Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-11-17
GOMPERS WILL
REFUSE TO PAY
CASH PENALTY
DECISION IN CONTEMPT CASE
CAUSES WORRY
a. r. or |. FUNDS SUBJECT TO
POSSIBLE FINES
President Declares, However, He viii
Not Allow the Treasury to Be
"MuIcted by courts"-Pre-
fers Imprisonment
rBy Associated Press.J

~ ENVER, Nov. 16.-President sam
mel Gompers, in the convention OF
~ the American Federation of La
bor today declared If ne were 1oullo
guilty and fined in the contempt pro-
ceedings pending against him IN WASH
ing4on he would go to Jail before he
would pay his fine or allow the Feu-
Grafton to pay it for him.
This statement was made by MI
Gompers during the discussion OF the
report of the committee on the treasuI-
ers report. 4to+
The committee recommended that
Immediately following the adjournment
of the convention the executive coun-
eli take up the proposition of placing
its finds where they might be removed
from danger of attachment.
This report brought on a political
discussion. in which several members
declared themselves in favor OF the
formation of an Independent poll'icai
party.
Safeguard impossible
Treasurer John B. Lennon said that
he had discussed the sa1eSuaFuIls u
the funds with attorneys and all mad
agreed that it was impossible without
resulting at some time in perjury by
some person. Several suggestions were
made from the floor one being thaL
the funds be deposited in Canada ana
another that certificates OF deposit pe
taken out in some other name imam
the treasurer's. ,
ers was applauded when he declared
I'VE had a chance to place our funds
beyond the reach of those VINO Woulu
take them, but we let it pass November
8. The only way to protect our money
is to change the laws"
Mr.. Gonipers warned the delegates
n hide
funds 1.-THE courts would thereafter ap-
point a receiver, not necessarily TO Sc
cure in some way the hidden funds, put
to get the money being contributed.
Courts Menace Standing
By request, Mr.. Gompers explained
the status of the Danbury hat case.
The lower courts had held that there
was no case under the Sherman anti
trust law, but the United States su-
preme court reversed this decision and
remanded the case to the lower court
for retrial. Continuing he said;
"Our standing is menaced by the
courts of law. The matter of the APP
plication of the Sherman antitrust law
to unions has reached final adjustment
by the supreme court of the United
States.
mo matter how the Danbury case is
decided, that will not alter the status
one lot. The United States supreme
court has said the final word and the
law Of this country is that labor organ
izations of this country are now con-
spiracies and combinations in restraint
of trade.
"Honest Business Impossible"
'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
I will never consent that the American
Federation of Labor shall ever pay one
cent of any fine for me.
81 don't want to go to jail, but / will
not tamely submit to the federation
being mulcted for me. I am not plead
ing poverty, for if I had the means 1
would not use them in payment of any
fine imposed on me for exercising my
rights as an American citizen.
Max Hayes of Cleveland made a
Socialistic speech, but suggested the
formation of Labor party. He cr1tl-
cised the Democratic platform, and
in regard to that portion which says,
1--WE yield to none in our respect for
the COURTS, Hayes declared he had
no respect for the courts.
Says Position Is Illogical
President Gompers again took the
floor to reply to Hayes. He said the
position taken by Hayes was Illogical
and declared that the decisions of the
supreme court had but one object,
namely, to "tie the men of labor to
their work, to cripple the men of labor
in their right to work or their right not
to work"
That was the proposition, he de-
clared.
"These decisions" he said, will 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 the Labor party, and
having secured their rights to organ
ize they have continued and will Sc
cure other rights.
''In the first place, 1 am not in love
with the Democratic party; second, 1
am not a Democrat, and third, l am
confident l never will be a Democrat,
I owe allegiance to no party. 1 am a
trades unionist. May the trades I'M
ionists always be right: but, whether
right or wrong, I am with the trades
unionists."
Calls Forth Cheers
This declarations was received with
cheers.