The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-11-20
GOMPERS WILLING TO 60 TO
JAIL.
He Would Not Pay Fine if Convicted
of Contemplation Permit Fed
Grafton of Labor to Pay
Fine for Him.

Denver, COL, November 16.-Prcsi-
dent Samuel Gompcrs, at today's ses-
SION or the convection of the Amcr-
can Federation Of Labor, declared
that II he were found guilty and fill
ca III the contempt proceedings
against him at Washington he would
go to Jail before he would pay his
fine or before he would allow the
Federation to pay the fine for him.
This statement was made during
thc discussion Of the report of the
committee on the trcasurcr's report.
The committee recommended that
immediately following the ad-
journmcnt Of the convention,
the executive committee shall take
up the proposition Of placing it,
funds where they may be removed
from danger Of attachment.
Several suggestions were made, one
being that the funds be deposited in
Canada and another that certificates
of deposits be taken ont in some 9TH
cr name than the treasurer.
D. G. Ramsey. Of the electrical
workers. declared:
"We had chance to place our
funds beyond The reach Of those who
would take them, but we let it pass
on November 3. The only way to pro-
tect our money is to change the
laws.''
MIR. Gompcrs warned the delegates
that IT way were found to hide the
funds, the courts would thereafter
appoint a receiver, not necessarily to
secure in some way the hidden fund,
but to get the money being contribute
ed.
BY request Mr. Gompcrs explain
ed the status Of the Danbury hat ease.
"Our standing is mcnaced by the
courts of law,' he said.
"Thc matter of the application Of
the Sherman antitrust law TO unions
has reached final adjustment by the
united States supreme court No
matter how the Danbury ease is de-
cldcd 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
conspiracieS and combinations in re-
straint Of trade.
'undcr the Sherman antitrust
law business cannot be conducted.
much less honest straightforward lab
or organizations. With reference t,
the ease against me in the District
OF Columbia I want to say that I will
never consent that The American Fed
Grafton Of Labor shall ever pav one
cent of the fine for me. T don t want
to e" 10 Jail. but J. will not tamcly
submit to the Federation being mulct-
ed for me. -
Mr. Gompcrs declared that the de-
clslons of the supreme court had but
one effect, namely, to tie the men of
labor to their work, cripple the mcn
OF labor in their right to work or their
right not to work.
'ThcSe dccisions,' he said, "wili
result in lettering men today in Or
der to cnslave them for all time to
come.
am not in touch with ihc Demo.
cratic party: second. 7 am not De-
morrai. and third. T am confident /
never will be Democrat. 7 owe.
allegiance to no party. ] am trades
unioniSt.
when the Democratic party made
our contentious its own,N said Mr..
Gompcrs. cit would not only have
been mgratitudc but ;uwardicc TO de-
scrt them. IF Bryan had been elect
ed with the hosts Of organized labor
back Of him it would have given
spirit to human frccdom.''
The report Of the committee on the
treasurer report, with its recon.
mcndationS, WAS unanimously concur
red in.