Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-08
NO WISH FOR SLAVERY
CONTINUED From First Page.)

NSOHthuueu from f1TSt fa8eD
man freedom. and that it Is the duty, the
imperative duty. to protest.
Alleged Record Of Tyranny.
THE history Of the human race has
been full Of tyranny and the denial to the
people Of the right OF expressing freely
by speech or In the press their opinions.
After our people established a govern
ment they recalled that they had omitted
to safeguard this vital right in Framing
our Constitution. Therefore, the first
amendment to that instrument was that
guaranteeing the right Of freedom Of
speech and press.
That means something. We do not
need this right to please those intrusted
with the authority Of government. Free
press and free speech were guaranteed
t t men might feel free to say things
that displeased. Demand for reform
coming from the people is generally
distasteful to those intrenched in power
and privilege.
1T was not necessary that we be given
the privilege for the purpose Of singing
the praises Of the powers that be. No
RUSSIAN needs constitutional guarantee of
his right to sing the praises Of the GEAR.
we must have the right to freely
speak and print for the wrongs that need
ohu TIC CduSc uCCuS 90
sistance.
There is no persecution. no injustice
10 great movement, but IL met in the
right spirit bears its harvest Of good. In
TINS TINS case the tremendous popular indigna.
ton at the attempt to abolish the right
OF free press and free speech brings our
union members into closer relations and
more In sympathy with each other
throughout the country. and. more than
that. II brings to the attention OF the
people whole tho noble oSnirQ ions
and the splendid achievements Of the la
Dor movement In behalf Of right, justice
and humanity.
Out of this attempt to seal the lips
good
In the introduction OF his annual mes
sage Mr.. Gompers said:
Tyranny. exercised by no matter
resisted at all hazards. The labor move
ment. which is the defender protector
and promoter Of the rights and inter-
ests OF the people. must be carried for
ward. its rapacious. ignorant opponents
to the contrary Notwithstanding. We
should not, and We must not. surrender
the rights which we have achieved for
the tOilers; We dare not permit the
workers to become the victims OF the
tender mercies of their exploiters.'
Classed az Ancient Laws.
The report states that Congress has
thus far failed to pass any amendment
to the Sherman antitrust law. Mr.
Gompers terms that law "a re-estab-
lishment Of the oldest laws proclaimed
by tyrants more than a thousand years
ago." He states that bills will be pre-
pared for submission to Congress and
the state legislatures as follows:
No. IA bill to amend the law relating
to the liability of employers for injuries
to their employees within the states.
No. "a bill to provide compensation
automatically for accidents occurring
to employees of the United States govern
ment.
Mote: On May 30. 1908. a bill of this
nature-though very limited i'm its pro-
visions-was approved and became a fed
eral law. and this was obtained wholly
and solely through the activities and at
the expense Of the American Federation
Of Labor.)
No. IA bill to provide compensation
automatically for accidents in danger
Gus occupations subject to the jurisdic-
ton Of the United States. and without the
necessity of litigation therefor.
No. A bill to regulate all interstate
and foreign commerce in relation to acci-
dents and to provide compensation auto
matically) without the necessity Of liti-
CATION therefor.
The report has chapters on convict
labor. child labor. immigration, litigation.
the boycott. labor's practical political ac-
ton, fraternity Of labor. the matters and
steelworkers strikes, the Porto Rican
labor movement, the labor press and the
work Of organizers.
Canada's Hearty Welcome.
Canada today extended a warm well
come to representatives Of organized Ia
Dor who have come the length and
breadth of the continent to attend the
twenty ninth annual convention of the
American Federation Of Labor.
While the annual report of Samuel
Gompers. the president Of the federation,
is always looked forward to with inter-
est, never in the twenty-seven years of
his leadership has that report been more
eagerly anticipated than today, on ac-
count Of expected reference to the re-
cent decision of the Court of Appeals
of the District Of Columbia Affirming
the sentences of Imprisonment imposed
on federation officials.
Mr.. Gompers' trip abroad investigating
conditions in foreign labor fields was ex-
pected to result in a recommendation
as to the wisdom OF affiliating with labor
organizations abroad. with a view to
eventually establishing an international
federation Of labor.
The jurisdictional dispute in the Inter
national brotherhood Of Electrical Work
ers as a result or secession movements
In Ohio and Iowa will come I'D for
adjustment during the convention, and