New-York tribune., 1908-04-20
GOMPERS GETS SAVAGE
4SSaILS HIGHEST COURT.
Bic Labor Meeting Protests against
Decisions-Appeals to Congress.

In an inpassioned address 10 twenty-five hundred
members Of the local unions Of the American FED
GRAFTON OF Labor in mass meeting at the Grand
Central Palace last night President Gompers SAID
that the Judges Of the supreme Court Of the United
States had shown themselves by training. environ
nent and tendency behind the times, and urged the
necessity Of immediate demand upon Congress 10
enact legislation this session amending the Sher-
man antitrust Law which the Supreme Court de-
csded forbade trade the right TO boycott and
10 strike
Al the close Of the meeting resolutions were
adopted declaring that in the decision in the hat
ters' case the Supreme Court construed the Sher-
man law holding labor TO he a trust and a
monopoly and that therefore its industrial agree
rnents with employers : body were conspiracies;
that this construction unjust and unconsttu-
fional. that il the conviction Of the meet
iug that the duty Of Congress to 50 amend
the sherman law as 10 remove any possibility Of
such future construction and to enact the Pearre
bill define the power Of injunction and restrain
its abuse The resolution further called upon Con-
sress 10 enact general employers liability bill, an
eirht-hoir bill for Sovernnent employees and TO
hold each representative in Congress responsible
for his record the labor measures at the present
session
Individually and collectively the meeting. by the
resolutions pledged itself the full exercise Of its
political and Industrial activities for the election
Of candidates FOR President and Congress and other
officials who would safeguard the interests of labor
We are met here began Mr.. Gompers. Ito take
through the recent decision OF the Supreme Court
the Sherman antitrust law. No one until re-
Gently had ever expressed the belief that when
man 4 woman earned thelr living by the sweat
Of their brow that they were trusts, that they
were placed in the same category as the multi
millionaire. ] don't know your financial condition.
but il seems to me that il requires mental conGi
tion of peculiar kind 10 imagine wage earners
trusts or to be IN position Of possessing
trust. Perhaps you arc unemployed If YOU are
want you 10 imagine yourself TO be member Of
trust.
1t is not my purpose 10 criucise the highest
court in our country. 7 have great respect for
The integrity OF the Supreme Court Of the United
States. I would not say mat the members OF that
court have been svayed by any consideration. But
they human beings, ana therefore may err
7 would not insinuato or assent 10 any impuSn-
ing Of the motives Of the Supreme Court. be
Iieye il was prompted by any sordd or dishonest
purpose but The fact Is that the great majority
of decisions are handed down by those who have
been successful lawyers or jurists, whose rearing
s4rroundings ana environments are not in accord
with the spirit Of the times"
Turning his attention for the moment TO interna-
iionsI marriages. Mr. Gompers said: The million
aires can be free wherever they are Some Of them
in the old countries fighting for nobility. and
are TO pay for il There are no American
dukes. but there are some European ducks for
which our multimiIionaires pay very dearly. It Is
not difficult 10 imagine thai if miIionaires are
so anxious 10 pay millions Tor wornout dope for
their daughters. they would be exceedingly pleased
10 have some title Of nobility Of American origin.
They tell Us not to boycott he said later We
vii not boycott. But I have no knowledge of a
law that compels TO buy anything without a
union abe-or telling my friends about If. We
are not permitted 10 tell you that employer is
unfair. but I not restrained from telling you
That am not compelled to buy goods OF manu-
facturers who are unfair. Court decision or no
yg1.-s Trry- -z-F7a- I Tv--Fg-
He referred TO the boycott by the Ancient Order
of Hibernisns Of postcard dealers selling comic
Irish cards But the Ancient order OF Hibernians
is not 4 labor union. they not illegal" he
said He referred the threat Of the President to
boycott Venezuelan products to bring that country