The Washington herald., 1908-08-28


publican party. the Independence League,
and william r Hearst in the September
number Of the oficial organ Of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor
Lr. Gompers. in his attacks on the
poIitics OF Mr.. Hearst, sustains his rep
utaton for thoroughness- He makes the
following startling statement
Last October when the toilers OF our
country were keyed Up 10 the keenest
energy. ready and willing. as usual, 10
perform their great service 10 society,
a monstrous. unnecessary, and purely 4
artificial panic was thrust upon our peo-
pie through the nanipulations Of the I
princes OF finance Since then nearly /
10000 Of our wealth producers have 1
been thrown upon the streets in idleness- /
Months of IdIeness-
In some manner or other the workers
have managed to scurry through these
ten months Of idleness- The effectiveness
Of organization II resisting wage re-
ductions has been triumphantly demon
strated. but how describe the bitter suf-
ferings and deprivations caused BY the
closing down OF mill and mine and fac
tory. thus throwing hundreds Of thou
sands into absolute idleness for long
periodz
How viii these men fare If the condi-
rions should prevail through the coming
winter The sroutesC heart must grow
sad at the contemplation Of the possible
distress which viii Be e1taIled. not only
UPON the workers. but upon helpless wives
and little ones. dependent upon their daily
toll
OF one thing all may rest assured that
The workers OF America VIII not rest con-
.rr-Tnr AZ
variance with the welfare Of our people
There viii not and there must not be
created in the United States a permanent
army Of unemployed workers
The men OF labor Of the United states
have learned that lesson Of self-reliance-
independence, and associated effort They
are not men with bent backs and reced-
ing foreheads- They are not rypihed by
the man with the hoe The toilers OF our
country stand erect They VIII accept
neither special favors nor charity
The United states supreme Court
NJ Goupers refers 10 the United states
Supreme Court and the trusts as follows:
During The year We have seen the Sd
prene Court interpreting the Sherman
antitrust law 70 make il apply 70 the
voluntary associations OF wage earHers-
d law passed at the demands Of the
people 10 protect them from aggression
and outrage at the hands Of the trusts
and corporations
Under this Interpretation Of the law
the labor unions are declared trusts, con
sp!racles and unlawful combinations II
restraint OF trade. This Supreme COUr
decision makes not only every officer
but every member Of every organization
Of labor liable 10 prosecution by fedora
authority and 20 a fine Of S-o0a. OF I'm
for
discretion Of the court; also liable 70
treble damages in cases where they eX
erciss their right OF voluntary associates
effort 10 protect their personal right
aId liberties
The far-reaching character Of this &c
cisson must constantly be kept in mind
The toilers must spare no effort 10 Sc
cure remedial legislation for the resto
ration OF their rights which have bee
so seriously 5eopardized by this decision
The Injunction Law
OF the injunction law he says
We have also witnessed in the Pas
year most serious judicial invasion an
rsurpation OF individual liberty and hU
nan freedom by the abuse Of the writ q
Injunction. An attempt has been mad
20 deny and prohibit the freedom Z
speech and the freedom OF the press, an
men have been cited 70 show cause VII
they shall not be punished purely for Il
exercise Of the right Of free press ar
free speech. rights guaranteed by Il
Constitution Of our country. and whic
our forefathers fought 70 establish
OF the Republican and Democratic COZ
ventions a. Chicago and Denver, Il
Go1p5rS says
AT the convention Of tfs Republics
party al Chicago IL is well known VIII
scant courtesy was accorded, and tn
which was incorporated in the platfOT
was worse than Il the entire subject hs
been ignored Il was an affirmation e
law that would give statutory authorI
for the very worst abuses Of the injun
tion v-rit-an authority which does p
now exist
On the other hand. the representativ
Of labor were welcomed by the repT
sentativss Of the Democratic party :
entire evening was given 10 MessrS- DI
can. Mitchell. and Gompers- Of the Anne
ican Federation Of Labor executive COU
ell and Mr. Fuller. representing the IA
road brotherhoods. 70 present and arg
la5ors contentious All members OF Z
executive council OF the American FEEDER
tIon OF Labor present at Denver were
attendance at the hearing Finally, Z
Democratic party constructed its pl'
form 20 conform TO lsbors demands
It IS useless for any one 10 pretend
say that either the executive council
the president OF the American e0erdLl
OF Labor has bartered ls0or's vote, pleds
L. OF attempted 10 dictate what the C
ers shall do in the exercise Of their fra
chise
Neither the executive council nor
president Of the American Federation
Labor approached the political parties
this campaign as Democrats or as J
publicans Neither individually nor c
lectively are they annexed 70 any pOIiti
party. nor IS the labor movement
nexed
Respects TO Mr. Hearst
Mr- Gonpers devotes considerable So
10 answering the charges made by u
ian Randolph Hearst, discrediting the
boz movement He says
"9Ir. Hearst is using his resources q
millionaire and the prestige OF his varI
papers in promoting an Independent
utical movement SO long as Mr. Hes
amuses himself with his Pet political
without attempting 70 misrepresent or
vide the forces OF organized labor it
matter Of little importance 70 US
He knows. and everybody else kno
that his Independent movement has
the slightest chance Of success
The only question is, Which OF
dominant parties viii benefit by