The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-11-25
WILL GO TO JAIL
Rather Than Pay Fine If Con-
yIctsd of Contempt
DECLARES GOMPERS
Neither Would He Allow the Feasra-
ton of Labor to Pay II for Bin.
Supreme Court Decision Makes
Union Conspiracies in Restraint Of

Denver, Col, Nov. 16.-President
Samuel Gompers, at today's session
of the Convention of the American
Federation of Labor, declared that
if he were found guilty and fned In
the contempt proceedings against
him at Washington he would go to
jail before ne would pay his ane 0.
before he would allow the Fedora
ton to pay the fne for him.
This statements Wes made during
the discussion OF the report Of the
committee on the treasurer's report.
The committee recommended that tn
mediately following the adjournment
of the Convention, the executive COM
mittee shall take up the proposition
of placing its funds where they may
be removed from danger Of attach
ment.
Several suggestions were made,
one being that the funds be deposit
ed in Canada and another tha. car
tifcates Of deposits be taken out in
some other name than the treasurer.
D. G. Ramsey, Of the electrical
workers, declared:
I'VE had chance to place oar
funds beyond the reach Of those Who
would take them, but we let it psas
On November 8. The ea1y vay te
protect our money Is to change the
laws"
DIR. GonDers warned the delegates
that II a way were found to hide The
funds, the Courts would thereafter
appoint receiver, not necessarily
to secure in some way tho hteaeR
funds, but to get the money being
contributed.
BY request Nr. Gomsers explained
the status OF the De4bury hat case.
"Our standing Is meaaeed by the
Courts Of law" he said.
"The matter Of the application OF
the Sherman antitrust Law to uniens
has reached final adjustment by the
United States Supreme Court No
matter how the Danbrry ease is de-
cided that will not alter the status
one jot. The United States Supreme
Court has said The. final word and
the law Of this country is that labor
organizations of this country are now
eonspiracies and combinations IN re-
straint Of trade.
Under the Sherman antitrust
law business cannct be eendacted.
much less honest straightforward
labor organizations. With reference
to the case against me IN the District
Of Columbia wazt to say that I will
never consent that the American
Federation Of Labor shall ever pay
one cent of fine for me. I don't want
to 80 to Jail, but I will not tamely
submit to the Federation being
mulcted for me-
Mr.. Gompers declared that tie de-
cisions OF the Supreme Coart had bVs
one effect, namely, to tic the men
Of labor to their work, cripple the
men Of labor In their right to work
or their right not to work.
These decisions" he said, "will
result in lettering mon today IN or
der to eoslave them for all time to
come.
81 am not in touch with the DEM
! ocratic party; second, I am not =
Democrat, and third, I am confident
never will be Democrat. 7 owe
allegiance to no party. I am a trades
| unionist.
when the Democratic party made
our contentious its own" said Ns.
Gompers, 1T would not only lave
been tngratitude but covardfee 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"
The report Of the committee on
the treasurer's report, with its rec
concentrations, was unanimously coa-
Cured in