The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-06

Lewiston, Me-, Sept. e.-speaker Joseph
u. Cannon addressed a large audience in
city hall last night and for the first time
since he began his campaign in support OF
Congressman Littleneld he replied 10
samuel Gompers. president Of the Amer
,can Federation OF Labor. who opposes
Mr.. Littlefeld's return 10 congress Sena-
tor William p. Frye presided.
speaker Cannon spoke as follows:
Mr.. Samuel Gompers has come into
your district and demanded the defeat OF
Charles K. Lttleheld. your representa-
tive In congress-not because Mr.. Little
neld mas failed TO properly represent the
people OF this district, or even the work.
ingmen here, but because he has failed 10
comply with the demands OF Mr. Com
pers, who claims to be a citizen OF New
York and resident of Washington.
Mr.. Gompers has introduced a new
element into American politics. He does
not exercise the right OF petition he de-
mands that congress enact into law his
viii. He does not appeal to you; he COM
mands you, IL you are a member OF the
federation, TO go to the polls and vote as
he would vote
He does not come here TO argue: he
publishes decree in the name OF labor
that the public official who refused 10
obey his command shall be retired from
public life.
GoMPERS A CAESAR"
ION what meat does this new Caesar
feed to make him different from other DO
Htical bosses in this day OF the decadence
OF bossism? He Is the president OF the
Federation OF Labor, an honorable organ
ization which has accomplished much for
the wage-earner and is capable OF accom-
plishing much more when properly direct
ed by those who exercise the functions
for which they were elected to office I'm
the union.
II have no prejudice against the FEEDER
alton Of Labor. My sympathies are with
II in all efforts and struggles 10 improve
the material condition and secure a lar
ger share OF the profits OF production for
the wage-earners.
Il do not however, believe I'm proscrip-
tion I'm politics IL is foreign TO our instl-
tutions, foreign TO a government Of the
people. am opposed 10 Mr. Gompers po-
litical methods OF blacklsting men who
vote as their consciences and Judgment
and the welfare OF their constituents die
tate
II is reported~ that Mr.. Gompers has
made an assessment on the members OF
the Federation OF Labor TO secure money
for use in this campaign A member Of
the federation may be a Republican In
favor OF Republican policies, but he Is
assessed TO make a campaign against his
own interests. as he sees them. because
Mr. Gompers Is opposed. Such methods I'm
politics have never succeeded In this coun
try and they never will.
woRKMAN's SOVEREIGNTY.
81 believe this effort 10 combine the
vote OF organized labor in politics
would fail even IL a majority of tho
Federation Of Labor adopted IL. I am
certain that IL will fail as the order
OF Mr.. Gompers and the executive com
mittee of the organization The work
ingmen, both union and non-union OF
this country are as jealous OF their
sovereignty as are the farmers or any
other people. They will act with the
organization in what pertains 10 the
purposes OF the union and they will
follow Mr.. Gompers as long as he ex-
ercises the functions for which he was
chosen as president OF the Federation
OF Labor. But they will not follow
him In his self-assumed function Of
debating how they shall exercise their
right Of citizenship. They will go TO
the polls and with the Australian bal
lot in their hand they will walk under
their own hat brims and not under the
hat OF Mr.. Gompers.
HAS A GRIEVANCE.
Mr.. Gompers has n grievance against
your representative. as he has against
President Roosevelt myself and 30 or
30 other men in public life We refused
enact legislation which Mr.. Gompers
demanded.
He is aggrleved because congress
suspended the eight-hour law on the
Panama canal zone. as 20 applies 20
alien labor not American labor lie is
aggrieved because the president has
authorized the employment Of Chinese
labor In digging the canal because
American labor cannot and will not go
there
He is aggrieved because congress
would not enact an antl-injunction
law which he approved and declares
constitutional. Some men. among
whom your representative and myself
did not believe the proposed law 20 be
either constitutional or fair 10 all the
people IL proposed 90 repeal the com
mon law which is Older than our gov
eminent. and which by legislation and
the decisions OF the courts. under which
s-A-r the constitutIs~ interpret the