The San Francisco call., 1908-12-27
MASS MEETING TO
DISCUSS SENTENCE
Labor Council Sets Next Sunday
for Big Gathering OF
Uni0nists
Macarthur Opposed to Plea to
Roosevelt to Pardon A. F.
of L. Men

labor council last night the matter of
Mitchell and Morrison came up for dis
cussion. The executive committee rec
commended that the council call mass
meeting, in accordance with the reso-
luton adopted at the recent session of
the American federation of labor that,
in the event of the labor leaders named
being sentenced, mass meetings be held
all over the country on the second Sun
day following the sentence.
Walter Macarthur moved that the
exclusive committee make arrangements
for such meeting and in support of
his motion urged that "in view of the
menace of government by injunction
such meeting should be held in order
to educate the people along. the line
of the danger that threatens all classes
of people, and that such meeting should
not be one of passion or of resentment"
There are many persons who have
not given this subject any thought.
! but since the sentence has been pro-
nounced some of these are disposed to
! reflect as to possible codnitions and
! they want to know what 1t all means,
said Macarthur.
| I'VE should take advantage of the
| present state of affairs to educate the
people, particularly our own people,
| the laboring people, and tell them just
| exactly what it means. We can hold
| this meeting for the purpose suggested
| and If necessary hold another. We
must make the people appreciate the
| fact that Gompers, Mitchell and Nor
rison did not violate a law, but were
sentenced for disobeying the mandate
of a court"
! Il want TO say that I deprecate the
movement that has been started to ask
the president of the United States to
pardon these men. They, | am salts
! fed, do not approve of this. 1t is not
dignified to have any squeal because
someone has received setback in the
| labor movement and set up plea of
mercy.
Delegate J. O. Walsh said that the
decision of Justice Wright was the
| greatest boycott that could be placed
on the Bucks stove company. Before
| few knew that that company was un
fair to organized labor. but now every
body knows it. When the working
men fully understand this matter" he
said, they will be ready to act, but
first they must be made to understand
| that this means restriction of lib
erty."
| He was of the opinion that no petit
tion for an Injunction should be
granted unless both sides are heard.
| Delegates Rose Seaman and CAL
| lagher urged an early meeting and op-
posed an amendment to delay the meet
/ ing for a week longer.
Secretary Gallagher said that he had
| talked with many men in the file of
| the laboring men and found that there
was feeling of lack of confidence in
the courts. I'VE do not at this time
like to say" continued the secretary,
that the sentencing of the labor lead
ers is the greatest piece of injustice in
American history, or that the preju-
dice manifested by Justice Wright en-
titles him to be assigned to oblivion.
If the decision had been written by Van
Cleve himself 1t could not show any
greater hatred of unionism than does
the decision of Justice Wright
| M. j. Roach of the molders' union,
now an attorney; Anton Wah, E. H.
Misner and others urged speedy meet
ing
Leo Nicholson declared that IL the
laboring people were true to themselves
and purchased only such things a. have
| the union label there would not be any
occasion for injunctions and no atten-
tion would be paid to unfair concerns.
A delegate from the stove filters
union declared that he knew for pos
itive fact more Buck stoves were sold
last week in this city than in any for
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care who put up stoves, For" said he,
81 have set up more than 700 stoves in
| this city and no one has ever asked
me for my union card"
/ George A. Tracy declared himself op-
posed to a plea for mercy for the SEN
fenced leaders, and said that the mat
| ter must be fought to the court OF last
resort, and held that Gompers was
right in defying Justice Wright as this
was to be test case.
President Sweeney favored an early
| meeting.
| 1t was finally decided to hold the
meeting on Sunday, January 8, and the
! executive was authorized to take
| charge of the matter. invite the build
/ ing trades council and other friendly
| bodies. prepare set of resolutions in
conjunction with the other bodies and
submit the same at the meeting to be
| held next Saturday.
I
/ REAR ADMIRAL FORSYTH ILL
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