Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-20

FRANK MO"rlSOn. secretary OIL the amer
lean Federal ton Of Labor. who presided
al the m Getting. delivered an address on
the labor movement and the recent de-
cisions Of the United States Supreme
Court.
Secretary Morrison Speaks.
He said. in rart:
1T Is now and has been apparent for
many years that the interests of great
aggregations of capital are religiously
protected by the Judges. For that rea-
son we feel il is waste of time and
money to attempt 10 secure. through the
courts. decisions that will be beneficial to
the wagewOrkeis
Hence. labor has turned its face
which relief should be obtained in a
peaceful manner. Here at least the
voices of the majority should be heark-
ened to. and their will. expressed by their
ballot. crystalliZed into law.
Mr.. Morrison said Dor is asking OF
Congress the adoption of these measures:
That the Sherman antitrust law be 30
amended that 1t will not include labor
unions: to adopt bill to regulate and
limit the issuance of injunctions; that
general employers liability bill be enact
ed. and lastly. by amendment to extend
The application Of the eight-hour Law to
all government employees and those en-
ployed upon work for the government.
This is the legislation that the wage
workers are demanding of Congress. Mr..
Morrison added "Since this demand an
employers liability bill was adopted by
the House by vote of 300 In favor to /
against Littlefie!d. the pronounced. bitter
and relentless enemy of organized labor
of the country was the sole opponent"
Protest Against Law.
Mr.. Morrison said labor's protest was
against the Law which permits the SUI
preme Court to strip labor Of the rights
and liberties guaranteed by the Consti-
tuition
Il am firmly convinced" Mr. Morrison
added. that members of organized labor
will never so far forget their interests
as to favor candidate who has griey-
ously injured the labor unions and as
result OF that injury the unions are to-
day seriously hampered in their efforts to
secure better and still better conditions"
Letters of regret were read from SEN
ator La Toilette. Representative John
Sharp Williams and samu.l Gompers.
Views of Samuel Gompers.
In his communica ton Mr.. Gompers said:
The iabo" unions will not finch. but
manfuliy stand for their rights and the
workers and their friends throughout the
country shall pledge themselves without
regard 10 patty affiliation. without any
other divergence of opinion. to unmaskine
the open or hypocriticaI opponent and
send to political oblivion those who by
negligence or antagonism. fail to resuond
afirmatively and give their full support
TO the specific measures which labor de-
mands.
Neither Faddist Nor Alarmist.
Il am neither faddist nor an aIarmist
l have faith in the republic of our fore
fQ ltax
tr:otism. intelligence and independence of
our people. and That right and justice will
prevail and our freedom be safesuarded:
but We cannot afford to defer TO another
time what must be done now. We must
hold to a strict account bility every man
in whose hands is vested the power to
remedy the wrongs of which we justly
complain and to secure and safeguard
the liberties and the freedom which are
justly ours.
These a-e mementous times. and they
are not merely momentous for the work
sng people. but for all our people. not only
OF today but of the future. IT, through
q judicial usurpation in the matter OF in
junct .ons Or through interpretations of
laws. the rights and the liberties Of the
working people can be shOrn from them
1t is not difficult to discern that the lib
erty of all our people is on the wane. and
that the dangers of decadence in our ma
tfopsl life as a republic made up of SOW
ereiEn, free citizens is but matter of
time. Ii is by the insidious filching OF
the liberties of one portion of the people
at one time so as TO quiet the fears OF
others. and then taking the freedom of
others al another time, that the gravest
danger to free institutions is encounte; ed.
Believes in Organized Labor.
Representative Greene of Massachusetts
addressed the meeting.
II regret that the supreme court of
Massachusetts, and the Supreme Court of
the United States. to which bow as
loyal citizen. have made some decisions
which seem inimical to labor he said.
But I look back to the time when we
had the ten-hour law In Massachusetts
and the fifty-eight-hour law. and am not
discouraged.
Il sympathize with you In your troubles
They come to all of US. We are always
trying TO overcome them. If you don't
succeed at first, try again. believe in
organized labor. because when q man goes
into battle alone he loses. but when be
organizes he wins. Although you may
not win In HOS, thee are years to come.
Il counsel you TO be resourceful and