Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-01-30
SAMUEL GOMPERS
PROTESTS TO PRESIDENT ROCSE.
WELT FOR LABOR.
If Labor Astator Can be Imprisoned in
San Juan, Why Not in New York. Per.
finent Queries by the Labor President.

Samuel Gompers, president OF the
American Federation of Labor, recently
protested to President Roosevelt because
OF the arrest of Santiago Igesas bv the
American authorities in Porto Rico.
Iglesias arrived in san Juan, Novem-
Der 10, and was Immediately arrested.
The Associated press dispatches says:
1.-The public prosecutor asked that he be
sentenced to a term OF imprisonment on
the ground that he is Il dangerous labor
agitator and is continually causing un-
rest" On December ~, Iglesias was
sentenced to three months imprison-
ment.
1t has never been regarded as serious
crime for one to be a ''labor agitator,"
that is, on United States territory The
labor agitator has never been regarded
as a criminal. The supreme court in
one of its several insuar decisions,
plainly showed that there was a differ
ence between the government of these
new possessions, while they were under
military authority and the government
after the peace treaty had been ratified
and congress had assumed control. I'm
der military authority very nearly any
thing that happened to suit the pleasure
of the soldier in power, was lawful. But
congress has already legislated for Porto
government form, it is true, that is
wonderfully and fearfuly made" Judged
by well defined American notions but
a form of government nevertheless. And
vet one who has become quite accustom-
ed to old-fashioned American notions
and doctrines cannot entirely escape
shock when he is told that on territory
subject to United States jurisdiction,
governed by the United States law, and
controlled by United States policies
a man who has been thrown into Jail
and sentenced to term of imprison-
ment on the ground that he is "a dan
gerous labor agitator and is continually
causing unrest"
What does the thoughtful American
citizen require to direct his attention to
the innovations now being fixed upon
his form of government? Who shall say
that this labor agitator is dangerous?
The decree must certainly be by the
public prosecutor, or the man in police
authority in Porto Rico. What is "un-
rest" which this public prosecutor tells
Us this dangerous labor agtator" is
continually causing? The men who
founded this government declared that
eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. :"
Eternal vigilance is but another name
for "unrest." A man who agitates
is wholly harmless in the presence OF an
intelligent people, if the doctrines he
upholds and the policies he supports are
unwise or impracticable. And in the
presence of despotisn, in the vicinity OF
tyranny, the agitator is a public bene-
factor and the man who is most danger
Gus to society is the one who counsels
submission to wrong and who urges the
people to refuse to avail themselves OF
the right of the petitioner of the power
which is given them through the medium
OF the ballot.
And now the question that must force
itself upon every thinking American
citizen is: If to be labor agitator in
Porto Rico is u crime, how long will it
be before to be a labor agitator within
the United States will be an offense
against the law? And ii the man who
agitates in behalf OF laboring men is to
he branded as Il criminal, how many
days will intervene before every man
who dares stand up and protest against
the policies of the dominating party,
who dares to appeal to the people to
change existing laws through the or
derby process OF the ballot, who dares re-
gister many protest against wrong and
infamy in high places-how many days,
we say, willintervene before men who
makes the$ protests will also be sem
fenced to lib imprisonment"
When Mr. Lincoln said that this coun-
try could no endure half slave and half
free, he utteed truth that applies to
other conditions. This country may not
exist half SUBJECT and half citizens. This
country may not exist half monarchy
and half repblic. This country may not
exist half de4otism and half free. Pro-
ceedings sucla those resulting in the
arrest OF thiso-called labor agitator'
are part and Arcel OF the trappings OF Il
monarchy an have no part in nation
of freemen.
Every step Ee take towards the mon
archical noti1, every advance we make
towards Il desotic theory is injurious to
the republican form OF governmental
form, which ~ bo,,, CO., SO lo,,x , "A