The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-17
Labor Leader Declares He VII
 Not Pay If Fined
FAMOUS CASE IS DISCUSSED
Movement to Form Political Party In American Federation of Labor Is Brought Up, But Gompers
 Squelches Subject.

Denver. November 16.-President Sam uel Gompers, at the afternoon session to- day of the convention of the American Federation of Labor, declared that if he were found guilty and fined in the con tempt proceedings against him at Wash ington he would go to jail before he would pay his fine or before he would allow the federation to pay any fine for him.
 This statement was made by MT. Com pers during the discussion of the report of the committee on the treasurer's re- port. The committee recommended that immediately following the adjournment of the convention the executive committee shall take up the proposition of placing funds where they may be removed from danger of attachment.
 The report brought out a political dis cussion in which several members de- clared themselves in favor of an independ- ent political party.
 MT. Gompers warned the delegates that if way were found to hide the funds the courts would thereafter appoint a receiver,
 
 hidden funds, but to get the money being contributed
 Will Not Submit. AS to the case against me ill the Dis trict of Columbia, said MT. Gompers, T will never consent that the American Federation of Labor shall ever pay one | cent of fine for me. I don't want to go to jail but I will not submit to the fedora tor being mulcted for me-
 Max Hayes of Cleveland suggested the i formation of labor party He criticised that portion of the democratic platform which says: We yield to none in our re- spect to the courts" MT. Hayes de- ciitred he had no respect for the courts.
 MT. Gompers again took the floor in re- ply to MT. Hayes He said the position taken by MT. Hayes was illogical, and declared that the decisions of the supreme court had but one obJect-to tie the men of labor to their work, to cripple the men of labor in their right to work or their right not to work
 T am not in touch with the demo- cratic party" he said, 'I am not dem ocrat, and I am confident I never will | be a democrat. I owe all allegiance to | no party 1 trade unonist. May | the trade unionists always be right, but
  | trade unlonists.
 No man has denounced the democratic party more than l. But when the demo- cratic party made our contentious it's : own, it would not only have been in gratitude but cowardice to desert them If Bryan had been elected with the hosts of organized labor back of him, it would have given spirit to human freedom"
 Asiatc Exclusion. | The executive committee in a resolution recommended that further reference be i made on the question of cntralization of [ Italian labor in large cities and that a conference be held with regard to it with the representative of the Italian govern ment at Washington. The resolution pro- viding for the exclusion of the Asiatic [ race was adopted by the convention as f reported by the committee on resolutions. | A resolution demanding laws similar to those of England prohibiting the signing as able seamen of any persons who have : not had lat least three years eXperi- 1 ence on deck at sea-. was adopted. A resolution introduced by the Interna- tional Typographical union cited 'the ex treme bitterness of the contest in prog ress for years in Akron, O." In the contest of the Werner Publish 1 ing company with its employees it Is re- | cited that private detective lost his l life and the resolutions that the execu- tive council be instructed to investigate all the circumstances surrounding this tragedy and contribute to a defense fund of two union men who have been accused | of murder.
 Max Hayes of Cleveland violently op- posed inc report of the committee. He told the history of the labor trouble at Akron and said if the resolution was not adopted those on the firing line In Akron will become greatly discouraged. President James M. Lynch of the Typo graphical union closed the discussion in an appeal for the adoption of the reso- lution as introduced.
 The recommendations of the committee on resolutions were voted down and the i resolution was adopted as Introduced.