The San Francisco call., 1908-10-27

ton matter"
WASHINGTON. oct es.-Replying to
President Roosevelfs letter to Senator
Knox in reference 10 the application
Of the writ of Injunction in labor dis
putes, samuel Gompers. president Of
the American federation of labor. in a
statement issued today. severely ar
raigns the president for what he terms
a change Of position Of. at least. ap-
parent friendship, 10 bitter. fndefenslbIe
sntsgonism.
II has been nay pleasure TO have often
Lad the privilege Of discussing with
President Roosevelt Il number OF the
fundamental questions OF right. justice
and moral and social uplifting In
Guided ia these discussions were The in
NaSlons OF personal rights and human
Il ertN by The courts an the injunction
Sc II is true the president has not
EfWays fully agreed with my conten-
tons. bar he has never, until The pub
licatton- af his latest utterance. limited.
much less charged. that anything that
we advocated was lawless, unfeeling.
brutal or wicked. and Yet the rights
for which the workers of our country
contend and which as best I can I de-
fend and advocate, have been as well
known 70 him during the last several
years as when he now so unjustifledly Y
undertakes 10 misreprcsent my work
my motives and my law abiding citi-
zenship- Surely that opinion was not
always entertained by the president
Gompers says that last February he
sent Mr.. Roosevelt an issue of the
American Federationist in which was
published the chapter Some EquivOcal
Rights Of Labor" from George A. Al
gers book. Moral Oyerstrsin-
The chapter Of the book" Gompers
says, lis as keen criticism Of the courts
or the country in their decisions affect
ing the rights. interests and liberty of
the workers as anything have ever
The president in acknowledging re-
ceipt Of the article sent the following:
THE WHITE HOUSE. WASHING
TON. Jan. - lsQS.7My Dear Mr. Com
pers- You may be amused TO know that
] have sent copies OF the Moral Over
strain TO Justices Day and McKenna.
] am glad that YOU were able TO use 1t
in the American Federationist and
thank you for sending me the copy Of
the magazine Sincerely yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
10 MI Salluel toAlltfs- FIesloent OF
the Federation OF Labor, Washing
LABOR VOTE AROUSED
The fact Of the matter is that Presi-
dent Roosevelt having made Injunction
Judge Taft the candidate OF the repub-
lican party for president. and seeing
that the labor vote, which so often
has been cOrralled, diverted and per-
verted by the politicians, is now
aroused and determined TO deliver its
own vote: that the toilers Will not be
cs5oied. deceived or brow beaten. has
become desperate and angry. and in
!" deInagogism. tries to instlll into the
employers and businessmen the fear
that rheir property and business are in
danger II square deal implied by
equality before the law and human
freedom IS accorded 10 the workers
with ali other citizens. II IS an exhi-
Dition OF impOtent rage and disappoint-
fIuent and an awful descent from the
dignity OF the high office of the presi-
dent. OF the United States No one but
himself viii be deceived as 10 the pur-
pose Of Mr. Roosevelt
The workers and liberty loving citi-
zens are accursed as never before since
1861. The battle cry for freedom is
again taken up Then il was for the
union and the abolition of black slav-
cry; today il is for the nation, equal
rights and freedom for ALL
Mr. Gompers insists that the presi-
dent makes a direct and specific at
tack upon labor" in his letter to Sen
ator Knox. and says:
The pretense that the attack is upon
me is too thinly veiled 10 deceive any
one. He strikes over my shoulder at
the workers and other liberty loving
citizens Of the country. SO far as
am concerned. ] have neither the in
clination nor the desire TO bask in the
sunlight Of President Rooseyelt's be-
nevoient assimilation by which the
placates some, by the big stick. brow
beats others. and by his sophistry hopes
TO fool the masses into supporting In
5uncffon Judge Taft
president Roosevelt says that Sena-
tor Knox has a peculiar right TO dis
CusS the principles involved in fn5unc-
ions because he, as attorney general
prosecuted a civil suit for damages 10
an injured workman That Senator
Knox was the special counsel for the
pennsylvania railroad and of the
United States steel corporation would
indeed qualify him 10 discuss the in
junction abuse. but certainly only from
fhe viewpoint OF the friends OF cor
porafions who profit by the abuse OF
Tho Injunction writ, as il brings ad-
vantage and profit 70 corporate greed
end power
III The courts have not invaded lu-
man liberty. II they have not under
taken 10 protect corporate interests Ia
the defrfment Of the people. why did
President Roosevelt characterize Judge
CzroescsIp's reversal Of Judge L.andis
n00 oon fine FlDnu the Standard of