The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-10
Prospect of Big Fight Against
Federation President Has
Faded Away.
DELEGATES APPLAUD
ATTITUDE OF LEADER
Not Question of Party Politics,
but of Loyalty to Principle,
His View.

| DENVER, Nov 9.-Hearty applause
was given President Samuel Gompers o,
| the American Federation Of Labor BY
| the delegates 10 the twenty eighth an
nual convention Of the organization at
its opening session today and also at
the close of his report, which he read
at the afternoon session, and was in
terpreted 10 indicate that there will be
no effective opposition TO his re-elec-
tior.
''The statement that there will be :.
big tight In the convention IN regard to
/ the action taken by President Gompcrs
10 the recent campaign will not be full
! filed. - said John Mitchell, former
president of the United Mine Workers
| of America, and delegate 20 the labor
convention. today.
''The action Of Mr. Gompers was the
result of instructions given bim by the
federation at previous conventions and
ne Will have practically the entire sup
| port of the present convention.
Where Fight May Como.
cit is true there may be fight oI
the question OF allowing the federation
to be brought into politics In the future,
but l do not think Mr.. Gompers will
be censured for the part he played III
| supporting Mr.. Bryan
The reading of the report of the pres.
ldent consumed more than three hours
and the reports Of the secretary and
treasurer were then read in abbreviated
| form, The secretary s report showed
that the federation has had o prosperous
! year
- President Gompers report was q long
and exhaustive accounting of the work
| performed bv the president during the
| q
''Tbere must rot be permitted to grow
| Up or TO be maintained permanent
army of unemployed.
The part of the report that touched
on the Buck Stove & Range company
| injunction case was frequently inter
the stand taken by John Mitchell, Frank
Morrison and Samuel Gompers on tue
| injunction matter was also spplauded,
Mr Gompers said III part;
1t is impossible TO sec how we can
comply fully with tie court 8 injunr-
tion. Shall we be denied the right of
! free speech and free press simply be
cause we are workmena
Right of Free Speech.
"Now II is the American Federation
| of Labor and the American Fedora ton.
ist which are enjoiued from the exercise
OF the righ: of free speech and the lib
| erty of the press. In the future it may
| be another publication, and rhis injunc.
| tiou will then be quoted as a sacred
! precedent for future and further en-
! croachments upon the rights OF our peo-
! pie.
1.-The suppression of freedom of the
| press is a most serious undertaking
| whether in autocratic Russia or in the
Republic of the United States. II IS
| because the present injunction and the
contempt proceedings Hereunder. sup.
! press free speech and FREQ press that |
| feel it my duty TO euter-a most chi
phatic protest
''The decision of the supreme court
in the Hatters case involves every
wage. worker of our country, No more
unjust decision has ever been issued by
d court. The Dred Scott decision did
not approach 1t IN scope.
Roast for Cannon.
"Speaker Cannon has packed commit
tees not only against labor, but against
any other real reform legislation.
''Congress adjourned with the defiant
declaration of one of the RepublicaH
leaders. James S. Sherman. that the RI.
publican party ls responsible for LEG
islatiou or for the failure of Legislation
and that he and his party were willing
10 assume the responsibility.
1.-The report of our legislative con-
mittee reveals a tale of perfidy TO tho
force besmirchcs the name aud history
OF a political party that found its ON
bodimeut and idcalism IN the martyred
Lincoln.
The Republican party adopted decla-
rations for the enactment of law that
would lcgaliZe the worst abuse and per
version OF the injunction writ. this IN
direct opposition to what we had
asked. y
Question OF Politics.
Mr.. Gompers made detailed report
Of his work in the political field during
the last conventions of both polltlca,
parties and also of his experience with
congress
The American labor movement he
said, is not partisan TO Il political party,
it is partisan To n principle. the prln-
ciple of equal rights and human free
dom.
''Our conventions have frequently de-
clared, - said Nr. Gompers, that our
movement hns neither the right nor
the desire to dictate how a member
shall cast his vote.
Mr.. Gompcrs S defense OF his action
during the late political campaign was
greeted with cheers
Liquor Lost by Fire,