The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-10-28
SOME cAUSTlc CRITICISM OF
PRESIDENT ON LABOR ISSUE.
INJUNCTION JUDGE TAFT
Sarcastic Reference Made TO Nonl-
n, .-critieism Of knoS-Roose.
slt's Confused Mind-Re-
fers TO Contempt Case.

plying TO President Roosevelts let
ter TO Senator Knox, in reference
To the application of the writ Of ia
junction In labor disputes, Samue,
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor. in a statement
issued today, severely arraigns the
president for what he terms a change
of position of at least apparen,
friendship to bitter, indefensible an
tagonism.
1t has been my pleasure" MI.
Gompers says, TO have often had
the privilege of discussing with
President Roosevelt "A number OF
fundamental questions of right, jus.
tice and moral and social uplifting.
Including these discussions %ere
the invasion Of personal rights and
human liberty by the courts In the
injunction abuse. 1t is true that
the president has not always fully
agreed with my contentious. but he
has never, until the publication OF
his latest utterance. limited, much
less charged that anything that We
despotc. brutal or wicked; and yet
the rights. for which the workers of
our country contend, which a.
best | can defend and advocate,
have been as we'll known to him
during the past several years as
the are when he now, SO unjustifed-
edly undertakes to misrepresent my
work. my motives and my law
abiding citizenship. Surely tina,
opinion was not always entertained
by the president"
Mr.. Gompers says that last Feb
urary he sent Mr. Roosevelt an is
sue of the American Federationist,
in which he published the chapter,
Some Equivocal Rights of Labor"
from George A. Alger's book, "Oye.
strain"
The chapter of the book Mr..
Gompers says, lis as keen a criti-
cism of the courts OF the country
In their decisions affecting the
rights. interests and liberty of the
workers as anything have ever
said or written"
The president, in acknowledges
receipt of the article, sent the fol-
lowing:
White House, Washington. u. c..
Jan. p, l9OS:-My dear Mr.. Com
aers: You may be amused to know
that have sent copies OF Moral
Overstrain' 10 Justices Day and Nc
Kenna. | am glad that YOU were
able TO use 1t in the American Fed
erationist, and thank YOU for sen
ing me the copy Of the magazine
Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
ITO Samuel Gompers, President
American Federation of Labor
Washington, ID. c."
THE fact of the matters is" Mr.
Gompers declares, that President
Roosevelt, having made Injunction
Judge Taft the candidate OF the re-
publican party for president and see
ing that the labor vote is now
aroused and determined 10 deliver it's
own vote; that the toiers will not
be cajoled, deceived or browbeaten
has become desperate and angry, and
In his anger, by the worst exhibition
OF demagogIsm, tried to lnstll into
the employers and BUSINESS men the
fear that their property and business
are In danger II square deal i'm
piled by equality before the law and
human freedom is accorded 10 IN,
/ workers with all the other citizens.
It IS an exhibition OF impotent rage
and disappointment and an awiL
descent from the dignity of the hign
office of president of the United
States. No one but himself will be
deceived as 10 The purpose OF Mr.
/ Roosevelt
The workers and liberty-loylnL
citizens are aroused a. never before
since 'Gl. The 'ba'flecry for free.
dom Is again taken no Then it was
for the Union eqga rights ana free
dom FOR all"
/ Mr Gompers insists 'hs, tho ~. b.