Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-16
ON RIGHTS OF LABOR
President Gompers Addresses
Senate Subcommittee.
WANTS LIBERTY OF SPEECH
Declares There's No Danger in q
Free Press.
FOR EQUALITY BEFORE LAW
Denies Making Threats About Oath
Bound organizations-Had
Simply Predicted.
WANTS LIBERTY OF SPEECH
FOR EQUALITY BEFORE LAW

Samuel Gompers president of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor today made an
argument before a subcommittee of the
Senate committee on the judiciary on the
legal rights of organized labor in the ligh,
of recent decisions of the Supreme Court
OF the United States. Addressing his
statement to the various bills to amend
the Sherman antitrust laws. he contended
for freedom of the press and freedom OF
speech in all respects.
"Would you extend that privilege to a
paper which was anarchistic in tone and
the President members of his cabinet and
others?" asked Chairman Nelson.
Objection was made by Mr.. Gompers to
the association Of the term anarchy
with his discussion. and Mr.. Nelson dis
claimed any intention of disparaging or
ganized labor by his remark.
Freedom of Speech.
Mr.. Gompers argued that the safety OF
government demanded absolute freedom
of the press and speech. He declared
that such persons as violated the bounds
Of reason and melted crime may be
reached by the law and punished.
"Such a man. he said. "should he in
vestigated as to the condition of his brain
storm. A man who would urge aSsassna-
ton or assaults upon property or life
must be dealt with. At the same time no
lish the thing that pleases: it is in the
publication of the unpleasant things that
one has to be protected"
He took the position that there is no
danger in free speech or free press on
the ground that II reason is transgressed
ipri tn hal
Gus or treasonable matter. such person
may be hailed into court and punished
but. he said free speech and free press
must be safeguarded in order that free
institutions may live"
Mr.. Gompers discussed at length recent
decisions of the courts and said that labor
organizations had been criticised for
turning against employers and passing
resolutions condemning some of their ac-
tions.
rs 1t expected that we shall meet and
sing paeons of glory to our employers
or to kOw-tow to them because they have
the dUllars?" he asked.
Equality Before the Law.
Continuing he said: I've hear so much
about equality before the law. and that's
all we want. 1t has been quite the vogue
of late to say that labor is asking for
| special PRIVILEGES. Some people are be-
capital and to arraying one against the
other that they have lost sight of what
labQr really is. They look upon labor as
some inanimate. dead thing. and upon
capital as living. animate thing. when
| as a matter of fact, you can burn capital
| without scorching hair of its owner
! Not so with labor. You cannot legislate
move or direct labor without legislating
directing or moving the laborer. Labor
is the living. breathing man or woman
That Is what we want the people to un-
derstand."
Because he had given flight to his
imagination in a former hearing. said
Mr. Gompers. he had been accused of
threatening that II labor was not recog-
nized and given Justice secret, oath
bound organizations would be the re-
suit. He denied making threats. but
said he predicted that such would be
the case.
"Organizati5 ns of labor will not be
driven out Oh existence by legislation
or by the courts. said Mr. Gompers
"Tf they cannot defend the things they
stand for In an open manner. with the