The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-10-27

cal Rights OF Labor from George A.
Ayers book, "Moral Overstrain.'
"The chapter of the book, - Mr.:
Gompers saws. s.is as keen criticism Of
the courts of the country In their de-
cisious affecting the rights, interests
and liberty OF the workers as anything
| have ever SAID or written
The president il acknowledging re-
ceipt of the article cent tie following:
f'Tho White House, WashingSon,
''January 27. 1908.
"My Dear Mr.. Gompers: You may
be amused TO know that ] have sent
copies OF the Moral Overstrair to JUS
tices Day AMI McKerna. / an glad
you were aole TO use 1t IL the American
Federationist aud thank you for send
ing 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, "thst President
Roosevelt having made Injunction
Judge Taft the candidate Of the Repub-
lican party for president and seeing
that the labor vote, which so often
has been corraled, diverted and perVert-
ed by the politicians, is now aroused
and determined TO deliver its OVID vote;
that the toilers will not be caloled, de
ceived or browbeaten, has become des-
perate and angry and In his anger, by
the worst exhibition Of demagogism.
tries to instill into the employers and
business men the fear that their prop
erty and business are in danger If q
Square deal implied by equality be
fore the law and human freedom. is ac-
corded to the workers with all other
citizens. It is An exhibition OF impo-
tent rage and disappointment and an
awful descent from the dignity of the
high office of president of the United
States. No one but himself will be de-
ceived as TO the purpose Of Mr.. Roose-
welt.
Believes Workmen Aroused.
'.The workers and libcrty-loving citi-
zens are aroused as never before since
=" The battlecry for freedom is
again taken up. Then il was for the
union and abolition of black slavery;
today it is Tor the nation, equal rights
and freedom for all. -
Mr. Gompers insists that the presi-
dent "makes q direct and specific al.
tack upon labor" in his letter TO Sena-
tor Knox
"The pretense that the attack is
upon me is too thinly yelled to deceive
any one he adds. ''He strikes over
my shoulder at the hearts of the great
rank and file Of the workers and other
liberty loving citizens of the country.
So far as / am concerned, ] have
neither the inclination nor the desire 10
bask In the Sunlight of President Roose-
Welt IS benevolent assimilation by
stick browbeats others and by his
sophistry hopes 10 fool the masses into
supporting In junction Judge Taft.
President Roosevelt says that Sen
ator Knox has a peculiar right TO dis
cuss the principles involved in injunc
tions because he, as attorney general
prosecuted civil suit for damages TO
an injured workman. That Senator Knox
was the special counsel of the Pennsyl.
vania railroad and of the United States
/ steel corporation would indeed qualify
/ him TO discuss the injunction abuse, but
certainly only from the viewpoint OF
! the friends OF corporations who profit
by the abuse of the injunction writ az
| 1t brings advantage and profit TO cor
porate greed and power.
Status Of the Courts.
! of the courts nave not invaded hu
man liberty, if they have not uuderta
ken TO protect corporate interests tc
| the dctriment of the people, why did
President Roosevelt characterize Judge
| Grosscup' reversal OF Judge Lnudis
! S29.0 600 fine upon the STANDARD Oh
! trust as Il gross miscarriage of Jus
! tice?' -
Declaring that ''the veriest tyro OF
laynau in his widest dreams never
! suggested the abolition Of the inmnc
/ tion process, Mr.. Gompers insists tina
J labor desires To have the injunction re
stored To the use from which it hat
been ruthlessly diverted, from the pro
lection Of property rights TO the in
yasion OF personal Freedom He quote;
from The president 5 message to con
gress and declares that they "show al
utter confusion of the entire matter o
Injunction in Mr.. Roosevelt s mind, :
He claims that The decisions OF the low
or courts in Great Britain. which wer
reversed by the higher courts there
have been accepted as the basis for tb
issuance OF Inlunctions IN the UniteC
States. Mr.. Gompers also insists tina
the provisions of the PcarTe and vii
son bills, advocated bv the Federation
OF Labor, are not as broad or ms com
prchensive IN scope as the Britisl
trades disputes act,
President Not Infallible.
Tho mere fact. continues Nh
Gompers. s'that Mr.. Roosevelt dc
not so constitute; time and circum
stances and party obligation have per
suaded him 10 modify MS judgment an,
his utteranccs. Surely il must brin
JUNCTION TO him to find his uuwarrante,
attack on me so thoroughly appreciate
by the New York Sun. which charac
terizes him for his past utteranccs IN Il
severe language as that with which b
row attacks me.
Referring TO dissentinp ouinions u
Justice Harlan. Justice Moody an
many distinguished iurists and lega
authorities on the abuse of the iniunC
ton, he declares that Mr.. Roosevelt ha
placed me in good company
'Of course he saws, 'eyery on
knows that the president has stroncl'
urged every measure which he advc
Gated and then accepted what his polit
cal opponents in his own party chos
10 give him. IL is general knowledg
that be had a more liberal platforI
prepared for adoption by the RenubI