Evening journal., 1907-09-25
GOMPERS OPENS
FIRE ON TAFT
Attacks the Views Of the
Secretary on the Labor
Question
"lNJUNCTION
STANDARD BEARER"

WASHINGTON. Sept 25.-Organ-
lied labor as represented by Samuel
Gompers, President of the American
Federation OF Labor today formally
opened Its campaign against Secretary
Taft as a presidential aspirant. In the
official organ of the Federation. Com
pers prints a hot hve-page EDITORIAL
headed: Taft. the Injunction stand
ard bearer"
Gompers' remarks are based on Tafts
decision as a United States Judge in
Cincinnati. with reference 20 boycotts
and his recent discussion of labor
questions in his Western speeches.
{ Secretary Tafts contention with re-
ference TO what he terms the boycott.
would. If carried to its logical result"
declares Gompers, lead TO the disper-
sion and forcble breaking up, by court
orders OF every assemblage Of work.
lingmen. however. innocent or lawful
their purpose. and 70 the nullihcatlon
OF all their agreements.
The fact Of the matter Is, that Secre-
tary Taft as a presidential aspirant
Is 'Afeard he may have runied a feath-
er here and there in the plume Of capt
tailst power His parting words are
TO console corporate influence and the
money power for any uneasiness as to
his position. He substantially assures
them that If they viii give him their
support. he will hand over to the tend
Ter mercies Of the worst elements Of tho
lcapitalistlc class the workingmen OF
the United States bound hand and foot.
ishackled by injunctions Tor which he
lwill stand"
Oklahoma Instance.
Taking up the secretary's speeoh-
making tour in detail Gompers con-
ltlnues on in part:
"One OF the reasons which he gave
for advising the people OF oklahoma to
reject the constitution was that Ia his
opinion n contained a bad and dam
lgorous limitation upon the power Of tho
lcourts to grant and enforce wrlts Of
injunction. .-..-........
-"Thc Injunction. he declared. was
lone OF the most valuable, benencicnt
and effectual Instruments Of law and
Justice. II was even more necessary
for the projection OF tho poor than OF
the rich and to limit II IN any way
would put more power III the hands Of
Rich criminals and oppressors.
"The provision to which 80 seriously
lobjected did not, however. limit power
TO issue iniunctions It only limited
the power OF judges to punish alleged
Ivi0lators OF injunctions, to send them
to prison Tor alleged contempt OF court
without trial by jury. Il is to the in
tervontion of jury between the in
junction and the sentence for contempt
that the secretary took exception.
1T docs not appear that he was in
la humorous mood. He seemed wholly
In earnest when he argued that it was
Essential 70 the protection OF the peo-
,pe that judges should have power to
find men guilty Of contempt and give
them prison offences without referring
the facts of the case.
II shows that he has not changed
his position since his campaign In Con-
gresham Littleheld's district last year.
Now as then he ignores all the funda-
mental and vital objections to the
abuse of the injunction and the conse-
quent abolition OF trial by jury in labor
cases. He still seeks TO evade the
issue, 70 find sophistical reasons for
uphoiding monstrous abuse. He was
one Of the early injunction judges and
as statesman and politician he is evil
identity determined tc defend his record." ."