Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-22
ROOSEVELT DISCUSSES G0MPERS
In Letter to Senator Knox, President At.
tacks Labor Leader.

STANDS IL I'D mt All. ne dss'ies 'hA>
he has the requisite inside knowledge.
His statement that Mr.. Bryan's party
tor it was Mr.. Bryan who dictated
the PLATFORM pledged itself ITO those
remedies which labor had already sub
mittcd to congress" Is perfectly
clear and definite statement.
The remedies which Mr.. Com
pers has already submitted to con
gress are matters OF record, and the
| identificatiog OF his remedy against
Injunction IA labor disputes is easy
and certain. This remedy" Is EN-
| bodied in House bill number "a OF
! the first session OF the siXtieth con
sress. the complete text of which is
hereto appended.
| The gist of the bill as can be seen
by referring to the complete text, is
this:
First:-After forbidding any federal
! judge to issue restraining order Tor
an injunction in any labor dispute ex-
cept to prevent irreparable injury
to property or a property right, IL
specifically provides that no right
= TO carry On business of any
particular kind. or at any particular
place or al all. shall be construed.
held, considered or treated as proper
, ty or as constituting property
right
| Second:-It provides that nothing
agreed upon or done by two or more
parties in connection with labor dis
pute shall constitute a conspiracy or
| other criminal offense or be prosecut-
ed as such unless the thing agreed
upon or done would be unlawful II
done by single individual. I"
! The bill here described is not only
the remedy" that Mr.. Gompers has
ALREADY submitted to congress-. but
lit Is the one and only remedy
which he and those associated with
him in his present movement have
J announced that they will accept in
the matter of his grievance against
the courts on the injunction issue.
The counsel for the American Fed
Grafton of Labor. and MIR. Gompers.
it's president. are both on record to-
this effect.
At hearing before the House Com
mittee on judiciary. the counsel for
the American Federation of Labor. on
February ). 1908 Gas appears from
the printed hearings) stated:
The bill was considered by at
least two sessions of the executive
council Of that organization, and I'M
animously approved. 1t was consider
ed bv two Of its national conventions.
Il La. fhNco
mously endorsed. and in the face
Of many propositions to amend it. in
the face of many proposed substi.
itutes. in the face of pressure. from
every direction. from high sources.
and sources not so exalted. the Or
sanization has stood by. and ia today
Standing By, this bill without amend
mcnt'' w
Mr.. Gompers himself in discussing
tits bill before the same committee
on February 2sth. 1908. Gas appears
from the printed hearings) went on
r. cord as follows:
Events have demonstrated clearly
| 10 nv mind that there is only one
bill before the committee that can at
! all be effective TO deal with this
| abuse. with this invasion Of human
rights, and that is the Pearre hI."
Further on in the same page OF the
hearings. Mr.. Gompers states:
T will say this. that think will
Try to make my position clear that
the American Federation Of Labor
has so declared itself that It must in:
sig. upon the principles involved IN
l;h, Pearre bill. and that explained.
las hest I could the position OF labor
hat We should rs'aer be compeii-
| ed 10 lear the wrongs which We have
for a longer period than 20 give our
! assent to the establishment Of al
wrong principle, believing and know
| ing that time would give the jus
tice and relief to which 1abor-the
| working people-are entitled"
This bill then. and none ether. re.
presents exactly the relief that Mr..
| Gompers demands in the way OF an
ti-injunction legislation: and II the
statement in his letter IS correct. this
| biH represents what Mr.. Bryan and
: his party are pledged TO in me mat
I ter Of anti-injunction legislation.
The tnlunction plank IN tne bESd"
tie platform may sound vague and
hay: but there is nothing vague or
hazv about this bill
| II Is more than bill: II Is a pro
/ sramme Of the most Fixed end de-
finite kind: and II Mr.. Gompers Is
correct. this bill. becomes. a. 1t were
an authorized Appendix TO Mr.. Bryan's
I u,~,fo~,n mr. TOO rDf< oxnl n ming in do
tail the briefer and vague injunction
plank In thar platform
Does Mr.. Bryan accept 70 as such
Mr Bryan should state publicly
whether he in fact accepts the prin-
cipIe O. this bill which Is the oficiai
programme Of Mr. Gompcrs and those
| who stand with him.
4 Mr. CornnerS announces nniisclY