Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-27
ISSUES HIS REPLY
President Of Federation Of Labor Dis
ousses His Position.
DECLARES NOTHING TO RETRACT
Thinks Chief Executive IL striking
over His Shoulders ut Men BE-
hind Him-TaIks About
InjunctiOns.

WASHINGTON, oct. 8.-In reply to
President Roosevelts letter to Senator
Knox In reference to the application OF the
writ Of injunction in labor disputes, samuel
Gompers, president Of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor, in a statement issued
today severely arraigns the president for
what he terms a change Of position of at
least apparent friendship to bitter, indie
feasible antagonlsm."
ut has been my pleasure" Mr.. Com
pers says, Ito have often had the priv
llege Of discussing with President Roose-
welt a number Of the fundamental ques-
lions Of right. justice and moral and So
eial uplift. Included In these discussions
we're the invasions Of personal rights and
human liberty by the courts in the injunc-
ton abuse. 1t is true hat the president
has not always fully agreed with my con-
tentions, but he has never, until the pub
ncation of his latest uttersnce, limited,
much less charged, that anything that we
advocated was lawless, unfeeling, despotic,
brutal or wicked, and when the rights
for which the workers Of our country con-
tend, and which as best l can l defend and
advocate, have been as we'll known to him
during the last several years as they are
now, when he so unjustifiedly undertakes
to misrepresent my work, my motives and
my law-abiding citizenship. Surely that
opinion was not always entertained by the
president"
Letter from Executive.
Mr.. Gompers says that last February he
sent Mr. Roosevelt an issue of the Amer
lean Federationist in which was published
the chapter, Some Equivocal Rights of
Labor" from George A. Ayers book,
Moral Overstrain." THE chapter of the
book Mr.. Gompers says, lis as keen
criticism of the courts m their decisions
affecting the rights, interests and liberty
of the workers as anything l have ever
said or written
The president in acknowledging receipt
Of the article sent the following:
THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON
Jan. q, 1SS.-My Dear Mr.. Gompers: You
may be amused to know that | have sent
copies OF THE Moral Overstrain' to JUS
tees Day and McKenna. / am glad that
you were able to use it in the American
Federationist and thank you for sending
me the copy OF the magazine. Sincerely
yours, THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
10 Mr.. Samuel 9ompers, President Amer
lean Federation of Labor, Washington.
Mr.. Gompers insists that the president
makes a direct and specific attack on
labor in his letter to Senator Knox.
"rhe p~retense that the attack is on me
80 ~ AAAAAAy NNAN " hGEElNC AnIOne,' NE
adds. He strikes over my shoulder AT
the hearts Of the great rank and file of
the workers and other liberty-lovlng citl-
Gems of our country. Sc far as I am con-
cerned. 1 have neither the inclination or
the desire to bask in the sunlight of Pres.
ident Roosevelt's benevolent assimilation
by which he placates some by the big stick.
browbeats others and by his sophistry
hopes to control the masses into supporting
Judge Taft.
Attitude of Senator Knox,
President Roosevelt says that Senate,
Knox has a peculiar right to discuss the
principles involved in injunctions because
he, as attorney general. prosecuted a civil
suit. for damages to IN injured workman
That senator Knox was the special oounse
Of the Pennsylvania railroad and of tn,
United States steel corporation would In.
deed qualify him to discuss the injunction
abuse, but certainly only from the view.
point Of the friends of corporations wht
profit by the abuse of the injunction writ
as 1t brings advantage and profit to cor.
porate greed and power.
III the courts have not invaded human
liberty, if they have not undertaken tc
protect corporate interests to the detri
ment or the people why did PrcSiden
Roosevelt characterize Judge Grosscup'i
reversal OF Judge Lands $29, OOO,OO0 flint
upon the Standard OIL trust as a gross
miscarriage of Justice"
Declaring that "the veriest tyro Of a lay
man In his widest dreams never suggested
the abolition Of the injunction process,
Mr., Gompers insists that labor desires I.
have the injunctions restored ito the us
from which it has been diverted, the pro
lection Of property rights to the invasion
OF personal freedom"
He quotes from the presidents messag,
TO congress and declares that they shov
an utter confusion OF the entire matte
Of injunction in Mr.. Roosevelt's mind"
Referring to dissenting opinions of JUS
tlce Harlan, Justice Moody and many dis