The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-11
Makes a Vigorous Assault on the
Bryan BreastwOrks.
REPLIES TO GOMPERS.
Says the Point at Issue Is the
Right to Boycott.
Credit Due to Republicans for
Labor Legislation.

Joseph Cannon, of the national house
of representatives, opening his cam
paign for reelection to congress from
the Eighteenth district of Illinois, last
night delivered a speech dealing with
the leading issues of the national cam
paign, devoting considerable attention
to William j, Bryan and to Samuel
Gompers. The speech in part took the
form of a reply to Mr.. Gompers' at
tack on Speaker Cannon, made in a
speech in Danville on Labor day.
In leading up to the reply to Mr..
Gompers, Mr.. Cannon said tnat there
were two paramount issues In this
campaign. One was the tariff ana the
other the integrity and Independence
of the judiciary After devotir- con-
siderable attention to the position OF
the two leading parties on the tarim
question and discussing prosperity, the
recent financial depression ana the
prime place held by the United States
in commercial affairs, Mr.. Cannon con-
cluded that the depression of last Oc-
tober did not affect the farmers, who
constitute one-third of fhe population,
| and that the people in the aggregate
were never in so good condition to
withstand a depression ana that the
country was fast recovering from its
effect. He believed that prosperity
| equaling that of the last few years had
already returned.
Taking up the judiciary, Mr.. Cannon
| said that the Democratic platform this
year declared that the courts of jus
| tice are the bulwarks of our liberties,
and we yield to none in our purpose
| to maintain their dignity" He said
| that Mr.. Bryan'S platform renewed the
pledge in the platform Of 1896 to COM
pei the federal courts to grant jury
| trials in contempt proceedings. "This
attitude of Mr.. Bryan" said the speak
er, land his party. may be. illustrated
| by the story of Joab and Amasa, which
| f,, Hnc faV mt. Ar,A
| Joab Eaid unto Amasa, Art thou in
health, my brother" and Joab took
Amasa by the beard with the
| right hand to kiss him. But
was in Joab's hand; so he smote him
| thereWithin the fifth rib and shed out
| his bowels to the ground.' So Mr.
Bryan would follow the example OF
| Joab with the supreme court.
Differ Only in Words.
: "The federal judiciary is a co-ordi-
nate department of the government, SO
declared by the constitution. The
1 writ of injunction and the power to
punish for contempt are older than
our constitution; and the constitution
recognizes the independence of the ju-
| dietary and especially declares: The
judicial powers shall extend to all
cases in law and equity arising under
| this constitution
'The difference between the Demo-
| cratic platform of 1896 and that of
1908 is only in words; the meaning is
! the same.
"In 1896 Mr.. Bryan said in his plat
| form just what he meant. This year
| he seeks softer phraseology and en-
ploys the diplomacy of Joab, giving the
kiss while he wields the sword.
1--WE might appropriately change the
name of the Democratic candidate to
William Joab Bryan"
Mr. Cannon then took up the history
| of the demand for anti-injunction leg
| islation and pointed out that the de-
| mand for jury trial in contempt pro-
| ceedings came first after the punish
ment of Eugene v. Debs. now candi-
| date for president on the Socialist
ticket, but in 1894 the leader of the
railroad strike. He referred to the
| calling of federal troops to Chicago by
President Cleveland and recfted the
history of the attempt by various con-
gressmen to pass a law in 1896 to take
| from the courts the power to grant in
| functions in labor disputes and their
power to punish contempt. He said
that while the bill was passed by a
| the day the Fifty-fourth congress adj
journed, and although the Democrats
| indorsed such legislation in their plat
form of 1896, both actions were ac-
cepted by the people as an attack on
| the judiciary and aided materially in
| the overwhelming defeat of Mr.. Bryan
| The Republican house stood against
such legislation in 1896 and the people
| ed out that in 1893 the Democrats might
| have passed such an anti-injunction
| law; that they controlled both houses
and had a Democratic president; that
| Mr.. Bryan was a member Of that con-
gress, but he was silent regarding in
| functions by federal court, although
| a court in Louisiana had at that time
decided that labor organizations were
amenable to the Sherman antitrust
| law.
Turns to Gompers.
"Mr Gompers complains" said
| Speaker Cannon, that the supreme
court of the United States has placed
a new Interpretation on the Sherman
antitrust law in the decision of the
is mistaken. Like other special plead
| ers, he puts into that decision things
| that were not written or decided or
| considered. The hatters' case was a
| complaint against an interstate boy
| colt. The American Federation of La
| Dor had ordered a boycott throughout
| the United States against the Danbury
hat manufacturers because of a refusal
| to unionize their shops. The complaint
was against the boycott as a restraint
| of interstate commerce and in defiance
of the Sherman law. The case was de-
cided on that ground and the opinion
| of the supreme court sustained the de-
| cision of the lower court on that
/ ground Mr.. Gompers says that this
| decision for the first time brings the
1 labor unions under the restrictions of
the Sherman law. He is mistaken. The
| United States courts, district and cir
| cult have in numerous cases held that
| the law applies to labor organizations.
4 In the opinion of the supreme court.
/ Chief Justice Fuller Democrat, cited
i several of these decisions"
Mr. Cannon referred again to the