Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-09
NOT SURPRISED.
Mr.. Litt|efe|d Expected
Compers' Sharp Attack.
Simply Follows Threat Made
Recently in Washington.
But With President and Speaker Cannon will
Try 10 Stand The Storm.


Congressman Littleficld was in
the city this afternoon and
gave out the following signed
interview in reply to the at
tack which President Samuel Comp
cr:'. president of the American FEEDER
alton. mlde upon him in a speech in this
city yesterday:
THE attack upon me by Mr.. Gompers
is liot surprise. 1t is in pursuance of
a tn re;tt that he recently made before
the judiciary committee for the purpose
Of cucrcing legislation which he was de-
handing that proceeded his interview
of the same character with Speaker
Cannon and President Roosevelt, which.
ii Will he remembered, the President
vigorously resented. l am not alone in
being the subject of his condemnation,
as have the best of company.
The President IN his message at the
opening of this session recommended
certain legislation relative to injunc-
tons. Mr.. Gilbert of Indiana introduce
cd Il bill following that recommended
ton. Andrew Fuerseth. representing
the American Federation of Labor. in
Il carefully prepared written statement
denounced the President, il he stood
| behind the bill (Which he did in sub
stance as an enemy to human liberty
and Il Cnnspirator against human
ightg. Mr.. GOmpers Immediately fol-
low ed Mr.. Fuerseth and instead Of dis
aVCWing the fierce assault upon the
| President substantially ratified it. He
|
if he can say anything worse about INC
| than he has said against the President
Of the United States.
An illustration of the legislation now
| demanded by Mr.. GomperS appears
when it is stated that the bill relative
| to injunctions which he now supports
| with reference to labor disputes ex-
pressy provides that the right to do
| business in any particular place or in
any particular manner shall not be held
| to be proper and entitled to the protec
| ton of law by the use of the writ Of
| Injunction, in effect issuing a license to
| destroy mans business, thus depriV
| ing him of his means of livelihood
without any pretense Of compensation
therefor. The wage earners in this dis
trict are of high quality. able, intel
ligent and fairminded.
| Il am ready to meet any criticism
| Mr.. Gompers may make. | do not be-
liove he will be able TO carry them off
| their feet by infiammatory appeals to
passions and prejudice. | have had the
| misfortune actively to support several
| measures of vital interest to my con-
| stitucnts which have met with the bit
| ter opposition of Mr.. GomptIs. He has
| issued n proclamation and sent it to
every member Of the House against
| the bill to repeal compulsory pilotaGe,
allying the American Federation of
Labor at the instance of about 10 ni-
| lots Who insist upon receiving compen-
sation for unnecessary and III many in
| stances umrendCred services. against
| the interest of several thousand of
| wage carriers in this district.
| HE appeared for his Organization
| before the merchant marine and fisher
les committee against the shipping bill,
and during the hearing attacked and
Iattcnptcd to ,liscrcdt Mr.. Alexander
lcockran. IN extremely Intelligent and
capablc WorkinGlnan from Bath. VINO
had the tcmority to represent the i'll
tercsis Of the wage oarners of that Vi
/ cinity for the bill. II was pleasant to
note that Mr. Cochran demonstrates.
himself to he amply able to take care Of
himself and the interests which he rep
resented.
| III will he observed that if continue
Ia represent the interests of my con-
Stituents il will be quite difficult for
Inc to secure the approval of MIR.
Gompers and with the President and
sneaker Cannon | must do the best |
lean to get along under the ban of his
dispeasure."
| The town Of Greene today elected
three delegates. instructed for Little
field and I.ivcrmore elected three more.
also instructed for Littlefeld. This
gives him 1856 delegates not counting