Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-22
CONTINUED from Page one.)

In that letter are certain definite
statements which interest the wider
American public quite as much as those
to whom Mr.. Gompers makes his ap
peal. Those statements warrant all
you have said in your speech, and they
would warrant you in asking Mr. B:y-
an to say publicly whether Mr.. Com
pers states correctly the attitude of
his party and himself on subject that
is Of vital concern to every citizen. in
GLIDING every business man. as well as
every farmer and every labOrins man
who looks to the courts for the .,ro-
lection Of his rights.
Mr.. Gompers in his letter asserts
that the judiciary of this country is
destroying Democratic government and
substituting therefor an irresponsible
and corrupt despotism in the interest
of corporate power; and he further
uiakes clear that the means by which
he believes this alleged dcspotisn has
been set up in the place or democracy
il by the process Of injunction in the
courts of equity.
Mr.. Gornpers in his letter states that
his appeal to the Republican conven-
ton at Chicago for remedy. against
the injunction was denied; and he then
goes on to state not only that the
Democratic party promised a remedy,
but promised him the particular rem
edy that he had already asked of Con-
gress.
His words are:
Labors representatives then went
to the Democratic party. That party
made LabOrs contentious its own. It
pledged its candidates for every office
to those remedies which Labor rad al
ready submitted to Congress-"
The last sentence in this quotation
indicates very definitely the specific
remedies to which MIR. Gompers un-
derstands Mr.. Bryans party has plcdg-
ed itself.
His statement now makes perfectly
clear an important plank in the Bry-
ante platform which has heretofore
seemed puzzling to vast number of
earnest-minded, thinking people, who
are sincerely interested in the steady
advance and the legitimate aspira-
tions of Labor, and who carefully read
beth platforms to know precisely what
hopes each hold out for the improve
ment of the conditions of wage earn
crS.
That plank reads as follows: "Ques-
tions of judicial practice have arisen
especially in connection with indus
trial disputes. We deem that the par
ties to all judicial proceedings should
be treated with rigid impartiality, and
that injunctions should not be issued
in any cases in which injunctions
would not issue if no Industrial dispute
were involved"
This Is the plank that promises the
remedy" against injunctions Which
Mr. Gompers asked of Mr.. Bryan's
party. In actual fact, it means abso
lutely nothing: no change of the law
could be based on it; no man without
inside knowledge could foretelI what
its meaning would turn out to be, fol
no man could foretell how any judge
would decide in any given case, as the
plank apparently leaves each iudgt
free to say when he issues an injunc
ton in a labor case whether or not il
Is a case in which an injunction Woul(
issue IL labor were not Involved. Ye
this plank is apparently perfectly cleal
to Mr.. Gompers and in his letter to hi.
followers he indicates beyond question
just what he understands it to mean
He asserts that he has the requisite
inside knowledge. His statement thai
Mr.. Bryans party for it was Mr.
Bryan who dictated the platform
pledged itself "to those remedies which
Labor had already submitted TO Con
gress" is a perfectly clear and definite
statement.
The remedies" which Mr.. Gonlpers
has already submitted to Congress are
matters Of record and the Identified
ton of his remedy" against injuEc-
certain. This remedy is embodied il
House Bill No. 81 of the first session OF
the 60th Congress, the complete text
Of which is hereto appended.
The gst of the bill as can be seer
by referring to the complete text. is
this:
First After forbidding any fedora
Judge to issue a restraining order foI
AT injunction in any labor dispute eX-
cept to prevent irreparable injury tC
property or property right, it specitcal-
ly provides that mo right tc
carry on business of any particular
kind. or at any particular place. of al
all. shall be construed, held. considered
or treated as property or as cons:itut-
ing property right"
Second: 1t provides that nothing
agreed upon or done by two or more
parties in connection with a labor dis
quite shall constitute a conspiracy OF
other criminal offensc or be prosecuted
as such unless the thing agreed upon
or done would be unlawful if done by a
single individual.
The bill here described IS not only the
remedy" that Mr. Gompers has al
ready submitted to Congress" but it is
the one and only remedy" which he
and those associated with him in his
present movement have announced
that they will accept in the matter of
his grievance against the courts OH
the injunction issue.
The counsel for the American FEEDER
alton Of Labor. and Mr. Gompers. its
president. are both on record to this
effect.
At hearing before the House COM
mittee on judiciary, the counsel for the
American Federation Of Labor. OH
Feb. S, 1905. as appears from the print
ed hearing, stated: THE bill was con-