The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-08


 Denver, July 7-Immediately after be- ing called to order at 5:30 o'clock the platform committee of the democratic national convention proceeded to carry out the wishes of MT. Bryan by elect ing Gov. Charles N Haskell of Oklahoma as permanent chairman. The committee then decided to entrust the details of : the preparation of the platform to subcommittee of r members to be ap- pointed by the chair; but before these appointments were announced the full committee listened to arguments in stp- port of various blanks, which will pe offered for adoption.
 The first of the hearings was on the subject of the improvement of the iI- land waterways and on this subject arguments were made by Congressman p4nesAll of Louisiana. president of the recent narivaaI ffvers and harbors c0n- gress H. T. Clark of Omaha and Gov ernor Broward of Florida.
 MT. Broward took the position mat liberal pronouncement in favor Of the improvement of the water courses of the interior would prove the means of obtain ing many votes in such states as New 1OIk. IlllHOiS d1O OnlO, and LnerefOre urged the proposition as a natter of practical politics. MT. Clark asked for the approval of plan for the improve ment of the waterways which contem- plates the issue of s500,00O, 900 in bonds for that purpose.
 River Improvement.
 Mir Ransdell contnded that as the government controls te rivers and lakes It should improve thsn, and he asked fer the indorsement f a plan looking to much more liberal appropriation of money than is now mad in this interest. He said that the cost If transportation on the great lakes is oily one-tenth of the cost of transportatAn by rail.
 Richmond Pearson Hoson, congress- man from Alabama, presated plea for the increase of the navyAand In doing so, declared that this couhry is in inn minent danger of war witl Japan He predicted that this war woui take place during the next presidential Ia dministra tion and believing that the s1emocratie party will then be in power, h said that if 1t Cid not make proper peparation by additions to the navy, the larty will be ground to powder. He decl%ed that Japan is covetous, not of the Pklinnines alone, but of Hawaii and our owl Pacific coast country. Regarding JapaA as a great fighting machine, he said hat it was absolutely necessary that Aroner provisions should be made to guar o,,r interests against that power. MT. Hob son said that he based his staterlnts upon inside information. At the conl,l- sion of his talk a recess for dinner Nas taken until S:30 p. m.
 Labor Question.
 After recess of two hours for dinnei the committee resumed its hearings, talk ing up the labor question. Samuel Com pers, president of the American Fedora tion of labor; John Mitchell and other labor leaders were present.
 They presented for the consideration of the committee the suggestions which were rendered to the resolutions commit tee of the Chicago convention and asked that they be incorporated in the plat form.
 Addressing the committee in support of the resolutions MT. Gompers spoke of their failure to secure recognition at Chicago.
 We asked them for bread and we re- ceived a stone." The republican injunc- ton declaration, he declared to be an in- dorsement of the ''existing abuse of law"
 He asked the democrats to "either leave the subject entirely out of the platform or adopt a real remedy for the wrongs complained of.
 He reviewed the decision of the suprema court in the hatters case holding labor unions to be trusts or illegal combIna- tions in restraint of trade under the anti trust law and made an earnest plea for an amendment of that law. He declared that 1t had never been contemplated thar the Sherman law should apply to those who toll, but on the contrary 1t was in tended to control combinations dealing with the products of labor.
 On the subject of injunctlons MT Gompers said the laboring man merely asked to be regarded as equals.
 We do not ask for special privileges ,. lie said, but merely for justice and equality. We insist that the injunction not be made an instrument of oppression. D He contended that the law in it's ordinary operation was sufficient to protect the public against the crimes of laboring people.
 Fighting Wrongs.
 MT. Gompers said that if the democratic party would assist in fighting these two wrongs it would make 1t possible for labor to stand with it. Labor could af- ford to wait for the other reforms sug- gested. If you will do what we ask. you will electrlfy our hearts," he said in conclusion, land we will be with you" When Mir. Gompers had concluded George Fred Williams of Massachusetts asked how far the principles he had been arguing for were indorsed by organized lapor. The reply was that they had been