New Britain herald., 1915-05-27
LABOR LEADERS ARE DENOUNCED BY TAFT
For FxsICsiag Power Detrimental
 to Good of Society,""

New York, May 27.--Former Pres ident William H. T.ft in an address last night at the annual banquet of the National association of Manufact- urers, severely critized the Clayton act and the federal trade commission act as detrimental to the business interests of the country" and de- nounced the leaders of the American Federation of Labor for exercising a power and that became excessive and detrimental to the public veal and the good of society"
 Professor Taft was co-speaker with Senator Warren c. Harding of Ohio who declared that the greatest men ace of American progress is the pro. fessonal batting of big enterprises. '
 Approves Union Principles.
 T fully approve" said the former president, of the principle of labor unions. I believe that they are es- sential to creating a state of equality of dealing between employees and en- ployers. believe that they have made possible the enactment of 6 great deal of most healthful and use full Legislator and have greatly aided the just cause of wage earners in fhi:, regard. But the power their leaders have acquired by the principle Of combination in their organization has intoxcated them and they have exer- clsed a tyranny over socety and over their own members that is certainly leading to a reaction and to re. straint of their great powers within proper and lawful limits
 They have failed to condemn in any way, as they ought, the use of criminal methods to which in a law less spirit their representatives at various times have seen fit to resort. They have raised large funds in the defence of men who have proven to be, by their own confessions, violat- ors of the criminal law, and they have manifested desire to secure in express statutory declarations, an inn munity for labor unions from thc operation of general laws that should be uniform. In other words, they have sought to make themselves and their agents a privileged class not subject to laws that affect every other man and even themselves when not engaged in labor, disputes.
 Politics Within Unions.
 we must of course concede that many of the leaders would be glad o utter protests and interfere with hese Illegal meth ods that have been but there are politics with n labor unions and labor union con ventdons,. and the loudest and the most extremists are too often elc- nents to be reckoned with in main | aiming the leadership of such unions | The quiet, sensible. conservative mem | 'ers of the union, of whom there are many more than we realize. do not xercise the influence which their numbers would often entitle them to uch members manifest their opin- pms in elections where, in the secrecy f the election booth, they vote thcr cal opinions and often refuse to obey he formal declarations of political | olicy made under the influence of he conspicuous labor leaders"
 Professor Taft cited the recent ac- ion of the United Matters of North lmerica on the question of paying he $250.o00 Judgment found against Is members in the Danbury matters ase. @
 Must Restrain Leaders.
 Neither the Hatters' Unon nor he American Federation of Labor" e said, lis willing to raise fund to elieve these 186 victims of their mis- uided urging, although they could nd did raise funds quite as large pr the defense of criminals who sub- confessed their crimes, committed in the supposed upholding f the interests of labor. Such a con- ition cannot but have useful in- Iuence in bringing to the attention of he rank and file or organized labor. he necessity for rsstrainng their