Trainmen's Journal. the official organ
OF the railroad trainmene Mr. Cease
has devoted the best years Of his use
ful life to the cause Of labor. The
president also appointed experienced
labor men as inspectors under the 10
connective boiler inspection law. They
were John f. Ensign of Colorado and
Frank McManamy Of Oregon for chief
inspector and assistant chief inspector
respectively
The defects In the present eight hour
law have not escaped the attention OF
President Taft He has recommended
to congress amendments which will
make II really effective by providing
that public works shall be construed
to include not only buildings and
works upon public grounds. but also
| ahina'. arUar and largo O1rna vhas,