The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-10-26
Labor Leader Calls Presi-
dents Letter to Knox a
"Diatribe of Abuse.
ALSO IS TERMED
'DEMAGOGIC RAGE"
Federation Head Says Executive IS
Fearful of Outcome After Nom.-
mating Judge Taft.

recent letter 70 senator Knox on tie
labor issue, as a "diatribe Of abuse ard
Misrepresentation. an exhibition or In
potent rage and disappointment, and al
awful descent from the dignity OF Ihs
high office OF President OF the United
States" Samuel Gompers, president o.
the American Federation Of Labor, Is.
sued a 5000 word statement IN reply
thereto today.
The statement. which viii appear al
the leading article over his signature
in the forthcoming November number
OF the American Federationist. will be
circulated in large quantities among the
wOTkingTnen OF the country during the
closing days Of the campaign.
Summing up his argument against
the Presidents attitude. Mr.. GompeIs
says.
The fact of the matter IS that Pres
dent Roosevelt. having made Injunction
Judge Taft the candidate OF the Repuo-
lican party for President. and seeing
that the labor vote, which so ofnn
has been corrailed, diverted, and per-
verted by the politicians, is now aroused
and determined 20 deliver its own yote;
that the toilers viii not be caJoled. de-
celved, or brow beaten, has become dss-|
y p
the worst exhibition Of demagogism,
tries 20 instu into the employers and
business mea the fear that their prop
erty and business are in danger If A
square deal implied by equality before
the law and human freedom, are ac-
corded 10 the workers with all other
citizens.
Calls Il ImpOtent
.-F "a
and disappointment and an awful de-
scent from the dignity OF the high Of
fee Of the President OF the United
States. DO one but himself viii be de-
ceived as TO the purpose Of Mr. ROOse- /
Welt"
The statement opens as follows:
so President Roosevelt has again
thrust himself into the campaign. lie
not only becomes bitterly partisan, but
must needs attempt 10 throw the
weight and influence OF his great office
In the scales against the interests -1d
equal rights with all other cluzens, %
which the workers Of our country aspire
and are justly entitled. he makes a
direct and specinC attack upon labor.
Then pTeUense that The attack is upon
me Is too thinly yelled 10 deceive any
one. He strikes over my shoulder at
the hearts of the great rank and file
Of workers and other liberty loving
citizens Of our country.
President Roosevelt says that sen
ator Knox has peculiar right TO dis
cuss the principles involved IN 'DjunC-
tious because ne as Attorney General
prosecuted a civil suit for damages 40
an injured workman. That Senator
Knox was the special counsel OF the
Pennsylvania railroad and of the
United States Steel Corporation would
indeed qualify him to discuss -he In
junction abuse, but certainly only from
ne vie 1F q a.
tiOns who profit by the abuSs OF The
Injunction writ, as IL brings advantage
and profit 10 corporate greed and power.
Answer Is for President.
But to consider at this time the sub
ject OF Senator Knox is Of lesser i'm
portanCe. fnasmUCh as the President
has thrust himself across the path. and
therefore, propose 70 answer his dia-
tribe Of abuse and Misrepresentation.
If the courts haze not invaded hu-
man liberty, II they have not under
taken 10 protect corporate interests to
the detriment Of the people. why did
President Roosevelt characterize Judge
Grosscup's reversal of Judge Lands
trdst as a gross miscarriage OF jus
tice.'
President Gompers then qgotes sew
eral paragraphs from the Presidents
special message 10 Congress Of January
81 'ast, and says that document and
subsequent statements show il utter
confusion OF the entire matter of in
functions in President Roosevelts s
mind"
In the one message" says Mr.. Com
pers, he states fundamental principle,
then makes an absurd deduction, and in
his attack on me goes back on it all"
The statement continues:
I ne tnjuuctions issued by Judge taft
Judge Kicks, Judge Jackson, Judge
Dayton Judge Gould. and Others ara
based upon the theory that along with
the ownership OF the mine, fas.0rv.
workshop, transportation, a ccrfai,'
vested right exists ia so much labor or
patronage as is needed to make tba
Operation profitable, and that this con-
right In the labCrer
Relations Are Personal.
''The relations between employers ani
employees are personal relations as dis
tincI from property relations. that the
rights OF either party are personal
rights. as distinct from property rights
no intelligent man dare dispute; AMI
yet the courts, in extending their equity
power. step IN by the injunction process
and fitch from the tCflers, because they
dre t0ilers, their rights as citizens ami
freemen."
MIR. GompeTs then refers to President
RooseveIfs criticisms OF the Pearre in
junction bill and quotes the entire trades
dispute act raised by TIE British par
lament within the past two years. and
argues that the former was not as
hJCad and comprehensive in its detini-
ton of the rights Of workingmen as the
British law.
''The mere fact that Mr.. Roosevelt
deDouuces q proposition as wicked -
continued Mr.. Gompers, does not so
constitute It; time and circumstance
and party obligation have persuaded
him TO modify his judgment and his
utterances Surely, II must bring unc-
ton TO him TO find his unwarranted at
tack on me so thoroughly appreciated
by the New York Sun. which charac-
terizes him for his past utterance in
as severe language as that with which
ne now attacks me-the New York sun
which charges him with apostasy TO his
y