The Detroit times., 1908-10-22
AYERS DEMOCRATS
WOULD LEGALIzE
THE BOYCOTT
PRESIDENT ANSWERS ooMPERs'
LETTERS AND ASKS BRYAN lF
HE IS PLEDGED TO PERsEcuTE
BUSINESS MEN.

me daily papers or OCT. IL contain
an open letter from Mr.. samuel Com
GRAFTON or labor. appealing 10 work
ingmen to vote FOR Mr.. Bryan.
Mr.. Gompers I'm his letter asserts
that the Judiciary or this country Ii
destroying democratic government and
substituting therefor an irresponsible
and corrupt despotism in the Interest
OF corporate power. and he further
makes clear that the means by which
been set up in the place OF democracy
Is by the process OF Injunction In the
courts OF equity.
what Gomper: says.
Mr. Gompers in his letter states that
hts appeal TO the Republican eeRrea-
ton at Chicago for remedy against the
Injunction was denied. and he then goes
on 10 state not only that the Demo
cratic party promised remedy. but
promised him the particular remedy
that he had already asked or congress
His words are:
"Labor's representatives then went
to the Democratic party. That party
made labor's contentious its own IL
pledged it's candidates for every once
TO those remedies which labor has
already submitted TO congress"
The last sentence In this quotation
indicates very definitely the specific
remedies to which Mr.. Gompers under.
stands Mr.. Bryan's party has pledged
itself. His statement now makes per
feCttf cteGr important PLANK IN inc
Bryanite platform which has heretofore
seemed puzzling 10 vast number or
earnest minded, thinking people. who
are sincerely Interested in the steady
advance and the legitimate aspirations
of labor. and who carefully read both
platforms To know precisely what
hopes each hold out for the improve
ment OF the conditions OF wage-earn-
err.
That plank reads as follows: "Ques-
tions OF judicial practice have arisen
especially IN connection Win indvs,r' a.
all judicial proceedings should be
treated with rigid impartiality; and
that injunctions should not be Issued
not issue II no industrial dispute were
involved.
Plank Promises Remedy.
This Is the plank that promises the
against fntunctions which Mr..
Gompers asked OF Mr.. Bryan's party.
nothing. no change OF the law could be
based on IL: no man without inside
could foretell what It's
man could foreteii how any Judge
would decide in any given case. as the
plank apparently leaves each judge
free to say when he issues an in, o. !,
Is a case I'm which an Injunction would
issue IL labor were not involved.
Yet this plank Is apparently per
his letter TO his followers he indicates
beyond question just what he under
stands IL TO mean. He asserts that
he has the requisite inside Kncwi nsrtx
for it was Mr.. Bryan who dictated
the platform) pledged Itself TO those
remedies which labor had already sub
mitted to congress, Is perfectly clear
and definite statement.
Gist of the Bill.
The remedies which MIR. Gompers
has already submitted to congress are
matters OF record. and the Identification
tabor disputes Is easy and certain. This
remedy" Is embodied in house bill No.
81 of the hrst session OF the sixtieth
First: After forbidding any federal
Judge to issue restraining order Sor
an Injunction In any labor dispute ex-
cept 10 prevent irreparable injury TO
property. or property right, II specinc-
ally provides that mo right
TO carry on business OF any particular
kind. or at any Iticular place ut all,
treated as property or as constituting a
property right.
Second: II provides that nothing
agreed upon or done by two or more
pute shall constitute conspiracy or
other criminal offense or be prosecuted
ms such unless the thing agreed upon
or done would be unlawful II done by
a single Individual"
The bill here described Is not only
the remedy" that Mr.. Gompers has
already submitted to congress-, but II
Is the one and only remedy which he
and those associated with him III his
movement have announced that
they will accept In the matter OF his
junction issue. The counsel for the
American Federation of Labor and Mr
Gompers. It's president. are both on
record to this effect.
This bill represents exactly the relief
that Mr.. Gompers demands In the way
Of anti-injunction legislation; and II
the statement in his letter Is correct
and his party are pledged to do In
the matter OF anti-injunction legisla-
ton. IL Is program OF the most n1ed
IS correct. this bill becomes as II were,
platform. or a foot-note explaining in
ietsii the 6rie isr, and rag, yagaer in'unc-
Does Mr. Bryan accept IL as such?
Mr.. Bryan should state publicly
he in fact accepts the prin,
program OF Mr.. Gompers and those who
stand with him. Mr.. Gompers an
nounces publicly that Mr.. Bryans party
has made this program It's , own; -
Mr.. Bryan failed In his letter OF &C.
ceptance TO discuss this labor plank OF
his party's platform So far as ! AN
MIR. Taft has repeatedly explained ex-
actly where he stands In this matter Of
regulating injunctions.
This bill. to the principle OF which
that the right to carry on a lawfui
business In IA lawful way shall not be
regarded as property right or en-
titled to the profession OF court OF
junction: and that the right to such
which admittedly now ex-
lists under the law shall be taken away.
Federation Lawyers Illustration.
The counsel for the American Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor on his argument be-
fore the house committee on Feb. 3. a.
which Mr.. Gompers himself was pres
ent. gave o very frank illustration %
be the consequences OF that provision
of this TIL which says that the rish.
to carry on business shall not be en-
titled 10 protection as property right.
His words are.
Suppose that workingmen. by some
operation or proceedings In the COM
munity let us say by violence or per-
suasion or Dicketing. away from tine
premises) reduce those works To
state OF utter helplessness. and theic
was rot wheel moving, nor pro-
cess IN operation. and this company
had no help at ail--that would be du
Interference with his right to do busl-
4t.-ss si-ft,F-tAHt-- saA--A4l-l+sS- a.
right 10 bc protected ~ Injunction.
IL Mr.. Bryan In reality pledged 90
this point OF Nicw2\
VIII he definitely say either In wris-
1UE OF III Y -Jrfbtfr sttitt++@s-,t44 1i
believes with Air. GOmpers that the
protection heretofore afforded by the
courts OF equity to the right TO capry
on = lawful business In lawful way
Is desDOtic power and that the judges
who exercise that power are irrespoDs-
ibie dcspots;
So far as the second section OF this
bill Is concerned. IL L. perfectly clear
that IL would legalize the blacklist and
the sympathetic boycott carried To any
extent. 10 would legnlizc acts whicp
have time and again been declared OPP
pre~slve uniosf and immoral bN the