Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-10-27
Gonpers' Reply
To Roosevelt


profit to corporate greed and pow
:.
If the courts have not invaded
human liberty. IL they have not un-
dertaken TO protect corporate inter
ests to the detriment OF the people
why did President Roosevelt char
acterize Judge Grosscups reversal
OF Judge Lands s29.0O0.000 fine
upon the Standard Oil trust as "a
gross miscarriage OF justice?'
Declaring the the veriest tyro
OF layman in his widest dreams
never suggested the abolition OF
the Injunction process" Mr.. Com
pers insists that labor desires TO
have the injunction restored to the
use from which it has been ruth
lessly diverted. from the protection
OF property rights 20 the invasion of
personal freedom" He quotes from
the presidents messages to congress
and declares that they show an ut
ter confusion OF the entire mater OF
injunction in Mr.. Roosevelt's mind.
He claims that the decisions OF the
lower courts in Great Britain, which
were reversed by the higher courts
there, have been accepted as the
basis for the issuance of the injunc-
tioIrs in the United States. Mr..
| Gompers also insists that the provis-
ions OF the Pearre and Wilson bills,
advocated by the Federation of La
Dor, are not as broad or comprehen-
/ sive in scope as the British Trades
Disputes Act.
The mere fact" continues Mr..
Gompers, that Mr. Roosevelt de-
nounces a proposition as wicke 4
does not so constitute It; time and
circumstances and party obligations
have persuaded him to modify his
judgment and his utterances. Sure
ly, II must bring unct on to him to
find his unwarranted attack on me
SO thoroughly appreciated by the
New York Sun, which characteriZes
him for his past utterances In as
|
he now attacks me-"
Referring to dissenting opinions
OF Justice Harlan, Justice Moody
and many distinguished jurists and
legal authorities on the abuse of
the injunction he declares that Mr..
Roosevelt has placed me in good
company"
"Of course, he says, everyone
knows that the president strongly
urged every measure which he ad-
vocates, and then accepted what his
political opponents in his own par
ty chose TO give him. 1t is gener-
al knowledge that he had a more
liberal platform prepared for adop-
ton by the Republican convention
at Chicago and then accepted what
they doled out. All know that the
nomination of Mr.. sherman for the
vice presidency was concocted by
Senator Burrows and General I'm
Gle Joe Cannon as slap in the
face TO Mr.. Roosevelt; but the pres
/ lUenI DeCdubt Ntcs
Taft. has been nominated for the
presidency now not only swallows
the whole pot pourri but must needs
directly and indirectly attack me In
IGhe fight which my fellow-workers
and / are making in defense OF
equality before OF the law, OF the
men of labor with all other citizens,
and for the establishment OF human
freedom"
Mr.. Gompers asserts that The
l"Pearre injunction bill, which Mr..
Roosevelt attacks, has been before
several congresses without a word
OF criticism or comment from him.
and scouts the suggestion that "Mr.
Mitchell and other labor leaders
are not in sympathy with him In his
advocacy of the Pearre and Wilson
injunction bills
John Mitchell, Frank Morrison,
and 1 are now on trial TO show
cause why we should not be sent TO
Jail because we exercised our con
stitutional rights, having Vloiateu
no law OF state or nation" says
Mr.. Gompers. "Will the president
publicly justify Justice Goulds in
junction and the contempt proceed
ings to send Mitchell, Morrison and
me to jail on the grounds for such
contempt which are put forward by
the Bucks Stove and Range Com
pany under that injunction? The
Injunction issued by Justice Gould
is based upon injunction5 issued by
Judge Taft and Judge Taft's Ian
guage is quoted by Justice Gould.
1T is the purpose Of ;he oppo-
ments OF labor to Witty the labor
movement through me and Mr..
Roosevelt now joins the chorus up
on the pretext that ] have attack
ed the federal courts. As a man
and as a citizen, I have nothing TO
retract; but insist that despite
great provocation I have always ex-
pressed my views and criticisms
| uarhauo In efronQ vof rocuocf ful