The Washington herald., 1907-04-25
BRINKMAN is BITTER
DenOunces Presidents Letter
on Meyer and Haywood.
REFLECTS GoMPERs' VIEWS
President Meets Two Labor Leaders
and Earnestly Discusses Famous
Letter with Tbem-.The President
Is Right" They Say, After Their
Talk at the white House.

President John H. Brinkman. Of the
local Central Labor Union. president Of
the local Carriage and Wagon Workers
Union and officer OF the international
association, when seen yesterday ia re-
gard to the Presidents letter regarding
his characterization of Haywood. Meyer,
and Pettibone, gave out the following
statement:
1.-THE labor organizations OF the District
of Columbia are no more interested In
Charles H Meyer. George A. Pettib0ne.
or William d. Haywood, as representa-
tives OF organized labor than they are
in any other American citizen, be he
multi-mulionaire or be he pauper. The
only interest We have in the case is to
see that every citizen. no matter what
may be his condition, shall have fair
and impartial trial by a jury, and that
no power shall be exercised that is Ia
coutravention Of the rights guaranteed
to every citizen by the Constitution Of
the United States.
Condemns President Roosevelt.
when these men were kidnapped and
carried from one State 10 another, with
out due process Of law, and in contraven-
ton of their rights as American citizens.
no matter even though they were charged
with the most fragrant crime known TO
mankind Il was in contravention of their
rights, and against this We have lodged
a protest. We do not share their p0lit-
zeal opinions, We may not share their
mode OF conducting d strike, but, never
theless. they have rights that must be
respected. We condemn President Roose-
Welt for the utterances he has made re-
speeding these people and we cannot
view it other than an attempt from the
Chief Magistrate of this great republic to
influence a Jury before whom these men
viii be tried If their friends and CO.
workers appeal to their fellows for funds
with which to give them an opportunity
to secure the best legal talent that can
be secured, this IS no crime for them 10
believe IN advance that they are innocent
IS no crime, because under the law Of
our country every man IS considered In
nocent until he is proven guilty.
Claims He AIieHatcd Labor.
President Roosevelt in my opinion has
arrayed the great organization of labor
against him. and ] do not believe that
there is an honest labor man in the United
States affiliated with any political organi-
zauon that could possibly mark his bali
l0t ia favor of him. He has written
himself down as "A tyrant. He has in
this case trampled the Constitution under
his feet. He is no more entitled To the
support OF the law-abiding citizens OF
this country than man who has done
his utmost 10 upset It's Institutions.
believe these views will be shared by
every labor leader in the United States,
whether he is in afiiliatiOn with the
Western Federation Of Miners or any
other labor organization"
President Talks 80 Labor Leaders.
The President followed up his letter
on Hartman. Meyer. Haywood. and Debs
as undesirable citizens" by talking yes
terday morning with two representatives
OF union labor who called at the White
House S. B. Hamer. chief of the Order
Of Railway Conductors, OF West Virginia,
and r. II. Graham, legal counsel for the
order IN that State. went TO the Presi-
dents Office With Senator Scott.
They said afterward that they did not
come 10 Washington for the purpose of
talking with the President about his de-
nunciation Of Haywood and Meyer the
/ Idaho labor leaders, who are now await
ing trial in connection with the murder
+ OF eX-GOv. Steunenberg. but through Sen
/ ator Scott they came merely to pay their
/ respects.
I When Mr. Roosevelt learned that they
were representatives of union labor. he
asked them 10 pass into his private Of
! fee. as he wanted to talk with them.
When they were seated. the President
/ proceeded to discuss the letter In great
detail, defending his expressions in regard
to Meyer and Haywood and the others.
and reiteraung his statement that they
are undesirable citizens The President
] recalled 10 his visitors the great interest
/ he has taken in the cause OF union labor.
and cited instances in which he had used
/ his influence TO promote sO-called labor
I legislation.
/ The West Virginia men were deeply in
! terested in what they heard, and upon
/ leaving the White House they declared
/ their belief that "the President is right"
President Brinkman's views, as set
forth. may aptly be taken as the views of
/ the American Federation Of Labor and of
( President Gompers- It is well known that
/ President GOmpeTs' opinions and beliefs
/ are correctly reflected in the local Central
( Labor Union. which is in close touch
/ with him.