The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-11
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Continued from Page one.)

Injunction against StrlklnB members
of the Workingmen's Amalgamated
Council of Louisiana, and held that the
Sherman law applied to combinations
of workers as well as to combinations
OF capital.
sherman Law and Unions.
That decision" said Speaker Can
non was rendered fifteen years ago,
before the Pullman strike in Chicago,
and 1t has been the Interpretation of
the law ever since. Mr.. Bryan was in
congress for two years after that de-
cision and although the Democrats
controlled the government, we fall 10
find anything in the records to show
that he or his party tried to amend the
Sherman law or make any protes,
against the action of the court. The
decision of the Danbury hatters' case
was that the boycott was In restraint
of trade and that the American FEEDER
alton of Labor was not exempt from
the law made for all 1t is an unWar-
ranted assumption that this decision in
any way affects agreements between
employees and employers. or that ii
even touches the right of employees 10
quit work or strike"
Speaker Cannon then told of the APP
pearance of Mr. Gompers before the
house committee on judiciary while it
was considering the Hepburn bill, 20
ask for an amendment that would au-
thorize the boycott. He said Mr..
Gompers was asked whether an
amendment suggested by him was
meant to relieve labor unions from the
operations of the Sherman antitrust
law as construed in the Danbury hat
ters' case. Upon Mr.. Gompers reply
ing yes" the chairman asked him:
do you. as the representative of or
ganized labor favor the boycott, both
Bs an interstate and a local PROPOSE
tion?" Mr.. Cannon said that Mr.
Gompers replied, Il do, sir"
The Right to Boycott.
1T will be seen" said Mr. Cannon,
that Mr.. Gompers's complaint was
directed to the decision of the court on
the boycott, not as to what it might
lead to in interference with agreements
between employers and employees, or as
to the right of employees to strike. His
contention is for the right to boycott.
to use the influence he has with a great
organization which he says has a
membership of more than two million
men: to boycott the product of any
man or any firm for any cause what
ever, and to use the publication under
his control to injure any mans bust
ness for any cause or whim that
pleased him. That would be illegal in
any publication by any man. and it Is
difficult to see how It can be made
above the law or how Mr. Gompers can
be exempted from the operation of the
law that applies to all men.
The federal courts have not laid any
bar in legal decisions against agree
ments between employers and en-
ployes. or against peaceable strikes to
procure an increase in wages. l do no-
believe that the supreme court ever
will decide against such agreements
and strikes. When it does, l shall go
hotfoot to aid in changing the law, for
I believe in organized efforts, in COM
bination of interests. especially of men
employed in labor as wage earners, to
better their conditions. 1 have never
opposed such combination and organ
ization.
GOmpers Has His Uses.
"Mr. Gompers has served a useful
purpose in acting as the head of the
American Federation of Labor and
representing that organization in con-
ferences with employers of labor. The
heads of the various railway organi-
cations and their committees have
served a more beneficial purpose in
representing the workers in agreeing
with employers as to wage scales.
hours and conditions of labor The
very condition of our industries today
make these organizations necessary,
and without regard to political affilia-
ton, 1 have always conferred with the
organizers of labor movements as to
what should be done and what could
be done in legislation and in lettering
the condition of the wage Garner.
have personally known the men, who
have headed the labor organizations
for many years past, Arthur. Sargent,
Clark and others, and on all real eff
fective labor legislation 1 have never
known politics to have any effect. 1t
is only in extreme measures that the
demagogue has come to the front to
pose a friend of labor when he
could do so without responsibility for
action. 1 have no sympathy with such
efforts and I do not believe that the
men who compose the great army of
union labor are to be fooled by any
such efforts.
ION Labor day. Mr.. Gompers ad-
dressed the citizens of Danville. 1
am informed that he paid his respects
70 me. This was his privilege as an
American citizen. The offense that
brings me under his condemnation is
that as a representative in congress
and speaker of the house, I have re-
fused to take orders from him and to
agree to a scheme of legislation
which would make one law for one
set of American citizens and another
law for all other citizens.
Tho Appeal Direct.
ct appeal from Mr.. Gompers' at
tempted domination of myself and
other members of congress to the cit
izenship of the republic. 1 especially
appeal to that great body of fair
minded men. unionized for the people
for the lettering their condition, who
would scorn to ask legislation for
themselves different from that which
applies to all other citizens.
Mr.. Gompers has heretofore waged
his war against individuals. but now
he seeks, by virtue of his great power
over the non-partisan organization of
which he is the head, to place its
membership in the attitude of voting
for and supporting Mr.. Bryan and the
whole Democratic ticket as against
Mr. Taft and the whole ReD1IhliCap
ticket, and, in the event of Mr. Com
pers's success, the republic is to be
brought under the domination of Mr.
Bryan's policies. which I believe to be
destructive to the best interests of the
American people"