The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-17
Says He Will Never Consent TO
Pay Fine for Contempt
Of Court.
WILL NOT LET FOLLOWERS
ASSUME THE OBLIGATION
Question of Recent Court De-
cisiOns Cause Of Exciting
Vigorous Debate.

DENVER, Nov, 16.-President Sam
uel Gompers, at the afternoon session of
the convention of American Federation
of Labor today, declared that if he were
! found guilty and fined in the contempt
proceedings pending against MIN at
Washington, he would go to Jail before
he would pay his fine or allow The fed
Grafton to pay it for him.
The statement was made by Mr..
Gompers during the discussion of the
report Of the committee on the treas
urer's report. The committee recon-
mcnded that imme diately following The
adjournment of the convention the exec
utivc council shall take up the PROPOSE.
tlon of placing its funds whore they
may be removed from danger of at
tachment. This report brought out
political discussion in which several
members declared themselves III favor
of the formation of an Independent po-
! liticol party.
To Safeguard Funds.
Treasurer John b. Lennon said he had
discussed the matter of safeguarding
the funds with good attorneys and they
all agreed that ii was impossible, with
out resulting at some time in perjury
by some person. Several suggestions
were made from the floor, one being
that the funds be deposited IN Canada
! and another that certificates of deposit
| be taken out In some other name than
the treasurer s.
D. G. Ramsey of the Electrical Work
ers, was applauded when he declared,
''Wc had chance to place nur funds
beyond the reach of those who wonld
take them, but we let IT pass on No
vcmber 3. The only way to protect our
money is To change the laws. -
Mr.. GomperS warned the delegates
that if a way were found to hide the
funds, '.the courts would thereafter up.
point receiver, not necessarily 10 Sc
cure in some way the hidden funds, but
to get the money being contributed,
By request, Mr.. Gompers explained
the status of the Danbury hat case. The
lower courts held that there was no
case under the Sherman antitrust law,
but the United States supreme court
had reversed this decision and remauded
the case to the lower court for re-trial.
Continuing, he said: ......
Menaced by Courts.
"Our standing is menaced by the
courts of law. The matter of the appli-
cation of the Sherman anti trust law TO
unions has reached final adjustment by
IUp united E9ldltS SupICue tONII NJ
matter how the Dnnbury case is decided,
that will not alter the status one jot.
The United States supreme court has
SAID the final word, and the law of this
country is that labor organizations of
this country are now conspiracios and
combinations in restraint of trade.
"Under the Sherman antitrust law,
honest business cannot be conducted,
much less honest, straightforward labor
organizations.
"Referring to the case against me
in the District Of Columbia, | want to
say ! Will never consent that the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor shall ever pay
one cent of any fine for me. l don It
want 20 go TO Jail, but l will not
mulcted for me. / am not pleading
poverty, but if | had the means / would
not use them in payment of any fine
imposed on me for exercising my rights
as an American citizen,
Labor Party Suggested.
Max Hayes of Cleveland made So
cia!jstic speech. but suggested the for,
nation OF a labor party. lie criticised
the Democratic platform, and in regard
TO that portion which says: 1--WE yield
to none in our respect to the courts,
Mr.. Hayes declared he had no respect
for the courts.
President Gompers again took the
floor to relpy to Mr., Hayes. He said
the position taken by Mr.. Hayes was
illogical and declared that the decisions
of the supreme court had but one object, |
namely, TO 'ttic tho men of labor 10 !
their work, TO cripple the men of labor |
in their right to work, or their right |
not to work. That was the PROPOSE |
ton he declared
'frhesc decisions" he said, twill re-
suit in lettering men today, in order
TO enslave them for all time to come,
The rights which the courts took from
the workmen Of Great Britain caused ,
the formation of tho labor party, and
having secured their rights TO organize,
they have continued and Will secure
other rights.
Leader Not Partisan.
HIn the first place, | am not IN love
with the Democratic party; second. ]
am not a Democrat, and third. l am
confident | never will be 4 Democrat,
! owe allegiance 10 no party, | am
a trade unionist. May the trade union
lists always be right. but whether right
or wrong, | am with the trade union.
ists.''
This declaration was received with
cheers,
Ono man has denounced the Demo
cratic party more than /. - Mr. Gompcrs
"but when tho Democratic
party made our contentious its own 1t
would not only have been ingratitude
hut cowardicc to desert them. If Mr.,
BRYAN had been elected with the hosts
of organized labor back Of him, it would
have given spirit to human freedom. -
John H. Walker, president of the H.
lipois Mine Workers, who said he was :
political organization. Il