The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-10-20
AMERICAN LABOR
STANDS BY FERRER
Resolutions. Setting Forth That
Spanish Revolutionist Was
Martyr, Adopted.
HOLD SPANISH NATION
AS GUILTY OF MURDER
Utterance Regarded as Signifi-
cant in View of Proceedings
Against Gompers.

WASHINGTON. Oct. l9-Resolu-
lions fercely dcnouncing the "murder
OF Francisco Ferrer, the Spanish revolu-
tionist,'@ = who was condemned by court
martial and shot in Barcelona. werc
adopted at today's session of the ey-
ecutivc council Of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor. Ferrer was referred
TO rs n martyr
"Wc in our personal behalf as well
as in the name of America S workers
and the whole people, the resolutions
declare. express our intense indigna.
tion, horror and strongest protest
against the murder Of Francisco Ferrer
by direction Of the Spanish govern
ment -
Significance Explained.
Taken in connection with the action
Of the Supreme Court of the District
of Columbia in sentencing President
Gompers, Secretary Morrison and John
Mitchell Of the federation 10 serve
terms in Jail for ontempt Of court the
concluding paragraph of the resolution
Is looked upon as significant.
Jt declares that "we take this nc
ticn of the military murder Of man
whose real offending was speaking
writing aud teaching humanity TO be
come wiser, more free and more
]lberty-lovIng, 10 remind the people Of
our country that the liberty Of the citi-
zcns is only secure when trial by Jury
aud in open court for any alleged of
fense involving punishment is guarau-
teed. -
The resolutions declare, "tbe cause
OF free speech, free press and free edu.
cation has found in Ferrer another
martvr, the more regrettable in an age
when civilization boasts of having re.
placed the tortures and brutality of
medievallsm by freedom aud cnlighten-
mcnt. -
Will Rank as Martyr,
Prof. Fcrrer, il is declared, will take
rank with all those who have done the
greatest service for humanity.
- noble company of martyrs and a
cause in which a man might we'll give
his life, the resolutions continue. ''dld
tyranny require it, Like Jefferson,
Washington and Lincoln of our own
ropniry. he labored aud taught and
suffered that the people might bavc
wisdom and bc worthy Of freedom. -
Declaring that although Ferrer suf-
fcrcd The ultimate penalty OF shame
}ul death at the hands of those who
rule in the doctrine Of tho "'Divinc
l1oht of kings. tbc belief Is expressed
That the sacrifice was not in vain. In
It's preamble 10 the resolutions. the
council says tho execution Of Professor
Fcrrer has aroused the strongest ipdig.
nation Of all iust liberty loving and
broad minded men of the civilized
world.
Address Of Gompers.
Among the other matters considered
was brief resume by President Comp
crs ON his observations regarding labor
conditions abroad
A telegram was received from the
third annual convention of the West
Virginia Federation of Labor now in
session IN Charleston. expressing the
hope that the efforts of thc federation
In behalf OF preservation Of the right
OF Tree. speech and free press NAV he
crowned with success.
1t was decided that an aupeal for fl
nnncial assistance in behalf of the wage
earners now on strike in Sweden should
be made TO all organized labor.