The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-10-29
Gornpers Replies

tSi U kHe VIII OF INJUNCTION IN labor
disputes, Samuel Gompers, president
of The American Federation of La,
Dor, in statement issued today,
severely arraigns the president for
what he terms "A change of position
Of at least apparent friendship TO bit
ter indefensible antagonism.'
1T has been my pleasure" Mr.
GomDers says, Ito have oft had the
privilege of discussing with President
Roosevelt number of the fundamen-
tai questions of right, justice and NOR
al and social uplift, included in these
discussions We're the invasion of ner-
sonal rights and human liberty bv the
courts in the injunction abuse. |, is
true that the president has not al
ways fully agreed with my conlcn-
tons, but he has never until the NIB.
iication of his latest utterance, limited
much less charged that anything that
We advocated was lawless, unfcelinr
despotic, brutal or wicked and vet
the rights for which the workers of
our country contend and which as best
can, defend and advocate have
been as'Well known TO him during the
past several years as they are when.
he now SO Enthusiastically undertakes to
misrepresent my work, my motives
and my law-abiding citizenship. Surely
mat opinion was not always enters
tanned by the president"
Mr.. Gompers says that last Febrt1-.
| airy he send MI Roosevelt an issue
of the American Fcdcrationis1 in
which he published the chapter
Some Equivocal Rights of Labor"
from George A. Ayers book, Moral
Overstrain.
The chapter of the book Mr.
Gompers says, is as keen a criticism
OF the courts of the country. in their
decisions affecting the rights, inter-
ests and liberty Of the workers as
anything l have said or written"
Roosevelt's Acknowledgement
The president in acknowlede iny 70.
CENT OF the article sent the following:
The White House..
80 'Washingt0n. Jan. %, 'pS
My Dear MIR. Gompers You: May!
be amused to know that | hayc sen,
copies of the Moral Overstrain,. to
Justices Day and ,McIlenna. [ am glad
that YOU were able to. use it in the,
American Fcderationist and thank YOU
for sending me the copy Of the lnaga.
zinc. Sincerely YOURS, ,,.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT, I"
To Mr. Samuel Gompers .,
President American Federation 81
Labor, Washington d. c.
''The fact of the matter is" Mr..
Gompers declares. that President
Roosevelt having made Injunction
Judge Taft the candidate of the re-
publican party for president, and SEC
ing that the labor vote which so
often has been corralled, diverted and
perverted by the politicians is now
aroused and determined to deliver
its own vote: that the toilers will not
be CaiOlcd, deceived or browbeateu
mas become desperate and angry. and
of demogogiSm tried to instill into
he employers and business men the
fear that their prosperity and bust:
ness are in danger Of a square deal
implied by equality before the law and
human freedom are accorded TO the
workers With all the other. citizens.
1t is an exhibition of impotent rage
and disappointment, and an awful de-
scent from the dignity OF the high
office Of the president of the United
States. No one but himself will be
deceived as to the purpose of Mr.
Roosevelt.
The workers ana libertylovin@
citizens are aroused as never before
since 81. The "'battlccry of freedom
IS again taken up. Then it was for
the Union and the abolition of black
slavery: today it is for the Union
equal rights. and freedom for a
Direct Attack on Labor.
Mr.. Gonlpers insists that the presi-
dent makes a direct and specific at
tack upon labor in his letter 10 Sena-
tor Knox The pretence that the at
tack Is upon me is too thinly yelled to :
deceive any one" he adds He
strikes over my shoulder at the. hearts