The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-06-18
oOMPERS DEMANDS
RIGHTS OF LABOR
ev e. (. RosER.

CONVENTION HALL, CHICAGO
oune 17-President Gompers. OF the
s american Federation OF Labor. begar
\ 81 the open his fight In support OF the
h &nti.injunction plank. He argued
f avery point In the demands OF labor
& Ne denounced the Manufacturers asso
(. {&iation and finally he delivered this
{hlffmatum to the Republican party:
~ IF you OUTLAW THE LABOR
IF YOU DESTROY
VrHE wORKINGMAN'S INCENTIVE
/kI0HT TO BELONG TO AN ORGAN
.fHzATION, THEN THE WORKING
81 MANS Discomfort WILL TAKE
kk!xNOTHER FORM AND YOU WILL
'}nIAvE TO DEAL WITH THAT
n There was silence after Gompers de-
Il1vered the ultimatum. Some OF the
~ most prominent business men In the
q country were present and they looked
Xfnt one another In amazement The
|}wembers of the committee also
" toemed to distinguish a note OF warn
"a lng--it seemed 70 bring grave
trouble out OF the future.
'sTo US. our freedom lives In the
+ 6oul the same as 1t did in the souls
z q the patriots OF 1776. We stand for
q principles of justice. We are not
Jealous except as to our rights OF citi-
" Eens. These rights, / tell you, the
s. workingmen OF this country will
3 Aght for"
Mr.. Gompers first presented the de-
B mands OF organized labor In type
:, Written form. A number OF copies
we're furnished the members and Com
Ders made plea that the requests be
y kiven every consideration.
The draft Of organized labor's posi-
Non follows:
Tho Republican party is In ac-
cord with the great emancipator.
N Abraham Lincoln. when he declar-
ed that labor is prior TO and In
dependent of capital Capital Is
never have existed II tabor had
4 not first existed. Labor Is the su-
perior of capitol and deserves
IN much more consideration.
n Through his wise and humane
H policy, the sheckles were strick-
en- from the limbs OF four million
csrsss, slaves lave. Tne a.n nsp ssssran
n or of property and property rights.
q Jet holds and declares that per-
sonal rights and human liberty are
~ and must OF necessity be entitled
n TO the first and highest considera-
.4 tton. Recognizing the new condi-
"A ttonB arising from our marvellous
IA and our nation realize the fact
81 that the wheels of industry and
commerce of our time require that
X new law and new concepts OF law
f must be enacted to conform to
'& modern industry and commerce
y and advance freedom In line There
We therefore pledge the Repub-
T 1ican party to the enactment of
INV or congress, guaranteeing to
the wage earners. agriculturalists
~ and horttculturalists of our coun-
{. try the right of organized labor to
1f the emo that such associations and
81 members shall not be regarded as
Illegal combinations in restraint OF
We pledge ourselves to the
enactment of a law to prohibit the
Issuance Of injunetions in cases
81 when such injunctions would not
'4i apply when no labor disputes ex-
f listed: and. that In no case shall an
<N Injunction be issued when there
AZ exists q remedy by the ordinary
| process OF law; and which act
M ehall provide that in the procedure
Tor the punishment of contempt of
court. the party cited for contempt
shall when such contempt was not
committed In the actual presence
Of the court. be entitled to trial
We pledge the Republican party
20 the enlistment OF an amendment
attending the existing eight hour
law TO all government employees
(. and to all workers whether en-
ployed by contractors or sub-con-
tractors doing work for or on be-
half OF the federal government.
We pledge the Republican party
TO the enactment OF a law by con-
gress a. far as the federal juris-
dfctfon extends. for q general en-
pioyers' liability act. for injury to
body or loss or life OF employees.
We pledge the Republican party
to the enactment OF law to the
extent OF federal Jurisdiction
granting woman suffrage. and to
"A submit q constitutional amend
ment for ratification to the states
'| for the absolute suffrage OF wo-
men. co-epual with men.
We pledge the Republican party