Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-08
GOMpERS DEFENDS HIS STAND
BASES HIS POSITION ON GUAR.
ANTEES OF CONSTITUTION.
Would Disobey Injunction Rather
Than Accept Denial Of Freedom
Of Speech or the Press.

Several hundred enthusiastic trade
unionists and friends rendered recep-
ton and musical evening last night In
the Typographical Temple in g street. to
Sampel Gompers. recently reelected to
the presidency Of the American Fedora
ton of Labor at the annual convention In
Denver.
Mr. Gompers took occasion In mis- ad-
dress to uphold his course In the recent
presidential campaign. and also to justify
the stand of the labor officials In the
Buck stove and range injunction case.
There was not an act committed dur
ing the past presidential campaign which
I would recall If could possibly do So"
said Mr. Gompers. There is not a word
which 1 would modify. There Is not a
step I would retrace. unless it were to put
it on a firmer basis. 1 would not ex-
change my experience of the last six
months for half lifetime"
Stands Upon the Constitution.
Speaking of the fight against the in5unc-
ton, Mr.. Gompers said: 1.-THE Supreme
Court of the District enjoined Mr.. Mitch
ell, Mr.. Morrison and myself from pub
fishing. VIZ ting or speaking the name Of
the Buck Stove and Range Company. But
the Constitution gives every man the
right and freedom Of speech and of the
press, and I shall stand upon the Con-
stitution.
According to the laws Of the English
people for ages past a man Is innocent
before the law until he is proven guilty.
The accuser has the burden Of proof upon
him. This is true today in every kind Of
a case except injunction cases.
man ia or, Joined then the order
of things becomes reversed. The man &C
cused must prove his innocence. He is
obliged to show why he should NOT Dc
adjudged guilty. BY the mandate Of the
name of the Buck company, even among
ourselves.
Our Constitution guarantees freedom
of speech and of the press, as l said be-
fore. and the injunction against man and
woman Is an evasion of that Constitu-
ton. I say In the full consciousness Of
the responsibility that / have made my
choice between disobeying the Injunction
and accepting the denial Of the freedom
of the speech and press.
Ray Have to Go to Jail.
For saying that I would not purchase
a Buck range the court enjoined me.
Well, I will not buy one. Because l
have said that I would not buy one. and
because Frank Morrison said that he
would not buy one, we both may have
to &c to jail. could not show cause
why 1 should not. The things which
have been charged with 1 did. I repeat
that 1 did them, have discussed them
and 1 have written articles about them.
Another way of speaking is through
the medium Of the press. and this, too,
is guaranteed by the Constitution. That
document is not a thing to play with.
1t is for a greater use. The question
of the Buck Stove and Range Company
sinks into insignifcance beside the mag
nitude of the question Of the right OF
freedom
Vice President James OConnell and Sec
rotary Frank Morrison of the Federation
of Labor also addressed the assemblage.
Each spoke Of tho recent labor conven-
ton and told of the great reception given
to the reelected president by all of the
trade bodies gathered there in the west
They also sustained their president In the
Injunction matter.
Emmett L. Adams. after being intro
duced by John B. Torch. president of the
central body, acted as chairman for the
evening. The musical feature Of the re-
ception was furnished by Miss Laura
Black. vocal soloist, and by stringed
orchestra. Representatives w. L. Wilson
and Thomas L. Nichol also made brief
addresses.