Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-10-26
Accuses Him Of Changing Posi-
tion&of Apparent Friendship to
Bitter Antagonist.
RAGE AND DISAPPOINTMENT.
Charges Him With Making, il
His Anger, Bad Exhibition
OF Demagogisrn.
Purpose, He Declares, Of Opponents
OF l4aborsto Witty Labor Move
nent Through Its Leaders.

Washington. Oct. 26--Replylng 10
President Roosevelt's letter to Senator
knox in reference to the application
of the writ of injunction in labor dis !.
prtes. Samuel Gompers. president of
the American Federation of Labor, in
statement issued today severely. ar
ra:gned the president for what he terms
"a change OF position of at least APP
parent friendship to bitter, indefen-
sijle antagonism."
1t has been pleasure Mr. Com
pers says, TO have often had the priv
, ilego of discussing with President
Roosevelt a number of the fundamental
questions of right, justice and moral
AND social uplift. Included in these
discussions were the invasions OF per-
sonalSrights and human liberty by the
courts. in the injunction abuse. 1t is
true that the president has not always
tollY agreed with my contentious, but
ne has never, until the publication OF
his latest utterance, limited, much less
6 charged that anything that we advo-
Gated was lawless, unfceling, brutal or
wicked, and yet the rights for which.
the workers of our country contend and
as best | can, l defend and adj
rncate. have been as we'll known to.
hirladqring the past several years az
when he now so Enthusiastically UNDER
takes to rnisrepresent my work, my mo-
tivcs and my law-abiding citizenship
Surely that opinion was not always
entertained by the president
n Mr. tGompers says that last February
nc sent Mr.. Roosevelt an issue OF the
American Federationist in which was
aIGb. shed the, chapt err Some Euuivocal
Rights Of + abor.s' from, George A. AL
gers book book, Moral oyerstrain..
he pters or the BOOK Mr.
f Siolnpers says. is as keen criticism OF.
1.-THE courts Of the country in their de-
aeisicns affecting the rights, interests,
and liberty Of the workers as any.
thing have ever said or written"
"MY DEAR MR.. GoMPERs."
The president in acknowledging re-
cept OF the article sent the following:
Tie White House. Washington, Jan.
1a0s.-My Dear Mr.. Gompers: You
may be amused to know that have
sent copies OF the Moral Overstrain'
to Justices Day and McKenna. T am
glad that You We're able to use 1t in
( the American Federationist and thank
You for sending me the copy of the
magazine.
Sincerely yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT..
TO Mr. Samuel Gompers, president
OF the American Federation Of Labor,
Washington, D. c.
The fact Of the matter is,'' Mr..
Gompers declares. that President
Roosevelt having made Injunction
Judge Taft the candidate Of the Re-
publican party for president and seeing
that the labor vote which SO often
has been coorralled, diverted, and per-
verified by the politicians, is now
aroused and determined to deliver its
own vote: that the toilers will not be
cajoled. deceived or brow-beaten, has
become desperate and angry, and in his
anger, by the worst exhibition Of dem
agogism tries to instill into the ems
poyers and business men the fear that
their property and business are In dam
ger If square deal. implied by equali-
~ before the law and human freedom,
Is accorded to the workers with all
other citizens. 1t is an exhibition of
impotent rage and disappointment and
I an awful descent from the dignity of
the high office of the president of the
United States. No one but himself will
be deceived as to the purpose of Mr.
Roosevelt.
The workers and libertyloving citi-
zens are aroused as never before, since
1861.
BATTLE CRY FOR FREEDOM.
The battle cry for freedom is
again taken up Then it was for the
Union and abolition OF black slavery;
today it is for the nation, equal rights
and freedom for ALL
Mr.. Gompers insists that the presi-
dent makes a direct and specific at
tack upon labor in his letter to Sena-
tor Knox.
The pretense that the attack is upon
me Is too tl1inly yelled to deceived any
| one" he adds. He strikes over my
shoulder atSthe hearts of the great rank
and file of the workers and other lib
erty loving citizens of the country. SO
far as am concerned. / have neither
/ the inclination nor. the desre to bask in
the sunlight of President Roosevelt
benevolent assimilation" by which he
placates some. by the big stick, brnw-5
beats others. and by his sophisttS
homes Il. fool the masses into support
Ing Injunction Judge Taft.
President Roosevelt says that Sefa-
tor Knox has a peculiar right to DIS
cuss the principles involved In in1nne,l
tons because he as. attorney general
prosecuted civil suit for damages 10
an Injured workman. That Sena to-
Knox was the special counsel OF the
Pennsylvania railroad and of the United
States steel corporation would indeed
qualify him to discuss the injunction
abuse, but certainly only from the view
point of the friends of corporations, Who
nIofit BY the abuse of the Injunction
writ as 1T brings advantage and proht
/ fe corporate greed and power.
1 lf the courts have not invaded hu-
man liberty. If they have not under
i taken to protect corporate Interests TO
INC detriment of the people. why dia
q President Roosevelt characterize Judge
srosscup's reversal of Judge Lands,
& s2e,ncd000 fine upon the Standard OH
4 rust as a gross miscarriage OF JUS
4 a Dor AND TIL INJUNCTION
& Declaring that the veriest tyro Of
laytnan in his Widest dreams never
slsgested the abo!it ion of the Injunction
process. MIR Gotnpers insists that Ia
f.,