Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-10
MAKES HIS REPORT
President Of Federation Discusses
Work of Year.
CAMPAIGN ON ISSUE OF JUSTICE
Aim of Unions to Improve Standard
of Life-Last Congress, He
says, Failed 60 Help
Labor.

DENVER, Colo, Nov. 9.-Shortly after 9
o'clock this morning the delegates to the
annual convention OF the American Fedora
ton of Labor formed in line and marched
to the Auditorium, where the gathering
was called to order.
The exercises at this mornings session
included addresses OF welcome by Governor
Henry A. Buchtel Of Colorado. Mayor
Robert w. Speer of Denver, George HaIly
for the State Federation of Labor. L. NJ.
French for the Denver Trades and Labor
assembly and ]. T. Clepp for the Building
council.
Response to the addresses was made by
Samuel Gompers, president OF the fedora
tion.
At the close of the morning session the
report OF the committee on credentials was
made.
DENVER, Colo, Nov. 9.-President Sam
uel Gompers of the American Federation
of Labor in his annual report to the con-
vention here today said in part:
ut is impossible to see how we can COM
ply fully with the courts injunctions. Shall
we be denied the right of free speech and
free press SIMPLY because we are workmen?
Is it th4nkabIe that we shall be compelled
to suppress, refuse to distribute and XIII
for all time to come the official transac-
tons Of one OF the great conventions of our
federation? / opine not.
Now 1t is the American Federation of
Labor and the American FedeTationist
which are enjoined from the exercise of the
right Of free speech and the purposes, and
not even against workmen unless they are
engaged in a labor dispute. Such injunc-
lions have no warrant in law and are thu
result Of judicial usurpation and judicial
legislation, which usurp the place of con ,
gressional legislation and are repugnant tn
constitutional guarantees.
In all things in which workmen are en-
Joined by the process of an injunction dur
ing labor disputes-if those acts are crimi-
nal and unlawful-there are already ample
law and remedy provided.
Labor asks for no immunity for any
of its men who may be guilty of violence
or crime. 1t has no desire to become a
privileged class, much less a privileged
class of wrongdoers.
Labor protests against the discrimina-
ton against workmen which denies them
equal justice with every other citizen of
our country. II any man of labor be guilty
Of a violation OF any law we contend that
he should be apprehended, confronted with
his accuser and tried by a jury Of his peers
that he, like all other citizens, be presumed
l to be innocent until proven guilty,
"Undaunted by opposition, no matter
; how keen or malignant, l thai
we renew our efforts with greater energy
i and insistence upon the passage of the
, principles contained in the Wilson and
, Pearre bills.
The aim Of our unions is to improve tn,
= standard of life; to foster education and
instill character, manhood and an indie.
. pendent spirit among our people; to bring
about a recognition of the interdependenc,
. of man upon his fellow-man, We aim L
= establish a normal workday, to take tn,
chill iren from the factory and workshops; t.
l give them the opportunity of the school
the home and the playground. In a word
q our unions strive to tighten toll, educat,
the workers, make their homes more cheer
full, and in every way contribute the earn
: est effort to make life the better wortl
living, To achieve these praiseworth,
Q ends, we believe that all honorable ant
: lawful means are both justifIabls and com
. mendable, and will receive the sympatheti
e support of every liberty-loving. right-think
C ing American.
1.-THE American labor movement is no
partisan to a political party; 1t is partisan
. to a principle, the principle of equal right
c and human freedom.
I When this reports is being written, Octo
b Der 80, the immediate results Of the cleo
tion OF November 8, are, of course, un
, known, out this one fact stands out clear
\ and can never hereafter be disputed; tina
is, that the presidential and congresslona
election of 1908 has been contested upon tn
fundamental principles for which labor an
tliberty-loving citizens contend; that /,
equality before the law. human freedom.