The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-11-10
GOMPERS APPLAUDED
At A. F. |. MEETING
Opposition to Re- Election of
Labor Chief Does Not
Crystalize at Denver.
MITCHELL SUSTAINS LEADER
Declares Federation President Will
Not Be Censured for Sup
port of Bryan.

Denver, Colo Nov. 1o.-Hearty APP
plaue was given President Samuel
Gompers of the American Federation
of Labor by the delegates to the TWEEN
ty-eighth annual convention of the or
ganization at its opening session to-
day. and also at the close OF his re-
port, which he read at the afternoon
session, and was interpreted to indi-
cate that there will be no effective
opposition to his reelection.
The statement that there will be
big fight in the convention in regard to
the action taken by Mr.. Gompers in the
recent campaign viii not be fulfilled"
said John Mitchell. former president of
the United Mine Workers of America
and a delegate to the labor convention
today.
The action of Mr.. Gompers was the
result of instructions given him by the
federation at previous conventions and
he will have practically the entire sup
port of the present convention.
1T is true there may be a fight on
the question of allowing the federation
to be brought into politics in the flu
ture. but I do not think Mr.. Gompers
will be censured for the part he played
in supporting Mr.. Bryan"
The reading of the report of the pres
ident consumed more than three hours,
and the reports of the secretary and
the treasurer were then read in abb
breviated form.
President Gompers report was an
accounting of the work performed by
the president during the last year. At
the outset he declared: There must
not be permitted to grow up or to be
maintained a permanent army of I'M
employed"
The part of the report that touched
on the Buck Stove and Range COM
panys injunction case was frequently
interrupted by applause
Criticises Courts Position.
The stand taken by John Mitchell,
Frank Morrison and Samuel Gobpers
on the injunction matter was also APP
plauded. Mr.. Gompers said In part:
1T is impossible to see how we can
comply fully with the courts injunc-
ton. Shall we be denied the right of
free speech and free press simply be-
cause we are workmen?
Now, it is the American Federation
of Labor and the American Federation
| lists which are enjoined for the exer-
| else of the right of free speech and
the liberty of the press. In the future
| 1t may be another publication and this
| injunction will then be quoted as a
| sacred precedent for future encroach-
upon the rights and liberties of our
people. The suppression of freedom
| of the press is a most serious under
! taking, whether in autocratic Russia or
| the republic of the United States. 1t is
because the present injunction and the
contempt proceedings Hereunder sup
press free speech and free press that
l feel it my duty to enter an emphatic
] protest.
The president made an unwarranted
attack upon me and upon the labor or
| CARNATIONS of the country.
The decision of the supreme court
in the hatters' case involves every
wage-worker of our country No more
unjust decision has ever been issued
by a court. The bred Scott decision
does not approach it in scope
Speaker Cannon has packed com
mittees not only against labor but
against any other real reform legisla
ton