The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-04-27
Hoult. lettings
1.-THE Other stde.r

H
Editor West Virginian:
note In your issue Of "Wednesday
President Roosevclt's defense to his
reference to Meyer and Haywood in
the Hartman controversy. | am fully
aware that my opinion is worth but
little. bHt then don't worry, IL shall
cost nothing, I think It a most film.
sy excuse. The President retorts; on
his critics that he Is fully justified in
c%onlemning these men II he wish.
es, ba. that organized labor Is doing
very wrong In trying to influence the
courts to have these men freed. Now
ever since We have had courts Of jus.
tice It has been considered the right
Of the friends Of men on trial for their
lives TO use every means possible ,
convince Judge and Jury Of the limo.
cence Of the accused. On the other
hand what might be very proper for,
say the writer, Or the West Virginian,
to even say cdItorially, might not be
dignified and proper for the President
of the United States to say, thus gi..
Ing a semi.onicial status TO n bold
condemnation Of an accused but un.
tried man although we presume a mar
innocent until proven guilty.
My object In writing this Is not to
attack the President Of the United
States. That would he utter folly.
My object is to throw n little light on
the other side Of this subject. Most Of
your readers know nothing about the
matter and Judging from the Presi.
dents biased and lopsided statement
would conclude that no one is saying
or doing anything In favor of these
men except 4 few Socialists and radi.
cal labor asitators. Now II he calls all
labor organizations dangerous ana
undesirable who defend these men
he will have to condemn practically
every one Of them In the United
States. 1t Is known that Samuel Com.
pers has protested against the persecu.
ton Of these men and the Illinois Mine
Workers donated 100000 to their
defence At the Suggestion Of John
Mitchell. Are these men alt danger.
ollS and undesirable? A further dis.
patch from Washington says It IS an.
nounced nj The White House that the
President has said his last say and Il
any labor organizations call 10 protest
they will not he received at the White
House. Whit folly. Whom the gods
would destroy they first make mad"
This is the plaincst slap in the face
ever Il President gave TO organized la.
bor and no one should be surprised II
labor refuses to 'arH the other cheek.
Tie President limited at Il press con.
tolled by radical labor. Now rs |
take no newspapers but the West Vir.
sinian( and no M would accuse It OF
being controlled by ~rallcals} ] have no
way Of knowing the comments of lead.
Ing papers but as copied In the labor
press. Will admit this 10 begin. But
It Is not reasonable M paper woull
misqlote publicly an editorial from
another paper as the one misQuoted
would quickly object, therefore, | will
give from this source merely brief ex.
tracts from editorial comments, not
wishing TO take up too much of your
valuable space.
Such papers as the New York Even.
Ing Post. Minneapolis Journal, Mil.
wankce News and Fort Smith Daily
American are not radical labor organs,
yet the Evening Post referring to Hay.
woods protest against his name be.
Ing thus used says: There is much
force Sin3it Hara 20 n n,n n, .,,n,