The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1908-11-20
Enthusiastically 1t Always Be
Right; but Unionism Right
or Wrong"
SOME POLITICS AT THE MEET
Labor Party Urged at the American
Federation Convention.
Head of the Organization Declares
He Will Go to Jail, but Never
Pay Fine Courts
Roasted.

President Gomphers, at the ses-
sion of the Denver, Colo, convention
of the Federation of Labor, declared
that if he were found guilty and fined
in the contempt proceedings against
him at Washington he would go to jail
before he would pay his fine. or before
he would allow the Federation to pay
any fine for him. This statement was
made by Gonpers during the discus
sion of the report of the committee on
the treasurer's report.
Would Safeguard the Funds.
The committee recommended that
Immediately following the adjourn
ment of the convention the executive
committee shall take up the PROPOSE,
ton of placing its funds where they
may be removed from danger of at
tachment The report brought out
political discussion in which several
members declared themselves is favor
of the formation of an independent
political party. Treasurer John B.
Lennon said be had discussed the mat
ter of safeguarding the funds with
good attorneys and they all agreed
that it was impossible without result
ing at some time in perjury by some
persons. Several suggestions were
made from the floor, one being that the
funds be deposited in Canada and an
other that certificates of deposit be
taken out in some other name than the
treasurer
Unions Declared Conspiracies.
In discussing the question Gompers
said: "Our standing is menaced by
the courts of law The matter of the
application of the Sherman antitrust
law to unions has reached final adjust
ment by the United States supreme
court. = $ The United States su
preme court has said the final word
and the law of this country Is that la
Dor organization of this country are
now conspiracies and combinations in
restraint of trade. Under the Sherman
antitrust law honest business cannot
be conducted, much less honest
straightforward labor organizations.
Will Not Pay Any Fine.
Tt was here that Gompers declared
he would not pay a fine himself nor
let the Federation pay one for him
would go to jail first He said the
penalty would, if exacted of him, be
exacted for exercising my rights as
an American citizen
Max Hayes, of Cleveland. made a
Socialistic speech, and criticised the
Democratic pla form in regard to that
portion which says: I'VE yield TO none
in our respect to the courts" Hayes
declared he had no respect for the
courts Gompers took the floor to re-
ply to Hayes. He said the position
taken by Hayes was illogical, and de
clared that the decisions of the SUI
preme court had but one object-to tie
the men of labor to their work, to Grip
pie the men of labor in their right to
work or their right not to work. That
was the position. he declared.
Is Not Democrat.
.8These decisions, he said, Twill re-
suit in lettering men today in order
to enslave them for all time to come.
| am not In touch with the
Democratic party; second, | am not
Democrat. and third, | am confident |
never will be Democrat. | owe ale
glance to no party. / am trade
unionist May the trade unionists al
ways be right, but whether right or
wrong, l am with the trade unionists.'
This declaration was received with
cheers. He closed by declaring that
IF Bryan had been elected with the
hosts of organized labor back of him
it would have given spirit to human
freedom"