Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-11-17
aAAsr Then Pag Fine 10 Contempt
Casa, Leader Iauld se'vl
Prison Term.
NEITHER SHALL FEDERATION alIn
Asserts Ne VIII Not TareIy submit
to Organization Being MuIetsd for
him-says Decisions Of Supreme
Court VIII Result IN Ers'avement
Ct Laborins Men. -
(Dy the Associated Press. }

(Dy the Associated Press.)
DENVER. COLO. Nov. l6.-Presis
dent Samuel Gompers. at todays ses,
sion OF the convention of the Amerl-
can Federation of Labor. declared
that II he were found guilty and aned
in the contempt proceedip gs against
him at Washington. he would 20 to
Jail before he would pay his fine, Or
before he would allow the Federation
10 pay the fine for him. -
This statement was made during
discussion Of the report Of the com.
mitrre on the trcasurcr's report.
The committee recommended that
Immediately following the adjourn
ment of the convention the executive.
committee shall take up the PROPOSE
ton Of placing It's funds where they
may be removed from danger Of at;
tachment.
Several suggestions were made, ono
being that the funds be deposited In
Canada, and another that certificates
OF deposit be taken out in some other
name than the treasurer =,
Let Opportunity Pass.
u. @. Ramsey. Of the Eiectracai
workers. declared: We had chance
to place our funds beyond the. reach
Of those who would take them, but
We let 1t pass on November 3. the
only way TO protect ocr money. is1to
change the laws.- !,
Mr.. Gompers warned tie delegaSes
that II . way were found 10 hide the
funds. the courts would thereafter
appoint receiver. not necessarily
to secure In some way the hidden
funds. but TO get the money being
contributed.
Menaeed BY Courts.
BY requ5 st Mr.. Gompers explained
the status OF the Danbury Hat cese.
Our standing Is ncnaced by the
courts Of law said he. The matter
Of the application Of the Sherman an
thrust law to unions has reached n
nal adjustment By the United States
Suprs me Court No matter how thB
Danbury case is decided. that viii nor
alter the status one jot. The United
States Supreme Court has said the
firal word, and the law OF this coun-
try Is that labor organizattops OF THIS
country are now conspiracies ana
combinations in restraint Of trade.
Under the Sherman anti,trust law,
ho1est business canrot be conducted.
much less honest straightforward ~
Dor organizations. With reference 70
the case against ne In the DlStrtct
Of Columbia. I want to say that VIII
never consent that the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor shall ever pay 0ee
cent Of 1ne for NE. I don't want 10
60 to jail but I will not tamely sub,
NIT to the Federation being muleted
for me-
Says Decisions Ens;ave Men.
Mr.. Gompers declared that the deci-
sions Of the Supreme Court had but
one object. namely: to tic the men OF
labor 10 their work, cripple the men
Of labor in their right to work, Or
their right not to work.
These decisions" he said. will re-
sUit iu lettering men today In ordee
TO ens;sve them for all time 10 ccWe.
First. am not in touch with tfe
Democratic party; second. am not .
Democrat and third. I am Confident
Fever will be a Democrat I 0xe a.
lesiance 70 10 party I am trade
unionist.
Bryan and human Freedom.
When the Democratic party niAde
our contentious its own.' con,inuca
Mr.. Gompers. ct would not Only have
teen ingrstitudc, but eowardtce to -
SET, them. II Bryan had been elected
with the hosts Of organ.z,d labor bsck
Of him. il would have given spirit 10
human freedom"
The report CT the committee on tEe
treasurcr's repor:. with Its rccomWeo-
dat,cus. xss unanimously concurre1
in