The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-11-04
COnventiOn'S Work and
Mission Discussed by
President Gornpers in
Federationist.
First Time in History the
a. F. of L. Convention
Has Been Held in the
Dominion Of Canada.

For the first time in the history of
the American Federation of Labor IT'S
convention will be held in the Dominion
of Canada. That fact in itself will cul-
tIvate the spirit of unity and solidarity as
perhaps no other event could accomplish
lhe representatives, of labor of America
and all that is implied within that terri
tory, will feel equally at home while dis.
cussinG and determining the great uu.s
lions and IN the effort to solve the great
problems that vii come before this con
vention, as formerly, were our Canadian
t"iiow-workers who attended the Fcdcra-
ton $ conventions in the United States
There is a oneness ir :hc methods.
IN the form of organization, and in the
aspirations of the workers of the United
States and the Dominion. They have
one common aim, one common purposc
that of bcttcring the conditions of the
t"ii"rs and the people generally of TODAY.
and to work for the ultimate 'cmancipa-
ton OF the toilcrs from their thralldom.
From the convention and it's work thcrc
Will come Il new understanding of the
unity of the interests of the workers of
the American continent, and a new mean
ing of the name America
reference has been made in the con-
vcntion call to great questions and prob
lens which will come up for discussion
and action at the Toronto convention.
and in view of the fact that the conycn-
non itself is but a few days distant from
the appearance of this issue of the Amcri-
can Fedcrationist, it would be unbccom-
ing and improper to specifically cnumcratc
them in advance These sub iccts will Inc
treated in the reports of the officers. as
well as the resolutions of the delegates.
but as was stated in the call for the To
rontn convention:
The reminder is not at all auiss
that every effort must he made to broaden
the field and means for the organization
of the yet unorg;nizcd workers. to strive
more eifectually than ever to bring about
Il better day in the lives and homes of
the t0llcrs, to defend and maintain bv
every honorable means in our power the
right to organize for our common defense
and advancement. and to assert at ann
ri$k the frec;'om Of speech amt Of the
prcSs'
IN print the Court of Appeals of the Dis
trict of Columbia will have handed down
its decision upon the appeal of the Amcri-
can Federation of Labor in behalf of
Samuel Gompcrs, John Mitchell. and
Frank Morrison from the sentences i'm
posed upon them by Justice Wright, of
tn" Supreme Court of the District of Co
lumba. the men charged with violating
tn" injunction issued by Justice Gould.
of the same court. i'll the injunction OBJ
tanned by James w. Van Clcave & Co.
against the American Federation of La
Dor. its officers. members. sympathizcrs.
counsel. agents. and friends.
''Whatcvcr the decision of the Court
of Appeals may be. it must ultimately
lead to victory for Labor, and Il
victory for Labor will mean Il victory
for all the people. Should the court
sustain the appeal and annul the sen
tcnccs. it will maintain beyond question
the right OF free speech and free ,,rcss.
If 1t should sustain the decision by Jus
tie" Wright. it will simply mean that an
appeal must he taken to the highest court
III the land to obtain final. determining
word rs to the judicial concept of cx-
isting constitutional guarantees Even
should the highest judicial tribunal of our
country fail to maintain the right of free
speech and free press. there is still Il
higher court. the court of the public
"plni"n-thc conscience of the people
In the one cvcnt-that is the court
sustaining free speech and free press
1t will be the perpctuation of the prin-
ciplc for all time to come in America.
In the other cvcnt-that is. the refusal 10
sustain labor 5 apreal-it will beyond
doubt inaugurate movement that will
have for its explicit purpose the rees-
tahilShmcnt. the ro-cmphasis of the irht
secured by the Magma Charta and en-
bodied as the first amendment to the con
stitution of the United States and the