The San Francisco call., 1909-01-04

SAMUEL GOMPERS.
san Francisco's voice Of labor SEN
Forth yesterday a clarion note Of pro
hest against the punishment OF 81
leaders. Samuel Gompers, John Mitchell
Ind Frank Morrison, for contempt o
the supreme court OF the district o
Columbia. -Four thousand men an,
women Joined in the cry and pledged
moral and financial aid TO the caus,
with equal devotion TO principle a
equal risk-even as & stout hearted
hand Of patriots in 1875 pledged thei
hearts, hands and personal liberties il
the cause Of freedom.
From the front came an echo Of thei
battle slogan. Samuel Gompers, il
Washington, wired a ringing messag,
breathing courage and undaunte,
spirit The telegram was read yester
day afternoon to the vast audienc'
which jammed the immense assembl.
han OF the Building Trades temple. Il
q huge overflow meeting in anothe
listened 10 with equal tenseness. Il
both places the crowds greeted tn
message with thunderous cheers.
RINGING RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
The following resolutions were thel
adopted:
Whereas. samuel Gompers John Mitch
'el and Frank Morrison, president vice
president and secretary. respectively, OF
The American federation Of labor, have been
sentenced 10 Imprisonment for contempt Tor
injunction issued al the instance Of the
Buck stove and range company; aud
Whereas, said injunction was issued IN
contempt of Tie rights Of American citi-
zens. lnasmuch as IL oepriFes the persons
euJoined OF their constitutional guarantees
el free press, Tree speech AMI peaceably as
sgmbly; and
Whereas, the sentence Of the supreme
court Of the district u Columbia IN the case
Ur Messrs- Gompers Mitchell and Morrison
wil, u permitted TO stand as q precedent,
0e followed By other sentences upon citizens
engaged in other activities until the move
:. meuIs Of society shall cease 10 be governed
p: - tv the constitution and statutes OF the land
.. cid become subject 10 restraint at the
= Aasds az any occupant Of judicial Office;
- therefore be il
=: - Resolved, by the citizens Of san Fran
= cisco in mass melting assembled this Sd day
: ~ January. 1903. that protest against
p. lie injunction issued by Judge Gould and
-ahe sentence imposed by Justice Wright
: lssi0E Messrs. Gomper, Mitchell and Morri-
s.s0n not only grave injustice 10 the i'm
=: mediate sufferers but also menace to
TIE rights OF all citizens, said Injunction and
= sentence being without warrant in law OF
equity and 4 arbitrary exercise Of
power "a behalf OF class Of citizens
- the 6acrihce Of another class OF citizens;
further
~ Resolved. that We call upon our fellow
p. citizens Of all classes eFery where TO give
Scc0Us thought 10 this latest example Of
sle well established tendency Of the Ju-
dietary 10 usurp functions which by the
fundamental law OF The land are either
Vested in other branches OF the government
or reserved to the people themselves. as
manifested 10y the issuance Of injunctious
which are in effect merely so much Judge
- made law and which commonly override the
..sS-atutes and even the constitution Itself;
further
Resolved. that while we recognize and re
fpect the Injunction when used for its
proper purpose namely. 10 protect property
rights. we deny the right Of the courts 10
use that Instrument ee means OF invad-
q. ing the personal rights Of the citizens, and
especially do we deny that assumed right
.. when based, ii usually is. upon the doc
trine that labor IS q commodity and prop
erty, 81 the legal sense Of those terms, since
the logical sequence Of that doctrine leads
o.. % the enslsvement Of labor 10 the employ
ing class; further
Resolved. that we emphatlcally protest
against the action Of the court in issuing the
Injunction and imposing g penalty for it's
Fi3latiOn. as an attack upon popular govern
ment, that is, government by law made by
rhe legally chosen representatives Of the
people and substituting IN lieu thereof a
personal despotic. discretionary government
p government by chsncery. that is, govern
.meut by Injunction further
Resolved, that we are in hearty accord
b. with the position taken 10y lie founders OF
This government. when they held tnat pOpu-
lar government can not ea1iife- except To-
Rether with an uncensored. uusllachied press,
80 fun freedom Of speech. fuli rights of
Fembly and Of petition; further
Resolved that we symDathize with Messrs.
Compers. Mitchell aud Morrison whose only
offeuse q that Of appealing FOR help in the
%
: commend their courage and devotion 10 prin-
cipie; that we pledge ourselves 10 render all
possible moral and financial aid in further
ing the cause Tor which they are suffering.
and that we solemnly pledge ourselves 10
equal devotion even ~ equal risk. in order
that these suferings and sacrifices may not
he in vain. but that. the contrary. they
shall result IN tAc re-establishment OF con-
stitutional government and personal liberty
and the maintenance Of those relations
which should exist between a representative
government and free peopie: further
Resolved. that copy Of these resolutions
BE- forwarded TO Messrs- Gompers. Mitchell
snd Morrison, 20 Justice Wright. Justice
Gould. the house II representatives. the
United States senate and press Of san Fran
cisco.
OPPOSE ASKING FOR PARDON
The leading labor speak of Sa-
Francisco addressed the meeting
More than $500 persons crowded tn
main assembly hall and packed tn
galleries. In California hall. in th
same building. half a thousand hear
the same speakers after they had con
cluded in the main auditorium.
The tenor Of all the speeches wa
calm and dispassionate review OF tn
situation. Speaker after speaker urge
that to seek a pardon would be an ad
mission Of guilt or Of crime committed
Let them 90 10 jail." cried John "
Sweenv. Let the law take its course
IL the sentencing Of Gompers an
Mitchell and Morrison be the law. lie
the case go 10 the highest courts an
81 the decision be upheld there. the
Jet il so to that court Of last resort
the ballot box
Let Us not deceive ourselves" sal
George w. Berry; "let Us take the ful
.-,.rr,c,,si flifies for our acfions. Ever