Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-03
GOMPERS ON MUD
LABOR LEADER ADDRESSES A
BIG MEETING AT ANNAPOLIS.

A dispatch from Annapolis says that the
biggest gun of the National Federation OF
Labor was fired upon Representative sgd
ney e. Mudd last night when Samuel Com
pers, the head of the labor organizations in
the United States. delivered an address In
the courthouse there to an enthusiastic au-
dience that filed the building and overlooked
into the street. Earnestly and emphatical'y
Mr.. Gompers appealed to the people OF the
fifth district to vote Mr.. Mudd down be-
cause Of his unfriendly attitude toward the
laboring interests. He denounced Mr.. Mudd
as bold, daring and slick politician who
had failed to either cajole, coax or brow
beat him. That the fifth district representa-
tive had done what he could to kill the
principle of the eight-hour law, and had
consistently voted and acted against the
best interests of the workingmen Of his dis
trict and country, was the charge that the
labor leader hurled at Mr.. Mudd.
In part, he said:
"Mr. Mudd says I stand for free trade,
free silver and free riot. l am willing to
have my record as man and what stand
for compared with what Mr.. Mudd is and
what he stands for.
What He Stands For.
'The labor movement stands for better
conditions for the man who works. Great
anu glorious as is our country, IL Is iOl
good enough for the American people, and
purpose to inaugurate better day than
has ever gone before, despite the Rockefel-
lers and the other fellows, including Mudd.
Mr.. Mudd has no objection to my coming
here. he says, as a private citizen, but when
Mr.. Gompers attempts to deliver the votes
of the labor people to the democrats he is
attempting to use his position for the benefit
of his own party. 1 would like to know
what my own party Is. I have never yet
been able to discover its headquarters.
There is absolutely no truth in Mr.. Mudds
statement. owe no allegiance to any
party. l belong to none. and 1 believe 1 can
convince you that that is true. l have OPP
posed democrats, l have opposed repub-
licans. l have fought union men and nom
union men, irrespective of their party affil-
iationS. My record shows this. Now, l am
here to speak a word for George Smith,
true American, who truly represents the
best spirit and sentiment Of the people of
this district. He is a man who will not be
found wanting when he Is called upon to
protect your interests and fight your bat
ties l don't say that Mr.. Mudd has never
said word for the interests of the people
he represents, but he has generally said it
at the wrong time.
Mr.. Mudd refers to the national arbitra-
ton law of 1898, for which he claims some
credit for having passed. Does he not know
that the tenth section of the law has al
ready been declared unconstitutional?
would like to know what he had to do with
the bill, anyhow?
Mr. Mudd's Record.
II have made no attack upon Mr. Mudd,
simply, upon request, gave Mr.. Mudd's
record. with very little or no comment. The
truth is, the record was enough. Mr.. Mudd
has disputed none of the statements l have
made as to his record. OF course, Mr.. Mudd
attacks me. He has added to his vocabu-
larry by saying l am spurious monde
script" and IAN annex to socialism" The
sum total of Mr.. Mudd's grievance is that
l could neither be coaXed, cajoled nor brow
beaten, even by as bold, daring and slick
a politician as Mr.. Mudd.
"He can't throw mud at me and still
keep clean hands.
Mr.. Mudd believes that the entire poll IL
cal campaign inaugurated by the American
Federation of Labor was done to fight him.
Mr.. Hirsch has been charged with being
democrat and that is true. l know he is
democrat. But since a young man Mr..
Hirsch has devoted his time to labor. Mr..
Mudd charges him with being a self-styled
labor leader. AS result of his activity
in the labor movement Mr.. Hirsch has been
repeatedly honored by the workingmen. I
have been a labor worker since young
man, and the workingmen have seen fit to
honor me by electing me their president for
twenty-five years. Mr.. Mudd charges that
he is going to dispose of all of the labor
leaders that are fighting him. In recent
speech he said that Mr.. Hirsch would not
De reelected president OF tne foaitiHoie
federation; that he will help to defeat him.
Where does Mr.. Mudd get such an in
fuence with the workngmen? Mr.. Mudd
has never helped workingmen in securing
the passage of measures In Congress that
would aid the condition of workingmen.
Much has been said by Mr.. Mudd that to
him and to him alone should the credit be
given for rebuilding the Naval Academy at
Annapolis. But what are the facts? Did
Mr.. Mudd do the work? Did he create the
sentiment? Did he accomplish the results"
Mr.. Gompers then proceeded to state in
detail that Mr.. Mudd had nothing to do
with the Annapolis work. A large crowd
listened to the address.