Republican Labor Legislation

No better elucidation of this subject can be found than the following from the speech of Representative Madden of Illinois: Mr. MADDEN said:

Mr. Speaker: From the signing, by the great emancipator, Abraham Lincoln, of the homestead law, the Republican party has, in season and out of season, sought to better the condition of that great army of American citizens who earn their bread by toil-the wage-earner. From that time until this the Republican party has been the guardian of these men and has by wise and just legislation elevated them from a position of penury, embarrassment, and disparity to one of plenty, satisfaction and equality.

The Republican party in doing this is deserving of no especial praise. It was right to do it; and, had it failed to so do it would merit the condemnation of all fair-minded men. It has simply done its duty. What man could expect more?

The question is not, in my opinion, Is the Republican party responsible for all the good that has come to the laborer by reason of wise and beneficial legislation, but is: Has that party been consistent and true in its efforts and in its desires to elevate the wage-earner to a higher and a more independent as well as a more comfortable station in life? I do not hesitate to answer for my party affirmatively, and before I have finished my remarks I will prove that it has, against the united opposition of the Democratic party, enacted into law some of the most salutary legislation ever devised for the betterment of the wage-worker, either in this or in other countries.

We are proud of our achievements along this line. Proud, because in lifting the laborer to the level of his employer, we give him independence, and independence makes strong citizenship, without which no country can be or remain great.

America is great because by the laws placed upon the statute books by the Republican party, the prosperity of the employer and the laborer has been kept abreast. Give, by law, advantages to either party and condemnation will come from both. The employer, unless he be a fool or a knave, or both, desires his employees to be well paid and contented, and the employee who wishes his employer anything but good is unworthy. When reverses come to the employer the wage-earner must either lose his position or suffer a reduction in salary. Men who work are quick to see this and strive earnestly by faithful and efficient service to avoid such misfortunes. The employer in turn appreciating this brotherly interest is quick to advance the wages of his men with advancing prosperity. We are at the present moment having a striking illustration of this mutual concern between employer and employee. every railroad, and in almost every factory, on the farms and in the mines, wages are being advanced with returning prosperity, and the laboring man to-day is not only satisfied and contented, but is proud of his station in life.

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This is as it should be, and the Republican party can be trusted to see to it that no law will be enacted which will in the slightest degree lessen the independence or weaken the privilges of either employer or employee. They stand now on an equality. There they must remain or all national enterprise must cease and the wheels of Government stand still.

I said awhile ago that the Republican party deserved no especial praise for doing its duty, and I stand by the assertion. A party which does not do its duty should forever be condemned.

Has the Republican party done its duty? That is the question. Let us see:

The Republican party lifted the yoke of slavery from the necks of 4,000,000 human beings. It abolished slavery in the Philippine Islands (act signed by President Roosevelt, July 1, 1902).

convicts (Mar. 3, 1886). All the votes against Democratic.

It passed a law for the protection of seamen, tion of steam vessels, for the inspection of coal Territories, for safety appliances on railroads.

It passed a law requiring common carriers to reports of accidents to the Interstate Commerce

The first eight-hour law ever adopted was that Fortieth Congress, and was approved by Presi 1868. It applied to all artisans and laborers em Government.

In 1888 the eight-hour day was established f riers.

In 1892, during President Harrison's admin eight-hour law was extended to include persons contractors on public works.

The Bureau of Labor was created by a Republi and was signed by President Arthur in 1884, bein eighth Congress. In 1888 the bureau was made ent Department of Labor, all the votes cast aga being Democratic.

In 1903 the Republican Congress enacted a law Department of Commerce and Labor, and made Cabinet officer.

The Fifty-fifth.Congress passed an act creatin arbitration. This act was signed by President I June 1, 1898.

The incorporation of national trade unions act w 1886.

The act providing for employees on railroads, k ash pan act, was passed by a Republican Congress i Has the Republican party, by its Representati gress, legislated wisely for the uplifting of the work The above would seem to indicate that it has.

It might be interesting here to show the results roll calls on proposed labor legislation in the Cong United States. I am sure a study of these yea-and cannot in any way militate against the great par have the honor to represent in part on the floor of t On March 28, 1867, Mr. Banks, a Republican, mo pend the rules and pass the bill H. R. 103, constit hours a day's work for all laborers, workmen, and employed by or on behalf of the Government of States.

The motion was agreed to.

Yeas 78-Republicans 64, Democrats, 14; nay: publicans 19, Democrats 4.

On May 19, 1869, President Grant, referring to Congress approved June 25 of the same year, const eight-hour day's work, issued the following order:

Now, therefore, I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the Un do hereby direct that, from and after this date, no reducti made in the wages paid by the Government by the day to su workmen, and mechanics on account of such reduction of th labor.,

On December 20, 1871, the House of Representativ the following bill:

That there shall be appointed by the President, by and w vice and consent of the Senate, a commission of three pe

shall be selected from civil life, solely with reference to their character and capacity for an honest and impartial investigation, and of whom at least one shall be practically identified with the laboring interests of the country, and who shall hold office for the period of one year from the date of their appointment, unless their duties shall have been sooner accomplished, who shall investigate the subject of the wages and hours of labor and of the division of the joint profits of labor and capital between the laborer and the capitalist, and the social, educational, and sanitary condition of the laboring classes of the United States and how the same are affected by existing laws regulating commerce, finance, and currency: Provided, That said commissioners shall be appointed irrespective of political or partisan considerations and from civil life.

SEC. 2. That said commissioners shall receive an annual salary of $5,000 each, shall be authorized to employ a clerk, and shall report the result of their investigation to the President, to be by him transmitted to Congress.

The vote on the above bill was as follows:

Yeas 135-Republicans 92, Democrats 43; nays 36-Republicans 7, Democrats 29.

On April 3, 1886, an act to provide a method for settling controversies and differences between railroad corporations engaged in interstate and territorial transportation of property or passengers and their employees passed the House.

The result of this vote is very significant:

Yeas 199-Republicans 105, Democrats 92; Greenback labor 2. Nays 30 -all Democrats.

This bill passed the Senate on February 28, 1887.

It was presented to President Cleveland, Democrat, for approval on March 1, 1887, and received by him a so-called pocket veto-that is, it was not acted upon before the final adjournment of the Forty-ninth Congress.

I could go on almost indefinitely, Mr. Chairman, with similar Record proof of the Republican party's loyalty to the cause of labor. I think, however, that I have demonstrated beyond doubt that whenever it is necessary to enact into law legislation which will prove beneficial to the toiling masses, the Republican party can be depended upon to ender such service.

The legislators in Republican States have not been slow to respond to the demands of labor in enacting salutary measures for their good. What have the legislators in Democratic States accomplished in that regard?

A study of the following summary table will show a decided preponderance of protective labor legislation in the Republican as compared with the Democratic States:

Ohio Republican Platform

Adopted at the State Convention, July 27, 1910.

We, the Republicans of Ohio, in State convention assembled, commend in highest terms the splendid administration of William H. Taft, are proud of the results he has already achieved in his 17 months in office, and pledge him our hearty and united support in his further efforts as Chief Executive of the nation. We renew our pledge of loyal support given him in 1908, and indorse him for renomination in 1912.

No campaign in Ohio can be fought on purely State issues when the election of Congressmen and a United States Senator is involved.

The Republican party has been the party of action and progress and achievement from Lincoln to Taft, covering half a century of our national history. It saved the national unity, freed a race, resumed specie payments, established the national credit, fixed the gold standard, restored prosperity ruined by Democratic legislation and administration, has proved equal to every emergency, and will provide the additional legislation the country requires.

TAFT ACHIEVEMENTS.

Among the many accomplishments of President Taft's administration worthy of special praise are:

Prosecution and convicton of those implicated in the sugar frauds against the government, and other violators of federal statutes.

Prompt and successful intervention to prevent arbitrary increases in railroad freight rates.

Effective enforcement of the law against illegal dealing in stocks.

Indictment of those involved in the cotton pool, formed to raise the price of one of the necessities of life in every American family.

Impartial enforcement of the anti-trust laws.

Substantial reduction

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government expenses, saving $1,000,000 a month in the post office department, with a fair promise of wiping out the annual postal deficit.

Such remarkable progress in the construction Panama Canal as insures its early completion.

of the

Withdrawal from private entry in order to preserve for the public benefit valuable coal and other mineral deposits, timber lands and water power sites, of over 71,000,000 acres of the public domain.

It has strengthened our prestige with foreign nations, and has treated with vigor and wisdom important and delicate international problems. It has dealt justly and liberally with

our dependencies.

RECORD OF SIXTY-FIRST CONGRESS.

The record of achievements of this administration and the Sixty-first Congress is unequaled in our history, and guarantees faithful adherence to all the pledges of the last Republican national platform. The election of a Republican Congress next November is imperatively necessary to accomplish the entire program of the Taft administration.

TARIFF REVISION.

The tariff has been revised in accordance with the Republican doctrine of protecting home industries and American labor. It did not raise the rate of duty on a single common food product. The increases made were in luxuries and articles not of ordinary use. It affords no more than adequate protection to the industries of the nation, and is fair alike to consumers, laborers and producers.

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No tariff bill was ever more unjustly assailed. It has justified the expectations of its friends by turning a national deficit into a surplus, while at the same time reducing the average rate of all duties.

Its maximum and minimum rates have operated to give us the first time equality of opportunity with other nations in our foreign trade.

The Republican party, through Congress and the President, has given free trade with the Philippines, with such limitations as to sugar and tobacco as will afford protection to domestic industries, and has established a customs court.

TARIFF BOARD CREATED.

Recognizing inequalities due to changing conditions or that otherwise may be found to exist, Congress has provided a tariff board, with an ample appropriation, for the investigation of the differences in the cost of production at home and abroad, so that, if any rates are found to be higher than necessary to afford labor a high wage and capital a fair return, those rates will be reduced.

In the session of Congress just closed a bill was passed, and approved by the President, providing a commerce court and enlarging the federal control over common carriers, which will afford relief to shippers and is fair to the railroads. Telegraph and telephone lines were included in its operation. Authority was granted for inquiring to what extent railroad securities have been improperly inflated.

APPROPRIATIONS REDUCED.

The law requiring the use of safety appliances on railroads was strengthened, and more stringent provision made for the investigation and report of railway accidents.

Appropriations were reduced nearly $30,000,000, and steps were taken to ascertain what further economies in administration are possible. Important legislation was enacted for the conservation of our national resources. Irrigation and reclamation were substantially encouraged and advanced. A postal savings bank bill was enacted. A national bureau of mines was established. A bill was passed compelling publicity of contributions to federal campaign funds. Statehood was granted to Arizona and New Mexico. All of which legislation we cordially indorse.

Our Senators and Representatives in Congress have maintained the high standard of ability and devotion to duty which have always characterized Ohio's representation in the federal legislature.

NEW LEGISLATION REQUIRED.

Legislation which will revive our merchant marine; the equal enforcement of all laws; an adequate national defense, with a navy ample to protect all our interests at home and abroad, while favoring arbitration in the settlement of international disputes; the systematic, comprehensive and businesslike improvement, of our rivers, harbors and waterways, and such amendment of the anti-trust law as final judicial interpretation proves to be necessary for the proper regulation of monopolies.

We commend the action of Congress in the creation of a commission to investigate the question of employers' liability laws, and workmen's compensation acts, and to make recommendations to the President and to the Congress.

We believe that industrial accidents to workmen should be treated as inevitable incidents to industrial operations and the compensation therefor as a part of the cost of production. The experience of other countries demonstrates that this principle can be applied to our industrial conditions without increasing the burdens of industry.

CONSERVATION COMMENDED.

We indorse the principle of conservation of our national resourses, and cordially indorse the action of the present Con