The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-08
Appears Before the Democrat
Platform Committee.
BACKED BY OTHERS.
Fuller of Trainmen and Mitch
ell of Miners
Make Pleas Against Use Of the
Injunction.


platform. adjourned until a. m. today
at the suggestion of Senator Stone of
Missouri. The full committee was in
structed to assemble at p. m. today
at which time the subcommittee ex-
poets to be able to report. The con-
vention will be asked to meet at 10
O'clock on Thursday and it is the plan
to have the report ready for presenta-
ton at that time with the idea of hav
ing it disposed of by noon.
Immediately after being called to or
der at 500 the platform committee of
the Democrat national convention pro-
ceeded to carry out the wishes of Mr.
Bryan by electing Governor Charles n.
Haskell of Oklahoma permanent chair
man. The committee decided to en-
trust the details of the preparation of
the platform to a subcommittee of II
members to be appointed by the chair;
but before these appointments were an
nounced the full committee listened to
arguments in support of various planks
which Will be offered for adoption.
HObsOn Is Heard.
The first of the hearings was on the
subject OF the improvement of the in
land waterways. Richmond Pearson
Hobson. congressman from Alabama,
presented plea for the increase of the
navy, and in doing so declared that this
country is in imminent danger of war
with Japan. He predicted that this war
Dental administration and believing the
Democrat party would then be in pow
err he said If ii did not make proper
preparation by additions to the navy
this party would be ground to powder.
He declared Japan is coVetous, not OF
the Philippines alone, but OF Hawaii
and our own Pacific coast country.
Regarding Japan as a great fighting
machine, he said that it was absolute
1y necessary that proper provision
should be made to guard our interests
against that power. Mr.. Hobson said
that he based his statements upon in
side information.
The Labor Question.
After a recess of two hours for din
ner the committee resumed its hear
ings, taking up the labor question.
Samuel Gompers president American
Federation of Labor, John Mitchell,
and other labor leaders were present.
They presepted for consideration of
the committee the suggestions which
were rendered to the resolution COM
mittee of the Chicago convention and
asked that they be Incorporated in the
platform.
Addressing the committee in sup
port of the resolutions Mr.. Gompers
spoke of their failure to secure
recognition.
I'VE asked them for bread and we
received a stone
The Republican injunction declara-
ment 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 re-
ceived the decision of the supreme
court in the Hatters case holding labor
unions to be trusts or illegal COM
binations in restraint of trade under
the antitrust law and made an earn
est plea for an amendment of that
declared
been contemplated that the Sherman
law should apply to those who toll.
but that on the contrary it was in
tended to control combination dealing
with the products of labor.
Mr. Gompers said, I'VE do not ask
for special privileges, but merely for
justice and equality. We insist that
the injunction be not made an in
strument of oppression
Enough Law Now.
He contended that the law in its
ordinary operation was sufficient to
protect the public against the crimes
of laboring people.
Mr. Gompers said in the Demo-
cratic party would assist in righting
these two wrongs il would make il
possible for labor to stand with it.
Labor could afford to wait for the
other reforms suggested. "If you will
do what we ask you 1t will electrify
our hearts" he said in conclusion,
land we will be with you"
When Mr.. Gompers had concluded
George Fred Williams of Massachu-
sets. asked him how far the princi-
Piles he had been arguing for were in
dorsed by organized labor. The reply
was that they had been endorsed by
convention after convention of organ
lied labor and that every branch of
labor had adopted resolution urging
the reforms.
Mr.. Gompers said the planks also
represented the views of the executive
council of the American federation of
labor.
Mr. williams called Mr. Gompers'
attention to the absence in the plank
he had submitted of any reference to
notice" in the issuance of temporary
injunctions. Mr.. Gompers commended
he had argued against any use of pre-
Iiminary injunctions in labor disputes.
Senator Stone asked Mr.. Gompers
whether the original injunction plank
purporting to have been drawn by
President Roosevelt and Secretary
Taft but which the Republican con-
vention refused to adopt would be sat-
isfactory to organized labor. The
American federation of labor not
only does not want that declaration,
but would be opposed to it," was the
reply of Mr.. Gompers.
"Nor the plank the Republicans
adopted?" asked Mr.. Stone.
I'VE are opposed to that was the
reply.
Mr.. Gompers was then questioned
closely by many members of the COM
Jnittee to bring out specific cases
wherein injunctions would lie under
his plank and the answers made indi-
Gated that none would lie against la
borers.
Fuller Makes Plea.
H. r. Fuller, representing the
brotherhood of locomotive firemen.
.~,ofpaarw and trainrnen nraSapfpd on
argued Vor the identical injunction
plank he laid before the Republican
convention. The plank endorses the
right OF laborers to strike and to per-