Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-09-06
Labor Leader Demands That
Congress Enact His viii
Into Law.
DOES NOT APPEAL, COMMANDS
"On What Meat Docs This New Caesar
Feed TO Make Him Different
From Other Bosses"

Lewiston, Me, Sept 6.-Speaker JOS
oph G. Cannon OF the national house OF
representatives In an address before
large audience at the city hall here
last night criticized Samuel Gompers.
president OF the American Federation
OF Labor. The speaker was introduced
by Senator William Frye,
Mr.. Cannon said:
"Mr. Samuel Gompers has come into
your district and demanded the defeat
OF Charles r. Lit,lefeld, your repre-
sentative in Congress-not because Mr..
Littleneld has failed properly TO rep
resent the people OF this district. or
even the workingmen here. but, because
he has failed TO comply with the de-
mands Of Mr.. Gompers who claims to
be citizen OF New York and a resi-
dent Of Washington. Mr.. Gompers has
introduced a new element into Ameri-
can politics. He does not exercise the
right Of petition: he demands that Con,
gress enact into law his will. He does
not appeal but commands you. II you
are members OF the federation, TO 90 70
the polls and vote as he would vote.
He does not come here to argue he
publishes a decree in the name Of labor
that the public official who refuses 10
obey his commands shall be retired
from public life.
THE NEW CAESAR
con what meat does this new Caesar
feed 10 make him different from other
political bosses OF this day Of deca-
dence OF bossism2 he is president OF
the Federation OF Labor, an honorable
organization. which has accomplished
much for the wageearner and Is capa-
BILE Of accomplishing much more When
properly directed by those VINO eNer-
Else the functions for which they we're
elected to Office in the union. have
no prejudice against the Federatlou
Of Labor My sympathies are with II
I'm all efforts and struggles 10 improve
the material condition ana secure
larger share Of the profts OF pfoduc-
ton for the wageearners. do not
however. believe IN prescription In poll
i,ics II Is fore On to our institutions,
foreign 10 a government by the people. !
am opposed 10 Mr.. Gompers political
methods Of biacklisting men who vote
as their conscience and judgment AMI
the welfare Of their constituents dc
tate
USES "KNowNoTHlNG' METHODS
1T is reported that Mr.. Gompers has
r,sde an assessment on the members or
,bo Federation OF Labor 10 secure
money for use in this campaign. A
OF the federation may be a
penuhlican. IN favor OF Republican poll
TO- but he il assessed 10 make CAM
naien against his own interests as re
sces them. because Mr. Gompers Is op-
nosed Such methods in politics nave
rever succeeded. The old know noth-
me- marty tried this method OF black
listinr All who were not native born.
II would have blacklisted MI Gompeis
and other federation leaders as not
qualified to hold public Office But the
lie OF that party was short
"such efforts will always fail because
man here Is a co-soyereign and ne eN-
erclses his alienable rights 10 unite
With his fellows. be they farmers or
factory employees, railroad men, doc
tors or LAWYERS. and agree on policies
which they believe to be for the best
interest OF the whole people. ! believe
mis- effort 10 combine the vote OF or
"a nized labor I'm politics would fail even
n majority OF the Federation OF Labor
Aonted II | am certain that Il will
fa,l as the order Of Mr.. Gompers and
the executive committee OF the organ.
zation. The workmen, both union aud
non-union, OF this country are as )eal-
Gus OF that sovereignty as are the
farmers or any other people They
VIII act with the organization In what
pertains 10 the purpose OF the union
and they will follow Mt. GompeTs so
org as he airs the functions FOR when
he has chosen as protection OF labor.
But they viii not follow him in his self
, sfumed function Of debating how they
shall air their right Of citizenship.
coMPERs HAS A GRIEVANCE.
"Mr Gompers has a grievance against
,our representative as he has against
President Roosevelt. myself and 20 or
q other men In public life. We re-
fused 10 disregard our oatks OF Office
ma enact legislation which Mr.. Com
lers 5ernands He II aggrieved be-
rse Congress suspended the eight
,our law on The Panama canal gone. |
Is Il applied 20 alien labor, not Ameri-
AN labor. He Is atgrieved because
he president has authorized the en-
,lovlnent of chinese labor In digging |
no canal because American labor can |
"a ana viii not 70 there he Il az
,,s,,-ea bscausc Congress would not |
ma, an anii-lniuuc;ion law. which he
,nnroyod and declared constitutional