The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-04-19
TAFT MAKES GOOD
LABOR PLEDGES
Administrators RscT1 Squares
With lis Promises.
MANY NEW Laws ENACTED.
Postal Savings Banks, Workmen's
Compensation and Employers LA
bility Laws Passed-Eisht Hour Law
uPheld-Labor Recognized on Com
missions.

missions.
From the day three years ago when
it placed its. interests in the keeping Of
William Howard Taft to this hour la.
Dor has, critically scanned his every
act. and with discriminating mind it is
judging him as one who, without clam
or or demonstration. has kept the faith.
On Sept. 0. 1908, Theodore Roosevelt.
then president of the United States,
wrote letter to Conrad Kohrs on tie
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 right to challenge on behalf Of
Secretary Taft 1t is the body OF wage
workers Of the country. stancher
friend. falrer and truer represent
alive they cannot find within the bor-
ders Of the United States. He will do
everything In his power for them ex-
eept to do that which is wrong. He
will do wrong for no man and there
fore can be trusted by all men,"
Mr.. Taft Labor's Friend.
The workingmen Of the country
judged Mr.. Taft In 1908 by record of
twenty-seven years as statesman. ad-
ninistratOr 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 bis excellent record has been
maintained so splendidly that the Ia
boring men have been confirmed in the
belief that they never had better
friend In the White House.
The establishment of the postal saw
fngs banks which was recommended
by President Taft. was one Of the
things that organized labor favored.
The $l6,0O0.O0O now ON deposit In these
repositories represents the savings of
the wage earners.
aSlTaffsspsrsonai Interest.
President Taft approved a law on
May 30, 19OS, 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
sFnment were killed, and their fam
lies. not being familiar with the pro-
Visions OF the law. failed to flie afida-
Wits within the specified time. The sec
retaryyof commerce and, labor bad no
pewsr to set aside3the provision al the
faw and was therefore obliged to dis
The matter was taken mp by the pres
sdent, andshe satisfied himself that jus j,
t1ce was not being done to- the families
Of the men who had been killed. Tie
sent a special message TO congress rec
ofnmending thatsa general act be pass-
ed allowing NIL such claimants compen-
sation IL their claims. were. .otheywise
Ineritorious This was an instance that
proved the president to be broadmind
ed and anxious to aid the workingmen
IN any way that helcould. w n 81
An employers liability act approved
June IL. 1900. 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 q commission was ap-
pointed to make nm investigation of
the subject of employers liability
and work mems compensation"
Labor Mon Appointed.
The report of the commission, the
evidence taken before 1t and the draft
of the bill prepared as result of the.
hndings Of said commission have been
transmitted to congress, accompanied
by a 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.
1t Is believed the act will stand the
test of constitutionality.
In order that the commission might
have the benefit of the experience OF
a practical man President Taft ap-
pointed as one Of It's members Daniel
l.. Cease, the editor of the Railroad
Trainmen's Journal, the official organ
Of the railroad tralnmen. Mr.. Cease
has devoted the best years Of his use
full life to the cause of labor. The
president also appointed experienced
labor men as inspectors under the To-
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 It really effective by providing
that public works shall be construed
to include not only buildings and
works upon public grounds, but also
ships armor and large guns when
manufactured in private yards or fac
tories"
Thirty Years Service.
With regard to the high cost Of liv-