Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-10
HEARTY CHEERS
GREET GOMPERS
AT CONVENTION
LABOR LEADER ASSURED OF
MEMBERS SUPPORT
KEEFE OPPOSITION IN VAIN, BE-
CLAREs MITCHELL
A. r. of L. Annual Session AppIauds
Loudly When President Submits
Report--NatIon's Idle Are
One Of Themes
[Rv AssoeIatsh Prass.

4 1 EN NER, COlo.i NOV 5.-dearIy ap-
plause was given President Sam
u uel Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor by the delegates
to the twenty-eighth annual convention
of the organization at it's opening ses-
sion today, and also at the close of his
session, which was interpreted to indi-
cate that there would be no effective
opposition to his reelection.
The statement that there would be
a big fight in the convention in regard
to the action taken by President
Gompers in the recent campaign will
not be fulfilled said John Mitchell,
former president of the United Mine
Workers, and a delegate to the con-
vention.
THE action of Mr. Gompers was the
result of instructions given him by the
federation at previous conventions and
he will have virtually the entire sup
port of the present convention.
May Fight Over Politics
'It is true there may be a fight on
the question of allowing the federation
to be brought into politics in the future,
but l do not think Mr.. Gompers will
be CenSureQ Tor In6 part uS plebJ Gu
in supporting Mr.. Bryan"
The reading of the report of the
president consumed more than three
hours and the reports OF the secretary
and treasurer were then read in
abbreviated form.
The secretarys report showed the
federation had had a prosperous year.
President Gompers' report was long
and exhaustive accounting of the work
year. AT the outset he declared:
Army of Unemployed
"There must not be permitted to grow
up or to be maintained a permanent
army of unemployed"
The part of the report that touched
on the Buck Stove and Range COM
pany injunction was frequently inter-
rupted by applause.
The statement of the stand taken
by John Mitchell, Frank Morrison and
Samuel Gompers on the injunction
matter also was aplauded.
Mr.. Gompers said: "It Is impossible
to see how we can comply fully with
the courts injunction. Shall we be
denied the right of free speech and
free press, simply because we are
workmen?
Nov 1t is the American Federation
of Labor and the American : ederatiOn-
ist which are enjoined from the exer-
else of the right of free speech and
IL. erty of the press.
I'm the future it may be another
publication, and this injunction will
then be quoted as a sacred precedent
for further and further encroachments
upon the rights of our people.
Freedom of Press Suppressed
'"The suppression of freedom of the
press is a most serious undertaking,
whether in autocratic Russia or in the
republic of the United States. 1t is be-
cause of the present injunction and the
contempt proceedings hereunder to sup
press free speech and free press that L
feel it my duty to enter most en-
phatic protest.
1.-THE report of our legislative COM
mittee reveals a tale of perfidy to the
commonweal, and in telling the truth,
perforce, besmirches the name and his
tory of political party that found its
embodiment and idealism in the mar
tyred Lincoln.
"The Republican party adopted
declarations for the enactment of a law
that would legalize the worst abuse and
perverslon of the injunction writ, this
in direct opposition to what we have
asked"
Mr.. Gompers made a detailed report
of his work in the political field during
the last conventions of both political
parties and also of his experience with
congress.
our conventions have frequently de-
clared," said Mr.. Gompers, that our
movement has neither the right nor the
desire to dictate how a member shall
cast his vote"
Mr.. Gompers' defense of his action
during the late political campaign was
greeted with cheers.